Porcupine Thresher, circa 1820

Summary

This conical "porcupine" thresher beat the grain with the blunt wooden pegs as it was pulled around in a circle on a barn's threshing floor. The small end of the thresher was attached to a pivot, and the horse pulled the large end. It was used by Dutch and German farmers in the Mohawk Valley west of Albany, New York.

This conical "porcupine" thresher beat the grain with the blunt wooden pegs as it was pulled around in a circle on a barn's threshing floor. The small end of the thresher was attached to a pivot, and the horse pulled the large end. It was used by Dutch and German farmers in the Mohawk Valley west of Albany, New York.

Artifact

Threshing machine

Date Made

circa 1820

Place of Creation

United States 

Greenfield Village
 On Exhibit

at Greenfield Village in Soybean Lab Agricultural Gallery

Object ID

00.3.16419

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Wood (Plant Material)

Dimensions

Height: 4 ft

Width: 4 ft

Length: 11 ft

Related Content

Connect 3

Discover curious connections between artifacts.

Learn More