Agriculture

John Deere Model D Tractor

From butter churns to diesel tractors, the Museum's agricultural artifacts trace the story of Americans who work the land. Agricultural tools and machinery in the collections range from a John Deere plow of the 1830s to 20th-century cultivators and harvesters. The Museum's holdings also include overalls, aprons, and sunbonnets; farm photographs; milk cans and food jars; handmade horse collars; and some 200 oral histories of farm men and women in the South. Prints in the collections show hundreds of scenes of rural life. The politics of agriculture are part of the story, too, told in materials related to farm workers' unions and a group of artifacts donated by the family of the labor leader Cesar Chavez.

John Deere Plow
John Deere Plow, 1830s
Place: Illinois

Apple Crate Label

Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.This Revelation brand apple crate label was used by the John A.
Description (Brief)
Labels are an important marketing device. They often go beyond merely identifying contents and are designed to help establish brand distinction and generate customer loyalty for a largely interchangeable product.
This Revelation brand apple crate label was used by the John A. Eck Company of Chicago, Illinois during the beginning of the 20th century. The lithographed blue label has an illustration of two red apples still on the branch.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
John A. Eck Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.012
accession number
1979.0441
catalog number
1979.0441.012

Mechanized corn picker and husker

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940s
ID Number
2013.0327.0775
accession number
2013.0327
catalog number
2013.0327.0775

Salmon Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Happy-Vale brand pink salmon that was shipped by the Emery Food Company of Chicago, Illinois. The crate contained four dozen one-pound packages of Happy-Vale salmon.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Happy-Vale brand pink salmon that was shipped by the Emery Food Company of Chicago, Illinois. The crate contained four dozen one-pound packages of Happy-Vale salmon.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Emery Food Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.176
catalog number
1979.0441.176
accession number
1979.0441

Brush Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained one dozen Moose brand scrubs manufactured by the Royal Brush & Broom Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The wooden crate side has black text.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained one dozen Moose brand scrubs manufactured by the Royal Brush & Broom Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The wooden crate side has black text.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Royal Brush & Broom Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.237
catalog number
1979.0441.237
accession number
1979.0441

Rumely Oil Pull Tractor, 20-40

In 1923, John Ploesch purchased this Rumely Oil Pull tractor for $4,000 from an Advance-Rumely dealer in Woodbine, Illinois. He arranged with neighbors to thresh their crops, organizing what was called a threshing ring that lasted until 1948.
Description
In 1923, John Ploesch purchased this Rumely Oil Pull tractor for $4,000 from an Advance-Rumely dealer in Woodbine, Illinois. He arranged with neighbors to thresh their crops, organizing what was called a threshing ring that lasted until 1948. The Rumely Oil Pull was belted to the threshing machine that separated the grain. Threshing became a major social event for farmers, laborers, and their families.
The Rumely Oil Pull was the first tractor to use an oil cooling system, which kept the engine at a steady temperature no matter how heavy the tractor's load. The cooling system allowed hotter cylinders and easier ignition. The Oil Pull starts on gas but runs on kerosene, making it much lighter and easier to maneuver than its steam-driven predecessors. This Rumely Oil Pull weighs seven tons.
Rumely engineers also made space for an extra person in the tractor's cab, gave the operator a clear view in every direction, and placed all the mechanisms--gear shift, clutch, foot brake, steering wheel, carburetor, and more--in easy reach. These new design elements helped the Rumely Oil Pull to surpass most old kerosene tractors, and many of these features were further refined in gasoline-powered machines.
Because of their hot-riveted steel frame construction, Rumely Oil Pulls lasted through years of harvests. Some were still in use as late as the 1960s.
date made
1923
maker
Advance Rumely Company
assembler
Miller, Ronald E.
ID Number
1988.0372.01
catalog number
1988.0372.01
accession number
1988.0372

Mucilage Shipping Crate

This is a side panel of a Sanford Manufacturing Company shipping crate that contained Sanford glue (mucilage). The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is a side panel of a Sanford Manufacturing Company shipping crate that contained Sanford glue (mucilage). The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857. The company relocated to Chicago in 1866 and produced ink and glue in its early years before solely manufacturing ink products and renaming itself the Sanford Ink Company in 1940. Sanford was purchased by Newell Company in 1992.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Sanford Corporation
ID Number
1979.0441.260
catalog number
1979.0441.260
accession number
1979.0441

