Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Idaho National Harvester Company photographs and other material , 1900-1910
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Idaho National Harvester Company
- Title
- Idaho National Harvester Company photographs and other material
- Dates
- 1900-1910 (inclusive)19001910
- Quantity
-
1.5 linear feet, (1 container)
- Collection Number
- PH 318
- Summary
- The Idaho National Harvester Co. was founded in 1904, using money from the Mix brothers and design by Cornelius Quesnell and A.M. Anderson. The "Little Idaho" was a horse-drawn harvesting machine. The collection consists of research images on the Little Idaho, and some Quesnell family images.
- Repository
-
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open to the public.
Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.
- Additional Reference Guides
-
See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The manufacturing plant known as Idaho National Harvester Company was founded around 1904 by Gainford Mix and his older brother Ulyssess. Cornelius Quesnell and A.M. Anderson had a dream and a design to make a horse drawn/pushed grain harvester, but they did not have the capital to back the project. The Mix brothers were able to provide the financing of a prototype. Jerome Day (Gainford's brother-in-law) was also called upon for financial backing. This combination of investment and ingenuity lead to the "Little Idaho" being produced. It was called that because it was smaller and lighter than its competition. The harvester cut 4 foot swaths and required 4 horses and 2 men to operate. It was eventually redesigned to cut 8 foot swaths and use 6-8 horses depending on the grade of the land. Demand quickly outpaced production capacity. Eleven factory workers need a week to build the 1909 model. Two years later, interest spread to South America and Russia, but the plant could only produce two harvesters per week. Later, in the aftermath of World War 1, gas powered engines replaced the Little Idaho and production ceased entirely.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection contains 21 photographs as well as the book One man harvester and a manuscript for "Little Idaho." The photographs are of The Idaho Harvester and general farm scenes.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Grain--Harvesting--United States--Photographs
- Harvesting machinery--Photographs
Form or Genre Terms
- Photographic prints