Mini Baler Works Like 1930's Hay Press

Mini Baler Works Like 1930's Hay Press AG WORLD Ag World 18-1-20 An Iowa mechanic who was raised on a farm is making hay the way it was made in the 1930's - but on a miniature scale - using a "hand-feed", home-built replica baler. Art Landuyt, Williamsburg, Iowa, demonstrates the hand-built baler at farm shows and thresher's reunions. A 1/4 scale model produces 1 1/2-lb. bales of straw measuring 12 in. long, 4 in. wide, and 6 in. high, or 5-in. long bales that are 1 3/4 in. wide and 2 in. high. He sells the bales for $2 apiece. "People buy the bales as decorations for Halloween or Christmas nativity scenes," says Landuyt. "Some toy collectors use them to display their tractors or implements." Landuyt built the baler four years ago without using any particular hay press as a model. The baler was fashioned from sheet metal and angle iron. The only tools used were a cutting torch, band saw, and welder. The baler is mounted on a trailer and powered by a 1 1/2 hp antique Deere gas engine. "It takes only one man to operate this miniature baler, but years ago it took a crew of three-one man to stand on the ground and pitch hay onto the platform, one man to block the bale, and one man to tie the wire. They quit making these balers in the early 1940's." During demonstrations, Landuyt hand feeds straw into the baler chamber. The vertical plunger pushes the material down. Another horizontal plunger pushes straw through the chute. A lever sets bale tension and Landuyt ties the bales by hand with wire. "We can make 8 to 10 bales per hour," notes Landuyt, who notes that he has no plans to build the baler commercially. Contact FARM SHOW Followup, Art Landuyt, Art's Auto Repair, East Walnut, Williamsburg, Iowa 52361 (ph 319 668-2832).

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