Baking Powder Shipping Crate

This shipping crate end is imprinted with “Calument Baking Powder” text and Native American head trademark. William Wright formulated Calumet Baking Powder in Chicago, Illinois in 1889. The powder was named after Calumet City, a town near Chicago.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate end is imprinted with “Calument Baking Powder” text and Native American head trademark. William Wright formulated Calumet Baking Powder in Chicago, Illinois in 1889. The powder was named after Calumet City, a town near Chicago. Calumet was also the Native American term for peace pipe, and Calumet used the profile of a Native American in a headdress as its trademark. Calumet was bought by General Foods bought in 1929.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Calumet Baking Powder Company
ID Number
1979.0441.172
catalog number
1979.0441.172
accession number
1979.0441

Pork & Beans Shipping Crate

This shipping crate end is imprinted with “Snider Pork and Beans with Tomato Sauce/T.A. Snider Preserve Co./Chicago, U.S.A.” Thomas A. Snider started the T.A.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate end is imprinted with “Snider Pork and Beans with Tomato Sauce/T.A. Snider Preserve Co./Chicago, U.S.A.” Thomas A. Snider started the T.A. Snider Preserve Company of Cincinnati in 1879, and was renowned for his “catsup” recipe made from fresh tomatoes without preservatives. Snider was one of the largest ketchup makers at the turn of the 20th century and produced a variety of tomato related products and canned goods such as relish, tomato soup, oyster sauce, and pork and beans.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
T. A. Snider Preserve Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.239
catalog number
1979.0441.239
accession number
1979.0441

John Deere Plow

John Deere failed as a blacksmith in Vermont but succeeded as an agricultural tool manufacturer in Illinois. His company built revolutionary plows like this early 1838 example.
Description
John Deere failed as a blacksmith in Vermont but succeeded as an agricultural tool manufacturer in Illinois. His company built revolutionary plows like this early 1838 example. The steel blades of Deere plows slid more easily through sticky prairie soil and made farmers more efficient. John and his son Charles expanded the company through clever marketing and financial acumen making Deere & Company the largest plow manufacturer in the world. The company continue to expand making everything from tractors to combines, from mechanical cotton harvesters to riding lawnmowers.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1838
maker
John Deere
ID Number
AG.38A04
catalog number
38A04
F001111
accession number
148904

Baking Powder Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained KC brand baking powder that was manufactured by the Jaques Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The crate contained two dozen 25 ounce cans of baking powder.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained KC brand baking powder that was manufactured by the Jaques Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The crate contained two dozen 25 ounce cans of baking powder. The company advertised through a popular recipe booklet called “The Cook’s Book.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Jaques Mfg. Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.295
catalog number
1979.0441.295
accession number
1979.0441

Mechanized Corn Picker

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940s
maker
Acme Photo
ID Number
2013.0327.0771
accession number
2013.0327
catalog number
2013.0327.0771

Cheese Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained Kraft brand American Cheese spread that was manufactured by the Kraft Cheese Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained Kraft brand American Cheese spread that was manufactured by the Kraft Cheese Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The crate contained 2 pounds of cheese spread, and the crate side bears a reminder to keep the cheese under refrigeration.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Kraft Foods Inc.
ID Number
1979.0441.351
catalog number
1979.0441.351
accession number
1979.0441

Ink Shipping Crate

This is a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate side. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate side. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857. The company relocated to Chicago in 1866 and became a large producer of ink and glue products in its early years before focusing on ink and being renamed the Sanford Ink Company in 1940. Sanford introduced the Sharpie marker in 1964, which went on to become one of its best selling products. Sanford was purchased by the Newell Company in 1992.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Sanford Corporation
ID Number
1979.0441.226
catalog number
1979.0441.226
accession number
1979.0441

Evaporated Milk Shipping Crate

This Carnation Evaporated Milk shipping crate side features the product can bearing the company logo of a stem of carnations. The Carnation Evaporated Milk Company was founded in 1901 by E.A. Stuart in Seattle, Washington.
Description (Brief)
This Carnation Evaporated Milk shipping crate side features the product can bearing the company logo of a stem of carnations. The Carnation Evaporated Milk Company was founded in 1901 by E.A. Stuart in Seattle, Washington. Nestle acquired the Carnation Company in 1985.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Carnation Company
ID Number
1979.0441.273
catalog number
1979.0441.273
accession number
1979.0441

