FMC Tomato Harvester, 1969
Add to SetSummary
This massive machine, with 10 to 12 workers on it, performed the task of picking tomatoes off the stems of each plant in the field. Picking tomatoes by hand is a back-breaking, tedious job. Tomato harvesters, first introduced in 1959, reduced the time it took harvesting crews to pick one ton of tomatoes -- from 113 hours to 61 hours.
This massive machine, with 10 to 12 workers on it, performed the task of picking tomatoes off the stems of each plant in the field. Picking tomatoes by hand is a back-breaking, tedious job. Tomato harvesters, first introduced in 1959, reduced the time it took harvesting crews to pick one ton of tomatoes -- from 113 hours to 61 hours.
Artifact
Tomato harvester
Date Made
1969
Creators
Place of Creation
United States, California, San Jose
Creator Notes
Manufactured by FMC Corporation in San Jose, California

On Exhibit
at Henry Ford Museum in Agriculture
Object ID
91.142.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Steel (Alloy)
Color
Red
Dimensions
Height: 11 ft
Width: 11 ft
Length: 32.5 ft