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Porcupine Thresher, circa 1820

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Artifact Overview

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 Details

Artifact

Threshing machine

Date Made

circa 1820

Place of Creation

Location

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

Porcupine Thresher, circa 1820