Smith’s Patent Model of a Windmill - 1878

This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 208,208 issued to Elijah H. Smith on September 17, 1878. His invention was an improved design for a windmill with folding sails. The concept of the folding sail windmill was not new.
Description
This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 208,208 issued to Elijah H. Smith on September 17, 1878. His invention was an improved design for a windmill with folding sails. The concept of the folding sail windmill was not new. In fact Mr. Smith had received an earlier patent for such a windmill. Folding sails allowed the windmill to automatically regulate its speed in varying wind strengths. As the wind increased the individual arms and sails would progressively fold up to present less area to the wind, thus acting as a governor. Once completely folded the windmill had little more cross section to the wind than would a windmill with a single arm and two sails. In Smith’s first folding sail design the maximum angle between its eight sails was limited by leather straps interconnecting each sail arm. Speed was then controlled by an auxiliary sail attached to the sails on the inner most sail arm. This auxiliary sail was loosely held down onto its host sail by a spring. As the wheel speed became greater the spring was overcome and the auxiliary sail would open to an angle of 90 degrees to the plane of the primary sail. This caused the inner arm and sails to slow until it was behind the next outer arm and sails, and this was repeated for the rest of the arms and sails until the wheel was folded. At that point little more than two sails face the wind and the speed of the wheel would be at a minimum. Smith included a braking wheel on the hub of the inner most arm and sail set. A wooden lever was pivoted at the front of the cross-head and could be pulled down by a rope led to the base of the windmill, thus making the lever contact the brake wheel and stop the windmill. There were two new elements in Smith’s 1878 patent. The first was to replace the function of the leather straps that controlled arm and sail spacing with a new design for the hubs at the center of each arm. Each hub had metal projections on its circumference that limited the motion of the next arm to an angle of 30 degrees to it. The outer-most arm was secured in place with a set screw on the shaft. This allowed the six arms to be evenly spaced around the wheel when fully extended. Folding of the wheel in heavy wind was controlled as in the earlier patent. The second new element was a modification of the braking mechanism. The tail-board beam was pivoted at the rear of the cross-head. This allowed the front of the beam to move upward to contact the brake wheel, and the weight of the tail-board was sufficient to apply friction and stop the windmill. A rod attached to the front of the brake lever was led to the base of the windmill and could be drawn down and pinned to disable the brake for normal operation.
The patent model is constructed of wood and metal and is mounted on a wooden base. The model illustrates the main elements of the patent including the hubs controlling the spacing of the arms when extended and the braking mechanism. The model also includes a thread representing the rope extending to the base of the windmill tower used to engage the braking mechanism. Not represented on the model is the auxiliary sail used to fold the windmill to govern speed in high winds.
date made
1878
patent date
1878-09-17
inventor
Smith, Elijah S.
ID Number
MC.309137
catalog number
309137
accession number
89797
patent number
208,208

Baking Powder Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side contained KC brand baking powder that was manufactured by the Jaques Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The crate contained two dozen 25 ounce cans of baking powder.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side contained KC brand baking powder that was manufactured by the Jaques Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois during the early 20th century. The crate contained two dozen 25 ounce cans of baking powder. The company advertised through a popular recipe booklet called “The Cook’s Book.”
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Jaques Mfg. Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.191
catalog number
1979.0441.191
accession number
1979.0441

Ink Shipping Crate

This is an end panel of a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857.
Description (Brief)
This is an end panel of a Sanford Ink Company shipping crate. The Sanford Manufacturing Company was founded in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1857. The company relocated to Chicago in 1866 and became a large producer of ink and glue products in its early years before focusing on ink and being renamed the Sanford Ink Company in 1940. Sanford introduced the Sharpie marker in 1964, which went on to become one of its best selling products. Sanford was purchased by Newell Company in 1992.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Sanford Corporation
ID Number
1979.0441.294
catalog number
1979.0441.294
accession number
1979.0441

John Deere

A tape measure in a celluloid case of cream celluloid with yellow and green on the front and back. Advertising copy for the John Deere Company includes a profile portrait of John Deere with the message, "He gave to the world the steel plow," underneath.
Description (Brief)
A tape measure in a celluloid case of cream celluloid with yellow and green on the front and back. Advertising copy for the John Deere Company includes a profile portrait of John Deere with the message, "He gave to the world the steel plow," underneath. The other side bears the John Deere logo.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1917
advertiser
Deere & Company
depicted
Deere, John
maker
Parisian Novelty Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0927
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0927

