Reaping, cutting and gathering machine, calculated to work by manual labour, or with a horse

Circa 1827 broadside of a “Reaping, Cutting and Gathering Machine” most likely of James Ten Eyck. Born May 2, 1773 in North Branch, New Jersey, James Ten Eyck passed his days as a farmer in Somerset County. Ten Eyck understood the importance of farm machinery, which led Ten Eyck to innovate a farm reaping, cutting and gathering machine for patent and sale in 1825. According to Virginia S. Burnett, who wrote up a review of Ten Eyck’s reaper for the Journal of Rutgers University Library, “Ten Eyck’s reaper had a horizontal cylinder, with spiral knives cutting against straight edges. It was calculated to work by manual labor, or with a horse. Among the advantages of his machine Ten Eyck mentioned the facts that ‘one hand and a horse will cut and secure as much as three cradlers and three binders, in one day; the grain and seed thus gathered is easier and sooner thrashed; one man can do the work of six men in the thrashing; leaving the straw in the field, saves all the drawing of the manure; the bringing it to the barn, & the stowing of it away, may be done with the one sixth less labour than the usual way.’” (1945, JRUL 8(2): 72) The broadside states that the machine may be used “for the purpose of cutting and gathering Wheat, Rye, Oats, Barley, and the ears of timothy, or any other grain whose ears grow on the end of the stalk.” The advertisement argues that farmers can save time and money by using the machine because of its ability to reap, cut and gather product quicker than by hand