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 ASME 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. It is on North Main Street (State Highway 125) north of West Mulberry Street, on the right when traveling south. This marker, along with
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
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
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2013
2. Burton Farmers Gin 1914 Marker (wide view; marker visible right of door)
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. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers website entry:
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 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The documentation, the surviving machinery, and that it still runs make it a landmark of exceptional integrity. (Submitted on December 27, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Texas Cotton Gin Museum. Website homepage (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 April 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 551 times since then and 10 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.
