Burton in Washington County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Burton Farmers Gin 1914
National Mechanical Engineering Landmark
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
1. Burton Farmers Gin 1914 Marker
This is the earliest known survivor of an integrated cotton ginning system widely used to process cotton from wagon to bale in a continuous operation. The gin machinery was designed and built in 1914 by the Lummus Cotton Gin Company and can process seven bales per hour. Five gin stands, stick machine, burr machine, separators, cleaners, press pump, and pneumatic conveying fans are driven by a 125-hp Bessemer oil engine. This gin ran commercially until 1974 and was restored to operating condition in 1993.
Erected 1994 by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. (Marker Number NL109.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.
Location. 30° 10.792′ N, 96° 35.633′ W. Marker is in Burton, Texas, in Washington County. Marker is on North Main Street (State Highway 125) north of West Mulberry Street, on the right when traveling south. This marker, along with Texas Historical Marker and National Register of Historic Places Plaque, is mounted directly on the subject building,
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Burton Farmers Gin (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Burton Farmers Gin (within shouting distance of this marker); The Restoration Project (within shouting distance of this marker); Burton Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away); Burton Community (approx. 0.2 miles away); Texas Pink Granite Rock (approx. 0.2 miles away); Original Site of Burton State Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away); Burton Cafe (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burton.
Regarding Burton Farmers Gin 1914. Texas Historic Landmark (1988), National Register of Historic Places (1991), National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark (1994)
Also see . . .
1. Burton Farmers Gin Mill. Earliest known survivor of an integrated cotton ginning system widely used in the southern United States. The Bessemer engine powered the entire mill, removing manual labor from the ginning process and allowing the Texas industry to evolve into the age of mechanization and integrated machine systems. The Burton Farmers mill has been restored to full operation and
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
2. Burton Farmers Gin 1914 Marker (wide view; marker visible right of door)
2. How the Cotton Gin Started the Civil War. Before the cotton gin, slavery had been on its way out—farmers realized it was more expensive to maintain slaves, compared to the value of what they could produce. Cotton was a troublesome crop anyway; its fiber could only be separated from the sticky, embedded seeds by hand, a grueling and exhausting process. This changed dramatically, of course, with the advent of the cotton gin. Suddenly cotton became a lucrative crop and a major export for the South. However, because of this increased demand, many more slaves were needed to grow cotton and harvest the fields. Slave ownership became a fiery national issue and eventually led to the Civil War. (Submitted on December 27, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Texas Cotton Gin Museum. (Submitted on December 29, 2017.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
3. Burton Farmers Gin
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
4. Burton Farmers Gin
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
5. Texas Cotton Gin Museum (Burton Farmers Gin in background)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
6. Burton Farmers Gin - Engine Muffler Information
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
7. Pneumatic Unloader (plaque)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
8. Pneumatic Unloader Tube
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
9. Burton Farmers Gin: Cotton Wagon
Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 335 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 27, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7, 8, 9. submitted on January 2, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
