John Appleby
Encyclopedia
John Francis Appleby was an American
inventor who developed a knotting device to bind grain bundles with twine
, which became the foundation for all farm grain binding machinery and was used extensively by all the major manufacturers of large grain harvesting machines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Appleby's knotting device was a major landmark in the mechanization of agriculture and aided the development of the western wheat fields of the United States.
in 1840. In 1844 his extended family of 17 arrived by boat to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
.
When he was just 18, Appleby invented the basic knotting device that would become the foundation for all farm binding machinery, but no one was interested in the idea at the time.
He served with the 23rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
in the American Civil War
, from 1862 to 1865. During the war, Appleby invented and patented a manual magazine feed breech loading
needle gun
.
When the US government rejected the idea, Appleby sold the patent for $500. The weapon was later used extensively by the Prussian Army
.
After the war, he returned to Wisconsin and by 1874 had developed a successful wire grain binder. He was unable to gain any financial backing for it because of lack of support from farmers for the use of wire binding because small bits of wire often got into feed grain and were ingested by cattle, causing them harm.
By 1878, Appleby had developed a successful twine binder, which he patented. Twine binders did not cut into the wheat or, like wire binders, kill cattle that happened to eat a strand.
He licensed the twine binder mechanism to the Gammon and Deering Company, which incorporated it into its Marsh Harvester grain binders and harvesters. Primarily on the value of Appleby’s twine binder, The Deering Harvester Company (as it became known in 1880) outsold its competitors.
Appleby's design soon became the standard grain binding device used on machines manufactured by Cyrus McCormick
’s McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, Champion Machine Works, and the D.M. Osborne Co.
In 1881, Appleby sold his grain binder machine patent interests to Champion Machine. He continued to work on various inventions, eventually patenting a horse-drawn cotton harvesting machine
in 1905.
He died in Chicago
in November 1917.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
inventor who developed a knotting device to bind grain bundles with twine
Twine
Twine is a light string or strong thread composed of two or more smaller strands or yarns twisted together. More generally, the term can be applied to any thin cord....
, which became the foundation for all farm grain binding machinery and was used extensively by all the major manufacturers of large grain harvesting machines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Appleby's knotting device was a major landmark in the mechanization of agriculture and aided the development of the western wheat fields of the United States.
Life
John Francis Appleby was born in Westmoreland, New YorkWestmoreland, New York
Westmoreland is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 6,207 at the 2000 census.The Town of Westmoreland is in the west-central part of the county. The New York State Thruway passes across the town. Westmoreland is west of Utica, New York.The Westmoreland Central...
in 1840. In 1844 his extended family of 17 arrived by boat to Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
.
When he was just 18, Appleby invented the basic knotting device that would become the foundation for all farm binding machinery, but no one was interested in the idea at the time.
He served with the 23rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
23rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 23rd Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 23rd Wisconsin was organized at Madison, Wisconsin and mustered into Federal service August 30, 1862....
in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, from 1862 to 1865. During the war, Appleby invented and patented a manual magazine feed breech loading
Breech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
needle gun
Needle gun
The Dreyse needle-gun was a military breechloading rifle, famous as the main infantry weapon of the Prussians, who adopted it for service in 1848 as the Dreyse Zündnadelgewehr, or Prussian Model 1848...
.
When the US government rejected the idea, Appleby sold the patent for $500. The weapon was later used extensively by the Prussian Army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
.
After the war, he returned to Wisconsin and by 1874 had developed a successful wire grain binder. He was unable to gain any financial backing for it because of lack of support from farmers for the use of wire binding because small bits of wire often got into feed grain and were ingested by cattle, causing them harm.
By 1878, Appleby had developed a successful twine binder, which he patented. Twine binders did not cut into the wheat or, like wire binders, kill cattle that happened to eat a strand.
He licensed the twine binder mechanism to the Gammon and Deering Company, which incorporated it into its Marsh Harvester grain binders and harvesters. Primarily on the value of Appleby’s twine binder, The Deering Harvester Company (as it became known in 1880) outsold its competitors.
Appleby's design soon became the standard grain binding device used on machines manufactured by Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. was an American inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester Company in 1902.He and many members of the McCormick family became prominent Chicagoans....
’s McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, Champion Machine Works, and the D.M. Osborne Co.
In 1881, Appleby sold his grain binder machine patent interests to Champion Machine. He continued to work on various inventions, eventually patenting a horse-drawn cotton harvesting machine
Cotton picker
The mechanical cotton picker is a machine that automates cotton harvesting in a way that reduces harvest time and maximizes efficiency.-History:...
in 1905.
He died in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in November 1917.
External links
- Wisconsin Historical Society official website
- "The Invention of the Twine Binder," by F. B. Swingle, The Wisconsin Magazine of History, vol. 10, 1927, Wisconsin Historical Society
- Deering Estate at Cutler.16701 SW 72 Ave.Miami FL 33157USA305-235-1668
- The Wonder Book Of Knowledge, chapter on "Development of the Reaper," Henry Chase. New York: The John C. Winston Company, 1921.