This appears to be an early sugar beet loading machine. Probably about 1935 and looks quite new. It was used to pick up beets from large storage piles and carry them up an elevator. The beet were then moved along a conveyor and loaded in railroad cars or trucks. The wooden cab was where the operator controlled the machine. -Nick McCumber.
At Waverly farmers delivered their beets to the factory yard where the beets were piled near the plant. They were moved to the factory from the storage piles in segments. The plant opened in about 1907 and operated sporadically until 1941. It was reopened in 1941 and closed after World War II ended.
Additional photographs and resources can be found at the Waverly Public Library on the local and family history page http://www.waverlyia.com/public-library/research/local-and-family-history-collection.aspx Accession No. 89C0229
Comments:
This appears to be an early sugar beet loading machine. Probably about 1935 and looks quite new. It was used to pick up beets from large storage piles and carry them up an elevator. The beet were then moved along a conveyor and loaded in railroad cars or trucks. The wooden cab was where the operator controlled the machine. -Nick McCumber. At Waverly farmers delivered their beets to the factory yard where the beets were piled near the plant. They were moved to the factory from the storage piles in segments. The plant opened in about 1907 and operated sporadically until 1941. It was reopened in 1941 and closed after World War II ended. Additional photographs and resources can be found at the Waverly Public Library on the local and family history page http://www.waverlyia.com/public-library/research/local-and-family-history-collection.aspx Accession No. 89C0229