USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Cyrus Hall McCormick invented the mechanical reaper, which combined all the steps that earlier harvesting machines had performed separately. His time-saving invention allowed farmers to more than double their crop size and spurred innovations in farm machinery.

Detailed explanation-2: -In 1831, twenty-two-year-old Cyrus McCormick took over his father’s project of designing a mechanical reaper.

Detailed explanation-3: -Hussey patented his reaper in 1833, and McCormick followed in 1834, but farmers didn’t start purchasing the machines in large numbers until the mid-1850s.

Detailed explanation-4: -In 1831 Cyrus, aged 22, tried his hand at building a reaper. Resembling a two-wheeled, horse-drawn chariot, the machine consisted of a vibrating cutting blade, a reel to bring the grain within its reach, and a platform to receive the falling grain.

Detailed explanation-5: -Cyrus made several changes to his father’s design and successfully demonstrated his reaper at Steele’s Tavern, Virginia, in July 1831. After a few additional modifications, he patented the invention in 1834.