1

The Campbells' oat field, ready to be cut and bound for threshing
Aug. 1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo by Robert Wills

2

A crop of oats must go through a series of processes, in order to get from field to barn or table. As the grain ripens, it is cut and bound by a marvel of 19th Century machinery called a grain binder.

In the videos, the Campbells are shown operating the binder, then Eric shows and explains the workings of the machine. Farmhand Robert Smith demonstrates how the sheaves of oats are stooked to further ripen in the autumn sun.

Then, the sheaves are loaded onto a wagon, and hauled to the threshing mills - in the Campbells' case, powered by steam engines.

The advantage of this method, as compared to the more modern use of combine harvesters, is that the ripening process can be optimized. The grain can be cut and bound at its best time, and threshed when the time is right for that. In the combine method, it all must be done at once, and the unripe grain is harvested along with the ripe. Also, the straw and chaff, useful by-products, are scattered in the field, rather than piled in a stack for later use as bedding for animals.

3

Eric and Evelyn operating the grain binder, pulled by a 1953 Massey-Harris tractor
Aug. 1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video still by Robert Wills

4

Eric and Evelyn bind the oats into sheaves with a grain binder
Aug 1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video by Robert Wills
music performed by Eric Campbell, fiddle, Evelyn Campbell, guitar, and Betty Cameron, piano

5

Eric explains the workings of the grain binder
Aug. 1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video still by Robert Wills

6

The bill hook, an essential element of the binder mechanism
Aug. 1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video still by Robert Wills

7

Eric explains the workings of the grain binding machine, especially the knotter
Aug. 1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video by Robert Wills

8

Golden oats; food for people and animals
Aug. 1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video still by Robert Wills

9

Farmhand Robert Smith demonstrates how the sheaves of oats are stooked to cure
1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video by Robert Wills

10

The scene at the Steam-Powered Threshing Bee
Aug 1994
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo by Robert Wills