An undated photograph of an old-time threshing machine of the type commonly used on farms in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and other farming areas in the Lykens Valley. Threshing machines removed the seeds of the grain from the stalks and husks. The threshing machine was an expensive piece of equipment not available to a small-scale farmer. “Threshers,” men who went from farm to farm at harvest time with a “threshing machine,” were common in the Lykens Valley until about 1940. With the advent of the combination harvester and thresher, referred to as a “combine,” the threshing industry passed out of existence.
Pictured are Harry Henninger and his sons, Kermit Henninger and Harold Henninger, owners of an old-time threshing machine.
The following information about threshers was provided in the Gratz Sesquicentennial Book:
One recalls with a bit of nostalgia the rigs on the highways, always in a hurry to get to the next task. The Laudenslagers were probably the kings of the [threshing] industry, chiefly because for many years they had two rigs in operation. “Old Joe” Laudenslager and some hired help operated the one outfit and Newt Laudenslager and Charles Laudenslager the other. “Young Joe” Laudenslager and “Little Harry” Laudenslager took care of the farming.
Other threshers coming to mind were Frank Hoover, Elmer Klinger, Nelson Hoke, and Theodore Rebuck. Later came Ben Weiss, George Hartman and Luther Klinger. These later ones began using gasoline tractors for power.
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Photo and information from the Gratz Sesquicentennial Book, 1955.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.