Mini Baler Modeled After 1923 Hay Press

Mini Baler Modeled After 1923 Hay Press AG WORLD Ag World 15-5-17 A Wisconsin farmer who had already built his own 1/4-scale Case steam engine decided to build a piece of working farm equipment that he could power with his mini steam engine and came up with a 1/3-scale 1923 Case hay press. "I had been taking my steam engine to antique tractor shows and thought it would be more interesting if people could see it belted to a piece of model farm machinery," says Norbert Simonar, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. "I had already seen several mini threshing machines and two or three model saw mills, but I had never seen any small hay presses. "After 6 months of brain knocking and half a truck load of wood patterns, I ended up with this working 1/3-scale model. It's become a big crowd pleaser as well as a money maker since we sell the 5 by 7 by 14-in. bales for a dollar a bale at threshing shows, which helps cover expenses and pays for the cost of wire. We also wholesale them to local craft shops for $2 per bale. "I have less than $75 worth of materials invested in this machine - it has paid for itself several times over. "People are surprised to learn that all I had to go from in building it was a picture from a Case catalog. I had so many inquiries, in fact, that I finally had detailed blue-prints drawn up to offer for sale. Together with my partner, Mark O'Hern, we also offer completed hay presses with a flat pulley for $2,000. It's ready to belt up to most any low rpm engine. A hay press fitted with an electric motor sells for $2,200. You just plug it in and start baling. All machines are riveted together with 3/16-in. steel rivets. We use 12-ga. sheet metal for the bottom plate and 16-ga. for the sides and top. The machines are double-geared and have grease fittings where needed. They're built to operate smoothly and to last a long time. We can paint them using other manufacturers' color schemes such as Deere green and yellow. "I spent many enjoyable hours building the press - there's a large amount of lathe work necessary and also some mill work and welding. We also sell gear sets and aluminum flanged bearing sets needed to build the baler. We're working on a 1/6-scale model of the same baler that'll pro-duce bales 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 by 7 in. long." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Norbert Simonar or Mark O'Hem, 5901 Country View Rd., Sturgeon Bay, Wis. 54235 (ph 414 743-7142 or 5166).

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