NEWS

Telling the story of corn pickers

Phyllis and Bob Johnson, of rural Sycamore, Ill. stand by one of Bob's 25 corn pickers in his collection.
Phyllis and Bob Johnson, of rural Sycamore, Ill. stand by one of Bob's 25 corn pickers in his collection.
Submitted
The book, “Corn Pickers and the Inventors Who Dreamed Them Up,” tells the story of corn pickers from the earliest patents in 1850, to the the major manufacturers of the 1970s.
The book, “Corn Pickers and the Inventors Who Dreamed Them Up,” tells the story of corn pickers from the earliest patents in 1850, to the the major manufacturers of the 1970s.
Submitted
Dale Deno of Appleton, Wis., who collects Appleton Mfg. Co. equipment, even though the company founders moved to Illinois, was lucky enough to find an extremely rare picker in Illinois and has restored it.
Dale Deno of Appleton, Wis., who collects Appleton Mfg. Co. equipment, even though the company founders moved to Illinois, was lucky enough to find an extremely rare picker in Illinois and has restored it.
Submitted
Mechanical corn picking contests were sponsored by corn breeders who worked to create hybrids that would work better for mechanical pickers. Pictured is a 1959 Indiana contest.
Mechanical corn picking contests were sponsored by corn breeders who worked to create hybrids that would work better for mechanical pickers. Pictured is a 1959 Indiana contest.
Submitted,
New Idea's first corn picker from 1926 was the first to use power take off, using John Powell's invention.
New Idea's first corn picker from 1926 was the first to use power take off, using John Powell's invention.
Mercer County Historical Society,
The book, “Corn Pickers and the Inventors Who Dreamed Them Up,” tells the story of corn pickers, including rare pickers like the Wyde-Tred picker, designed by the inventor of the Wood Brothers corn picker.
The book, “Corn Pickers and the Inventors Who Dreamed Them Up,” tells the story of corn pickers, including rare pickers like the Wyde-Tred picker, designed by the inventor of the Wood Brothers corn picker.
Provided By Keith Oltrogge,
The Rosenthal company of Milwaukee had an unusual design called the Cornbine. Pictured is a brochure from 1950.
The Rosenthal company of Milwaukee had an unusual design called the Cornbine. Pictured is a brochure from 1950.
Submitted,
One of Bob and Phyllis Johnson's favorite chapters of the book contains the Neighbors Helping Neighbors section, along with many stories of favorite family stories from all over the country.
One of Bob and Phyllis Johnson's favorite chapters of the book contains the Neighbors Helping Neighbors section, along with many stories of favorite family stories from all over the country.
Provided By Jere Probert,
Three young men from DeKalb County, Illinois, invented the first way to mount a picker directly onto a tractor, which they sold to Continental Cultor in Ohio. The manufacturing rights of the Continental Corn Picker, originally built in Ohio, was bought in 1930 by the Belle City Mfg. Co. in Racine. Francis McGrady of Indiana provided this photo of his restored rare Continental.
Three young men from DeKalb County, Illinois, invented the first way to mount a picker directly onto a tractor, which they sold to Continental Cultor in Ohio. The manufacturing rights of the Continental Corn Picker, originally built in Ohio, was bought in 1930 by the Belle City Mfg. Co. in Racine. Francis McGrady of Indiana provided this photo of his restored rare Continental.
Francis McGrady,