Mechanical Reaper Advertisement This advertisement for the mechanical reaper manufactured by the Lagonda Agricultural Works in Ohio illustrates the labor saved—and the labor still required—to harvest wheat. The revolving reel pulled the stalks of wheat toward a cutter and piled the cut grain on a platform. One man pushed the cut wheat onto the ground, and another man bound it into sheaves.

Library of Congress, LC-DIG-pga-02032.