Montgomery Ward Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side was used by Montgomery Ward & Company of Chicago, Illinois during the late 19th and early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side was used by Montgomery Ward & Company of Chicago, Illinois during the late 19th and early 20th century. Montgomery Ward was founded in 1872 as a catalogue company that attempted to bring city goods into rural areas by allowing people to order items via mail and pick up the goods at their train station. This crate calls Montgomery Ward “The World’s Leading Outfitter” and encourages consumers to send for a catalogue.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Montgomery Ward
ID Number
1979.0441.356
catalog number
1979.0441.356
accession number
1979.0441

Atkinson Counting Register, U.S. Patent Office Model

This roughly built wooden and metal device is the U.S. patent model for a counter patented by Alexander P. Atkinson of Vermont, Ill., on November 7, 1871. It has an open wooden frame, with a window at the front for viewing the registering wheels.
Description
This roughly built wooden and metal device is the U.S. patent model for a counter patented by Alexander P. Atkinson of Vermont, Ill., on November 7, 1871. It has an open wooden frame, with a window at the front for viewing the registering wheels. The three wheels are mounted on a crosswise shaft, along with a fourth wheel, which drives the others. Lowering a crank on the right side of the frame moves the driving wheel and the rightmost registering wheel one unit back. Returning the crank upright moves the driving but not the registering wheel.
The wheels are wooden. The registering wheels are covered with paper bands around the edge which have the digits marked from 0 to 9. Screws are used as gear teeth in much of the mechanism. The device carries. According to the patent, the machine was intended for use in counting the number of bushels or other measures of grain that passed a given point.
A mark on the front above the window reads: A.P. Atkinson (/) Vermont (/) Ill’s.
Alexander P. Atkinson (1840-1906) lived in Vermont, Ill., and founded the Vermont Loan and Building Association in 1889. He remained President of that bank into the 20th century.
References:
Alexander P. Atkinson, “Improvement in Counting-Registers,” U.S. Patent 120,609, November 7, 1871.
J. S. McCullough, Twelfth Annual Report of the Condition of Building, Loan and Homestead Associations Doing Business in Illinois, Springfield, Illinois: Phillips Brothers, 1903, p. 307.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1874
patentee
Atkinson, Alexander P.
maker
Atkinson, Alexander P.
ID Number
MA.309342
accession number
89797
catalog number
309342

Ammunition Shipping Crate

This shipping crate side originally contained loaded paper shot shells manufactured and loaded by the Western Cartridge Company of East Alton Illinois during the early 20th century.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate side originally contained loaded paper shot shells manufactured and loaded by the Western Cartridge Company of East Alton Illinois during the early 20th century. The Western Cartridge Company was founded in 1898 as a subsidiary of the Olin Corporation, which it remains today.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Western Cartridge Company
ID Number
1979.0441.368
catalog number
1979.0441.368
accession number
1979.0441

Yeast Shipping Crate

This Magic Yeast shipping crate end is printed with Magic Yeast’s owl and moon trademark. Magic Yeast was originally invented and manufactured by Egbert W. Gillett in 1886.
Description (Brief)
This Magic Yeast shipping crate end is printed with Magic Yeast’s owl and moon trademark. Magic Yeast was originally invented and manufactured by Egbert W. Gillett in 1886. In 1893 Gillett founded the Northwestern Yeast Company in Chicago, Illinois, to manufacture Magic Yeast and its companion product, Yeast Foam.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Northwestern Yeast Co.
ID Number
1979.0441.334
catalog number
1979.0441.334
accession number
1979.0441

Food Product's Shipping Crate

This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868.
Description (Brief)
This shipping crate end panel is imprinted with the “Libby’s” script of the manufacturing firm Libby, McNeil, and Libby. Archibald McNeil and Charles and Arthur Libby founded the company in 1868. Libby’s became one of the country's biggest producers of canned meats in vegetables in the early 20th century. The company was purchased by Nestle in 1971.
Location
Currently not on view
referenced business
Libby, McNeill & Libby
ID Number
1979.0441.359
catalog number
1979.0441.359
accession number
1979.0441

Women and kids posing with traction engine

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1908
Associated Date
1908-08-07
1908-08-06
ID Number
2018.0166.0094
accession number
2018.0166
catalog number
2018.0166.0094

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