The Southwick Baling Press 1893

 

Before balers, hay presses were used to compress hay into bales. Before hay presses, hay was stored loose in the upper floor of the farmers' barn, taking up huge amounts of space. By pressing the hay (or straw) into bales, it made better use of the available space in the barn.

Hay presses were invented in the 1850s, they were stationary machines that required hay to be brought to them by hand. Horses were used to power these machines by walking in a circle,

and through a system of rods and gears provided power to the press. Sandwich Manufacturing Company made these machines and shipped them all around the world. This picture is from a catalog printed around 1893.