Agriculture/Horticulture
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INVENTIONS & IDEAS Researched & Compiled by Gordon Freegard 2021
Lack of
readymade equipment and isolation in the early days of the orchard industry,
meant that the local orchardist had to call upon the own experiences and ideas
to develop machines and equipment to make their everyday work duties easier and
more efficient. Many ideas arose from pencil scribbles on pieces of paper to an
actual piece of equipment that worked. As time went by these were modified and
adjusted as needed, to make them more efficient. Today there are many tools
used in the industry that were born from these early ideas. APPLE
BASHER
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APPLE
BASHER A
“jerry-built” Apple Basher has given Pickering Brook hills orchardist, Ray
Owen, a means of using surplus apples that cannot be sent to market. Rather
than dump the apples, he uses a machine that reduces them to quarters and mash,
which is then fed to his 300 cattle on a property near York. The machine
is simply a standard 120 bag wheat bin which has been fitted with a cutting
device on the side. A set of revolving “fingers” can push a full load of 300
bushels of apples through a cutting grid in about six minutes. The unit is
driven by belts and chains linked to the motor of the truck to which the
machine is attached. The bin can still be used for carting superphosphate or
grain when needed. The cattle
seem to prefer it to hay and it doesn’t appear to harm them.
PICTURE SHOWING FEED SCREW #2 # ATTACHMENT TO SIDE OF BULK BIN #4 |
PICTURE SHOWING BASHER DRUM #1
ATTACHMENT TO SIDE OF BULK BIN #3
Apologies for the poor quality of images |
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DRAINAGE
PIPES Efficient
drainage in orchards is essential and this was achieved in the early days by
constructing wooden slab drains below tree root level. Ray Owen devise a method
of casting pipes with a mixture of cement and gravel. The dimensions of the
sizes he made were 6 inches x 12 inches and 3 inches by 12 inches. In the
attached picture are shown the original moulds. These moulds were filled and
the plunger rotated through the centre of the mixture providing for the void
and creating the inside lining of the pipe. The plunger was driven from a
stationary engine. Using this method Ray cast several thousand of these
drainage pipes for their orchard. Few items were bought “off the shelf” in the 1930's, and today this method for drainage may appear simple, but in its day it was both innovative and cost effective and illustrates how orchardists used their skills and creativity to achieve success
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ORIGINAL MOULDS FOR PIPE MAKING #5
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DRILL To overcome a
problem with augers jamming in stumps and fence posts, when they were being drilled,
Ray Owen built this innovative drill. The electric drill pictured was
engineered from an Austin Seven car’s gearbox. It provided
three forward and one reverse gear so that it facilitated drilling in the most
difficult of circumstances. It was portable, being run off a 240 volt generator
powered by a petrol engine. It was
particularly useful in drilling a 4 inch (10cm) hole through the soil under a
stump to insert an explosive charge. It was used for many years.
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RAY OWEN AND SON CLIVE USING THE DRILLS #6
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ELECTRIC
FENCING This is an article published
in the Western Mail Thursday 16th December 1937 How often,
when bemoaning the activities of some horse or cow which persisted in going
over, under, or through your fences, you have said, “I wish I could run a
lively current of electricity through those wires to give the blighters a
shock”? Most farmers have harboured similar thoughts, although few ever thought
that such a remedy could become an economical possibility. When a few
months ago, in 1937, it was announced that a one-wire electrified fence system
had been awarded a medal at a large British Agricultural Show as one of the
outstanding labour-saving devices of the exhibition. Several readers of “The
Western Mail” wrote to me asking for further particulars which I endeavoured to
obtain. |
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ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE ELECTRIC FENCE #7 |
Whilst
waiting replies to the letters sent, I met Mr. Bill McCorkill, of the Pickering
Orchard Company, Pickering Brook, who informed me that he had already installed
an outfit for experimental purposes. He invited me to visit his farm to see the
plant in operation. Here I saw a
heifer and cow which was reputed to be a noted “fencer”, grazing contentedly in
a small enclosure bounded by a single strand of barbed wire loosely strung on
light stakes. Just outside the wire were peas and lush vegetation quite
un-touched. A small flock of sheep was enclosed by two wires and here again, a
distinct line of demarcation was apparent: grass outside the flimsy fence
growing knee-high whilst that within the fence was eaten down. Whilst I was
there, a consignment of store pigs arrived and I was able to note their
reactions to this novel type of fencing. The pigs were placed in a shed with
one open side across which two barbed wires were stretched. Several approached
these wires with typical porcine distain for such an apparently ineffective
barrier. As the first snout touched the wire, there was a startled snort and a
ludicrous expressions of amazement on the face of the pig as it backed away.
