Ran across this in Panaca, Nv
I did not notice how the "ram" was powered.
I believe it may have been by a horse or mule tied to an arm, walking in circle?
Many of the early "balers" were built that way.
CTS
 

Hi, CTS.
I dunno but I think that thing must be WAY older than me 'coz I cain't remember ever seeing anything like it. Thanks for the photo.

Just my 0.02.

I found this on YT



It’s been awhile or maybe more than a decade but I recall seeing them at some local shows usually located near a Petaluma or Monarch press.

Hi, Folks.
I have seen the horse, mule or bullock powered 'merry-go-round' devices at shows in the past. There used to be one operating at the Jondaryan Woolshed Museum a while back. It'z more than 10 years since I have been there, so I don't know if it still operates.

I have just never seen that style of hay press before.

www.jondaryanwoolshed.com.au/

Just my 0.02.

My dad claimed his first paying job was making the horse keep moving at 5 cents a day. I don't remember if he said how old he was but under 10 I am sure. Which would make a lttle more than a 100 years ago.


Come on Deas I know at least one year they a horse going in circles at Santa Margaritta .😉 Maybe the year had MaryAnn on your arm for the whole show😉.I could understand missing a horse with a girl like that on your mind. But I think there might have been year or 2 you did not get here as well. All the best to you until we meet again.

Hi, Ray54.
Quote:
"But I think there might have been year or 2 you did not get here as well."
Unquote.

History lesson - I was there for EVERY show from the first in 2010 to the first of the 'annuals' in 2015 right through to last year, 2023 - and helped to put all of those together. This one will be the FIRST one that I have missed so please try to have enough fun for both of us.

Just my 0.02.

Thank you for straightening me out. I am not sure if I made it to all of them or not. I had a little 😉 "chaises overhaul" in spring of 16 so may have loafed on the couch. And a case of you fix one thing something else shows up, damm doctors turned it into summer from hell with over 30 day in the hospital. Thankfully not in one stretch. I am hobbling worse and worse so don't know how much fun I will have.

I am guessing these bales are held together by black wire twitched at the ends. A lot less moving parts than the modern day double tie knotters on the big square balers but a lot more labour intensive and beware of getting fingers removed.

Hi, Ray54.
Just do wotchyer can with wotchyer got, M8. Every day that yer looking down at the daisies is a bonus.

Hi, ChrisE.
I worked onna hand tie baler - a Case, I think - back in 1960 - 2 men tying, 1 on either side - slide a double-channelled separator in between each bale as the came through, poke 2 needles with twine threaded into the eyes through the separator from 1 side and the man on the other side would pass them back through the previous separator whereupon the man on the tying side would tie the 2 twines off and catch the separator as the bales fell off the chute.

You may be surprised to hear that I was NOT disappointed when the farmer decided to get a contractor to do the baling the next season.

I had just turned 16 that first year.

Just my 0.02.