Threshing with a Ransome portable steam engine

TR RAN PH2/1/1/155TO CHECK

c.1870s

Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, engineers of Orwell Works, Ipswich were a major British agricultural machinery maker. (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Ransomes,_Sims_and_Jefferies) Located at Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk. The firm adopted various styles while in business at Ipswich. The following list indicates their dates of adoption and the abbreviations used in the catalogue: 1789 RR Robert Ransome 1809 RSn Ransome & Son 1818 RSs Ransome & Sons 1825 JRR J. & R. Ransome 1830 JRAR J. R. & A. Ransome 1846 RM Ransome & May 1852 RS Ransome & Sims 1869 RSH Ransome, Sims & Head 1881 RHJ Ransome, Head & Jefferies 1884 RSJ Ransome, Sims & Jefferies Ltd. (1884 Private Limited Company) (1911 Public Limited Company) Prior to 1789 Robert Ransome was in business at Norwich trading under the following styles: 1774 Robert Ransome 1784 Ransome & Co.

East Anglia

1 photographic print: b&w (sepia)

type: PRINT

English

Item

Threshing, Threshing machines, Portable steam engines, Ransomes, Victorian farmers, Dymock, Graphic Materials

<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>3. &lt;B&gt;Threshing with a Ransome portable steam engine, East Anglia, c.1870s&lt;/B&gt;&lt;P&gt; This photograph depicts a typical scene on larger farms around the mid-nineteenth century. It was the era of 'high farming'; that is, of producing the highest output by the most economic means to feed an ever growing population. It is no surprise that this period gave rise to the industrial-minded farmer who saw an opportunity to make money in agriculture. Farming with steam power - a Victorian innovation - would enable him to do this.&lt;P&gt; Threshing (the process of separating the grain and stalks of harvested corn) was truly revolutionised by steam power in terms of efficiency and output. The threshing machine above is powered by a portable steam engine, meaning it could be moved and placed beside the corn ricks. This was a major advancement because it meant the entire threshing operation could now take place in one spot. Also, the very powerful steam engine could work at a constant rate, unlike horses that would tire as the day wore on.&lt;P&gt; If you look closely you can see, on the far left of the picture, a top-hatted gentleman leaning against a rick. Whether he is the farmer or a Ransome representative sent to observe their engine's performance, his urban dress hardly smacks of rural tradition and clearly shows this new business presence on Victorian farms.&lt;P&gt; TR RAN PH2/1/1/155</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>5. &lt;B&gt;Threshing with a Ransome portable steam engine, East Anglia, c.1870s&lt;/B&gt;&lt;P&gt; Taken at a time when the Victorian zeal for high productivity and economy of resources was in full flow, this photograph depicts a scene typical on larger farms around the mid-nineteenth century. It was the era of 'high farming'; of farming undertaken not as a traditional way of life but as a money-making, business venture. With a rising national population and increased demand for grain it is no surprise that this period bore the industrial-minded farmer driven by profit. One Victorian innovation above all others would help him achieve his success - farming with steam power.&lt;P&gt; Threshing became one of the first areas of farm work to benefit from the adaption of steam engines for agricultural use. Not only could far more corn be processed each day, but the back-breaking nature of thrashing by flail was now replaced by a highly efficient, mechanised operation. The threshing machine above is powered by a portable (as opposed to a stationary) steam engine, meaning it could be moved and placed beside the corn ricks. The entire threshing operation could now take place in one spot, saving much time and energy. The power of the engine to drive the machine was also far greater than the horses it displaced and, unlike horses, it didn't tire as the day wore on. Whereas a good flailman could manually thresh just under two sacks of wheat in a day, the team in the photograph would have produced about seventy sacks of better-dressed grain in the same time. And look closely on the far left of the picture. Leaning against a rick is a top-hatted gentleman watching proceedings from a distance. Whether he is the farmer or a Ransome representative sent to observe their engine's performance, his urban demeanour is indicative of this new business presence on Victorian farms.&lt;P&gt; TR RAN PH2/1/1/155</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>

Available

Scanned image