Spreadin', shellin', and separatin'
John Deere sells it all
Deere made more than just plows and planters in the early 1900s.
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As shown on this piece of
letterhead from Deere & Webber in 1905, Deere sold the famed "Success"
manure spreaders from the Kemp & Burpee Manufacturing Company of Syracuse, New York.
The small spinner fob and brass fob on a black ribbon also promote these manure spreaders.
In late 1910, the company joined John Deere and the operation moved to East Moline. ©
1999 Nick Cedar |
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And if they didn’t make it themselves,
they found a company who did (or did it better) and bought them out!
Deere & Company continued to expand its product line by adding
companies to its holdings. In fact, Deere added about a dozen related companies to the
fold around 1910.
John Deere sales branches were selling corn shellers made by the
Marseilles Manufacturing Company, Kemp & Burpee’s manure spreaders, and the
Sharples Cream Separator. Deere officially bought the first two companies and moved the
manufacturing to an East Moline factory.
Spreading success
Kemp & Burpee, founded in 1877 at Magog, Quebec, made one of the
first practical manure spreaders in North America. In 1880, the company moved to Syracuse,
New York, and around 1902, Deere’s sales branches began to market their Success
spreader.
In late 1910, Deere & Company took over
the company and moved production to East Moline.
Shelling it out
Deere bought the Marseilles Manufacturing Company, which had been in
business of making corn shellers and portable elevators since 1870 in Marseilles,
Illinois.
The one-hole hand corn sheller was
made by Marseilles Works too. This one is restored and rests inside the John Deere Store
next to the Pavilion on the riverfront in Moline. A Farmer’s Pocket Ledger (circa
1936) also lists a two-hole version. © 2000 Brenda Kruse |
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The Marseilles sheller was one of the best
on the market.
Earlier, Deere & Mansur had also manufactured shellers but got out
of the line when Deere contracted with Marseilles to make the shellers for Deere in 1908.
Just two years later, Deere & Company took over Marseilles and
moved the plant to East Moline, changing the name to Marseilles Company.
According to a 1918 product line listing, the Marseilles Works factory
in East Moline made the manure spreader, portable grain elevator, hand corn sheller, power
corn sheller and an inside cup grain elevator.
They also built some hay tools, a Van Brunt grain drill, and a lime and
fertilizer sower.
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Spread the word!
Kemp & Burpee of Syracuse, New
York, made a manure spreader marketed by John Deere in the early 1900s. These promotional
items (change tray, fobs, and pin holders) use the lion image to promte the company’s
"Success" line of manure spreaders. © 1999 Nick Cedar
Kemp & Burpee designed and patented the "beater on the
axle" spreader that was well-known across the country. As one listing reads, it
"does better work because the beater is near the ground — manure is not thrown
high — side winds do not cause drifting." And given the fact that the operator
sat so close to the manure, flying manure was probably a prime concern!
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One unique contraption
manufactured at the Marseilles plant was a "Bridge-Trussed Sagless Elevator." A
structure lifted the wagon to dump its load into the elevator, which was powered by a team
of horses. Later wagon designs introduced the side door and gravity flow for easier
unloading. |
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A Farmer’s Pocket Ledger
(circa 1936) shows the John Deere-Marseilles Cylinder Shellers that are "Built
especially for the job sheller man. Noted for big capacity, thorough shelling and clean,
marketable condition in which they deliver the shelled corn. Shelling cylinder has staves
that are adjustable at both ends, which permits thoroughly shelling large or small, tough
or dry corn, with minimum breakage of cobs — one ear can be shelled as clean as if
the cylinder was full. Vibrating shoes and blast fan clean corn thoroughly. Tailing
elevator prevents loss of corn in cob pile. Husks and dirt separated from cobs. Swinging
feeder — an exclusive feature — saves frequent setting. Built to last for years.
Capacity, 600 to 1,100 bushels per hour. Horse power required, 24 to 28." |
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This manure spreader closely matches the one made by Kemp & Burpee
for John Deere. This Vindex cast-iron toy from the Great Depression era has yellow wheels
and tongue, a red box, green seat and beaters. This one recently sold on eBay for $900!
Submitted photo. |
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Just after the turn of the century, womenfolk loved the Sharples Cream
Separator made by the Sharples Company of Chicago. It was promoted as the "Easiest to
Clean. Closest Skimmer" that was "Different from the Others." John
Deere’s Minneapolis sales branch, Deere & Webber, sold these machines back in the
early 1900s.Ý © 2000 Nick Cedar. |
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© 2000 Brenda Kruse. Photos by Brenda Kruse unless otherwise noted. |