Ball's Ohio MowerIn 1857, a U.S. patent was issued to Ephraim Ball for his mower design, which became the first widely successful of the two-wheeled flexible or hinged bar mowers. This “Ball's Ohio Mower” greatly influenced the change from single driving-wheel machines to those with double drivers. Ball began inventing with a turn-top stove. Then in 1840 he established a foundry for making ploughs. His invention of the “Ball's Blue Plough” sold well, and in 1851 he joined with others to expand with a larger company with factories in Canton, Ohio. After his “Ohio Mower” he continued inventing farm machinery. The “World Mower and Reaper,” and “Buckeye Machine” (1858) sold extensively. He followed these with the “New American Harvester,” of which 10,000 were produced annually (1865).« |
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