Others followed and soon a row of astonished pigs stood there apparently trying
to fathom the mystery. The makers
recommend this form of training, particularly for pigs and sheep which, being
less intelligent than the larger stock, take longer to realise that the shock
comes from the wire. Horses and cattle carefully avoided the wire after one or
two contacts and it is claimed that the current may be shut off for days
without the animals becoming aware of the fact. I am informed that the pigs,
whose first introduction to the fence, I witnessed are now grazing in the open,
securely confined in a two-wire enclosure.
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A Modern Miracle Porcelain
insulators on the stakes guard against leakage of current and the controller is
constructed to prevent radio interference, or damage from lightning. For gates
in the electrified fence, a single piece of wire with a hook or harness snap is
all that is necessary: a piece of rubber hose serving as an insulated
handpiece. |
ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE ELECTRIC FENCE #8
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No Danger Although the
makers claim that it will supersede the orthodox fencing practice and eliminate
80 per cent of the fencing costs, the prevalence of the rabbit pest alone would
militate against its adoption as a boundary fence in this State. Nevertheless
it would certainly appear that used in conjunction with the permanent fences,
there is simple scope for the establishment of these outfits on many farms in
this State, and an investigation of their possibilities should be well worth
while. Mr. McCorkill, the original user, is
so enthusiastic concerning the possibilities of the fence that he has secured
the agency for the invention and his son David, an electrical engineer, has
resigned his position with a city firm to introduce electrified fencing to this
State. On his
Pickering Brook property, many tons of good feed went to waste every year for
lack of suitable means of keeping stock within defined areas, but now the
fattening of stock is becoming an important feature of the farm routine, as
sheep and pigs can be turned on to the vegetable plots after stripping, to
manure the land and clean up surplus foliage. A thoroughly effective temporary
fence can be erected or dismantled in a very short time, and this in itself
should make the outfit popular amongst farmers. Existing fence can be rendered
stock-proof by addition of an electrified wire, and in this manner, an
expensive rabbit-proof fence can be protected against damage by stock which
attempts to lean over it or paw it. As the circuit is completed by touching the
wire and forming a contact with the earth, the best results are obtained when
the ground is reasonably moist. When, owing to dry conditions or sandy,
grass-less soil, the conductivity of the earth is minimised, provision is made
for increasing the voltage by means of a “dry-weather switch.” References:
Article: The Western Mail
Images: The Western Mail
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FERTILISER
SPREADER This unique
fertiliser spreader was designed and built on their orchard by Ray Owen and his
sons, to distribute fertilizer to two rows of trees at the same time, by using
a blower driven off the p.t.o. The two augers were driven through two gearboxes
and the differential. The Holden
and Hillman gearboxes provided a variation of delivery rates. Air driven tubes
were used to distribute fertiliser to the rows of trees on each side.
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DETAILS OF THE EARLY VERSION #9 |
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Over the years the spreader was modified and improved. And can be seen in these attached pictures it became a professional looking piece of equipment.
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THE BASIS OF THE NEWER VERSION #10 |
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THE NEW VERSION BEING FILLED #11
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THE NEW VERSION IN USE #12
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NAIL
DISPENSER MACHINE Nailing the Jarrah wooden boxes together was a huge part
of preparing for the packing of fruit ready for market or export. As 1000’s
were needed each season most of the box making was done during the winter “off”
season so that they were ready when the ripe fruit picking season began.
Workers became efficient and quick at doing this job. Various inventions were created to make the process
easier and quicker. Special benches were made that held the case boards in
place prior to nailing. The whole process was slowed down by the time taken to
select each nail prior to using. Many workers held the nails in their mouths.
But then some genius invented the “Nail Dispenser Machine”. It is not confirmed
who this genius was but various names have been put forward – Ray Owen, Tom
Price Snr., and Michael Scolaro. But the fact that matters is that nearly every
orchard in the area had a version of the machine.
Some crude but very effect machines consisted of a cone shaped funnel made out of a 4
gallon tin. Attached to the bottom of the cone was attached two pieces of
fencing wire, running parallel that swept down and then up at the other end.
When the bulk nails were poured into the funnel they exited into the twin wire
which caught them by their heads. So all the nails were lined up ready for use.
Excess nails fell into a box below to be used again next time the funnel needed
to be used. This ingenious machine meant a line of nails were available, all facing with their heads at the top, ready for quick access by the box maker. An experienced box maker could assemble a box every minute.
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RAY OWEN'S PLAN FOR HIS VERSION #13
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CRUDE BUT IT WORKED #14
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ORCHARD
SPRAYER Ray Owen is a
particularly efficient handyman and has a host of useful homemade gadgets that
are a credit to his ingenuity and skill with tools. The Farmall tractor that
supplies all the farm power carries the standard toolbar and pneumatic lifting
gear, but he also adapted it to operate a home-made “calf-dozer”, a jack-hammer
for drilling holes for blasting, and a small spray outfit for fruitfly baiting. His big
orchard-spraying outfit is a magnificent job designed to be towed by the
tractor, and is also home-made. A 160-gallon Army water tank is the reservoir.
