Photo: Farm equipment exhibit

Photographer: Barry Swackhamer
Taken: October 25, 2013
Caption: Farm equipment exhibit
Additional Description: What Are These Machines?
Back in the 1880s, necessity was indeed the mother of invention, and of startling innovation. Match each of these tools to their description. It took remarkable ingenuity and craftsmanship to create these useful contraptions with the resources at hand!

Which is Which?
Arrastra Stones These stones were used in a simple grinding mechanism powered by a mule. The large stones were dragged over smaller ones in a circular motion, while quartz rock was added. The quartz was pulverized into a powder, which enabled miners to extract the gold from it.
Core Drill Steam-powered core drills allowed hard-rock miners to pull samples of rock from below the earth’s surface. Rocks were examined for traces of quartz, gold or other minerals. The steam engines from these drills were modified for other uses after the gold rush.
Feed Wagon This wagon once had tall slatted sides and was filled with hay to feed animals. With the sides removed, the wagon could be used to haul supplies and equipment on the farm.
Hay Baler To use this portable hay baler, the wheels were first removed and draft animals hitched to the extended arm in the center. The animals powered the device by walking in a circle. Hay was fed into it, compacted and ready to be hand-tied with wire.
Hay Press This press would shape bulky hay into three hundred pound blocks that could be stored easily. Hay was fed into it, then compacted and baled, ready to be hand-tied with wire.

1-Hay Press, 2-Core Drill, 3-Hay Baler, 4-Feed Wagon, 5-Arrastra Stones

Click on image to enlarge
Submitted: December 4, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
Database Locator Identification Number: p261766
File Size: 3.695 Megabytes

To see the metadata that may be embedded in this photo, sign in and then return to this page.