Shelbyville in Shelby County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Commercial Pick-up Baler

Historic Landmark of Agricultural Engineering

By Al Wolf, August 31, 2008

1. First Commercial Pick-up Baler Marker

Inscription. In the Shelbyville area during the Spring of 1929, Raymore McDonald designed and developed the first commercial pick-up baler as conceived and financed by Horace Tallman and his sons, Leslie R. And Gentry L. These balers were marketed for many years by the Ann Arbor Machine Company of Shelbyville. This concept of field processing of farm forages made a significant contribution to the efficiency and economy of mechanized forage harvesting in the world's agriculture. This basic field pick-up mechanism has been used in about 1.5 million balers built in the U.S. by 1980.

Erected 1980 by American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Location. 39° 24.395′ N, 88° 47.43′ W. Marker is in Shelbyville, Illinois, in Shelby County. Marker is at the intersection of East Main Street and South Washington Street, on the left when traveling west on East Main Street. Touch for map. The marker is on the left at the "Plaza" at the streets intersecting location. Marker is in this post office area: Shelbyville IL 62565, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lincoln-Thornton Debate / Lincoln Circuit (here, next to this marker); Freedom Square (a few steps from this marker); Soldiers and Sailors Monument (a few steps from this marker); Abraham Lincoln - Eighth Judicial District (within shouting distance of this marker); " Let's Debate " by John McClarey (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln - Thornton Debate (within shouting distance of this marker); Anthony Thornton (within shouting distance of this marker); Traveling the Circuit (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shelbyville.

Categories. • Agriculture • Notable Events • Notable Persons • Notable Places •

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on September 2, 2008, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 1,135 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on September 2, 2008, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.