Daisy Self-Rake Reaper, circa 1895

Daisy Self-Rake Reaper, circa 1895

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Description
The reaper replaced the hard manual labor of harvesting grain with a sickle with a drivable machine. The operator sat on a seat mounted on the left wheel axel, driving the two horses or mules that pulled the reaper. Its reciprocal cutter bar was more than five feet long with three triangular sickle blades oscillating through guard teeth. Three rotating arms with three-inch projections raked, bound, and shocked the grain.
An earlier model of the McCormick reaper, "Old Reliable," had required two men to operate. The second man sat behind the driver of the team, next to the apron, and raked the grain out as the reaper drove along. The "Daisy" eliminated the need for this second operator. The McCormick Machine Company, founded in 1847 by Cyrus McCormick, later became the International Harvester Corporation.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
rake reaper
date made
ca 1895
patent date
PATD. U.S. / FEB. 12TH 1895 / MAR. 16TH 1897
inventor
McCormick, Cyrus
manufacturer
McCormick Machine Company
maker
McCormick Machine Company
Physical Description
wood (overall material)
metal (overall material)
ID Number
AG.58A05.04
accession number
213356
catalog number
58A05.04
Credit Line
Gift of the New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York
See more items in
Work and Industry: Agriculture
Agriculture
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

I am trying to restore a McCormick Daisy Reaper. It is missing a few parts and I have not found a manufacture date or patent number. I am looking for variations or improvements made as it progressed to help determine what year or model I have. The foot rest section I have is made of wood not iron, and the seat folds up, the mechanism for transmission of power is geared with bevel gears and shafts, some lube holes have wood pegs and some holes have some sort of spring plate . The rake arms have multiple pieces forming a parallelogram. I am looking for Photographs, Patent drawings, repair or assembly literature. Locations of collections or displays.

MARTIN H ST JOHN

Wed, 2020-03-11 09:09

What period of time did they make the daisy reaper.

Hillory

Mon, 2013-03-18 13:40

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