Tractor heritage, news and features

Wood's reaper binder

I can also relate to the old haypress. I did help as a boy pressing hay into trusses 3ft x 2ft weighing ½ cwt (the machine had a weighing device on it). The long-handled lever was used to compress the hay which was tied with three strings. The two chaps shown were no doubt local contractors doing 'piece work'. Note the large pile of trusses in the background.

Our old machine sadly went for scrap during the war. It was used for many years by the Abreys of Brookland in the early 1900s trussing stacks of hay bought by agents then put on rail for London horses and cows. The large hay knife was kept razor sharp and was a real 'man killer'. We still have ours but I am well past it at 83 to even think about using it.

Jim Pilcher,
Rye, E Sussex