188 FARM MACHINERY 



George Ertel was the pioneer manufacturer of hay presses in 

 the West. His first efforts were in 1866, and from that time he 

 devoted practically his entire time to the manufacture of hay 

 presses. His first machine was a vertical one operated by horse 

 power. Now both steam and gasoline engines are used to 

 furnish the power. 



263. Box presses are used very little at present, being 

 superseded by the continuous machines of larger capacity. 

 The box press consists in a box through which the 

 plunger or compressor acts vertically, power being fur- 

 nished either by hand or by a horse. The box, with the 

 plunger down, is filled with hay; the plunger is then 

 raised, compressing the hay into, usually, the upper end, 

 where it is tied and removed. The machine is then pre- 

 pared for another charge. 



264. Horse-power presses are either one-half circle or 

 full circle. In the half-circle or reversible-lever presses 



FIG. 143 A FULL-CIRCLE HORSE HAY PRESS ON TRUCKS FOR 

 TRANSPORTATION 



the team pulls the lever to one side and then turns around 

 and pulls it to the other side. The hay is placed loose 

 in a compressing box, compressed at each stroke and 

 pushed toward the open end of the frame, where it is 

 held by tension or pressure on the sides. When a bale 

 of sufficient length is made a dividing block is inserted 

 and the bale tied with wire. 



In the full-circle press the team is required to travel 

 in a circle. Usually two strokes are made to one round 