This was fitted with baffles when purchased, and was later lined with
bitumastic paint to prevent corrosion when using Bordeaux mixture. A
Ronaldson-Tippet duplex pump was fitted and driven through an Indian motorcycle
gearbox to give a reduction in second gear. Power is supplied from the tractor
power take-off per medium of the tail shaft and universal from a Vauxhall car.
The axle and wheel hubs are from a Chevrolet and the wheels from an A-model Ford
but they carry 9.00 x 20 tyres - rejects from a bus company. The pump operates
an agitator inside the tank and the spray is delivered through two hoses and
spraying lances.
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THE ORCHARD SPRAYER #15 Apologies for the poor quality of image |
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THE ORCHARD SPRAYER IN USE BEING TOWED BEHIND TRACTOR WITH MODIFIED WHEEL EXTENSIONS #16
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PICKING
LADDERS Picking
ladders of a neat and highly efficient type are made and used on most orchards prior
to today's “cherry-picker” machines being developed. Details of the design featured
a broad base that gave stability and the ladders are amazingly light to handle.
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WIDE BASED LADDER #17 Apologies for the poor quality of image
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ROKEWOOD
CASE PRESS All those who have ever nailed down fruit cases know that
the task involves a considerable amount of care, time and above all, an even
temper. Many lids split as the nails are driven home, and when the case is
tightly packed with the fruit projecting, it is very difficult, after nailing
down one end to secure the other without bruising the top layer of fruit. To
eliminate the disagreeable nature of this operation a neat contrivance,
invented by George Simpson, a fruit grower of Karragullen, will shortly be put
on the market under the name of the “Rokewood Case Press”. Representatives of the local fruit trade were initiated
into the mysteries of the machine at a demonstration held on 17th
July 1924. The presses on view, constructed of wrought iron and brass and
mounted on a firm base of jarrah blocks, were manufactured by Messrs. Metters
Ltd., in their West Perth Factory. When placed in the machine, the packed
fruit cases are supported, at the ends only, by a firm steel frame, the rest of
the case being free from contact. The lid is then placed in position, and the
overhead frame of the press in brought down by manipulating a lever. This
presses the two ends of the lid down simultaneously on to the case ends, and
they may be nailed with ease. Because the remainder of the case hangs free, the
contents are not bruised in any way, and there is an equal bulge at the top and
the bottom. This method of nailing is of particular advantage where the orchard
caters for the export market, which demands that the top and bottom layers
project about half to one inch out of the case. Mr. Simpson, who had his press
in practical use throughout the last season, stated it was admirable for
apples, oranges and soft fruits, such as apricots and tomatoes. When questioned
as to the advantages of the press as compared with the hand method of nailing
from the point of view of time, Mr. Simpson declared he was prepared to
challenge anyone that he could nail three cases with the Rokewood Press to the
other’s one, and that without bruising the fruit or splitting the case. |
GEORGE SIMPSON AND HIS DOG #18
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GEORGE SIMPSON DEMONSTRATING HIS MACHINES AT KARRAGULLEN #19 Apologies for the poor quality of image
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In discussing the probable price of the contrivance to a
representative of “The Farmer Newspaper”, Mr. Simpson stated that one form of
the press suitable for dump cases would retail at approximately six pounds
($12), while a combination set suited for both dump and flat cases would cost
some one pound ten shillings ($3) extra. That the innovation was proving attractive to fruit
growers was evident from the fact that during a tour of the Kalamunda district,
Mr. Simpson visited 11 orchards and in all but one instance, disposed of a
press to each. In one case two being asked for. Article:
The Countryman 29th August 1924 Images:
1 Internet
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A NEWER AND MORE MODERN VERSION #20
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RUBBER
TYRED WHEELBARROW A neat rubber-tyred wheelbarrow as created by Ray Owen. It was a copy of an American barrow Syracuse pattern and was very light but exceedingly strong, being well stayed with light steel straps wherever the stresses and strains were likely to occur. It had moveable sides for convenience of loading. Despite its professional finish, it too was made on his orchard at Pickering Brook.
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WHEELBARROW WITH MOVEABLE SIDES #21 Apologies for the poor quality of image
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WHEEL
EXTENSIONS A pair of neat wheel extensions for the tractor are another home-made gadget which have well repaid the time spent on their manufacture. Also designed and made by Ray Owen using old drill-wheel rims which were “cut and shut” to the correct size and oxy welded, then drilled to take the lugs. Strap iron was used to make the attachments with holes which can rapidly be slipped over the four bolts holding the wheel-weights. When the pneumatic tyres slip in wet weather, the lugs afford welcome assistance.
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TRACTOR WITH WHEEL EXTENSIONS #22 Apologies for the poor quality of image
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Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.
References; Article: Gordon Freegard Images: Owen Family Collection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11,, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22
Copyright 2008 - 2021 Gordon Freegard |
