Early Development of Forage Harvester
During the 1920’s Professor Floyd Waldo Duffee of the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Wisconsin was conducting research on a hay chopper now referred to as the forage harvester. In 1926, Prof. Duffee built and tested a harvester based on the combined components of a stationary silo filler and a field-going hay loader. The essential components for the silo-filler were the cutterhead and feedroll systems. The J. I. Case Company of Racine WI built a machine for Prof. Duffee who continued to improve and test the machine. The machine was capable of harvesting whole-plant corn or haylage crops. A conveyor elevated the crop to a wagon towed behind the harvester.
The very first pull-type forage harvester which combined a hay-loader pick-up and Fox River Tractor Co. ensilage cutter.
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Early prototype Fox River Tractor Co. forage harvester harvesting corn silage.
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Early UW forage harvester harvesting corn silage.
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Harvesting haylage with early UW direct-cut prototype.
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Early History of Fox River Tractor Company
The Fox River Tractor Company was organized in Appleton, WI on June 11, 1919. The business was located at 1020 North Rankin Street. The company’s founders were brothers Frank and Oscar Saberlich; Raymond and Erwin, sons of Frank Saiberlich; Wilmer, son of Oscar Saiberlich and Raymond Krueger, son-in-law of Oscar. Initially, the founders planned to manufacture farm tractors. Records indicate they manufactured about 20 tractors. The tractor was identified as a 20-40 which indicates it had 20 drawbar hp and 40 flywheel or belt hp. The engine had four cylinders, a bore of 5.5 inches, a stroke of 7.5 inches and an engine speed of 610 rpm.
In 1923, they began manufacturing silo fillers with unique first to the market features like anti-friction bearings and a steel frame instead of the common wood frame. In 1930, Fox began experimenting with a machine to harvest hay and corn silage in the field, collaborating with Prof. Duffee in developing their first harvester. A successful machine was built in 1931 which had pickup and mower attachments. The Saiberlish’s received US Patent No. 2,196,645 based on the design of the first machine. They sold their first harvester in 1932 but did not commercially market the machine until 1936, when they sold five. Sales increased to eight in 1937, 30 in 1938, 46 in 1939 and 108 in 1940. The timely success of this machine can be attributed to not only the fundamental soundness of the Fox design but also to simultaneous development of the tractor power-to-off which for the first time allowed transfer of rotary power to a trailed implement.
In 1923, they began manufacturing silo fillers with unique first to the market features like anti-friction bearings and a steel frame instead of the common wood frame. In 1930, Fox began experimenting with a machine to harvest hay and corn silage in the field, collaborating with Prof. Duffee in developing their first harvester. A successful machine was built in 1931 which had pickup and mower attachments. The Saiberlish’s received US Patent No. 2,196,645 based on the design of the first machine. They sold their first harvester in 1932 but did not commercially market the machine until 1936, when they sold five. Sales increased to eight in 1937, 30 in 1938, 46 in 1939 and 108 in 1940. The timely success of this machine can be attributed to not only the fundamental soundness of the Fox design but also to simultaneous development of the tractor power-to-off which for the first time allowed transfer of rotary power to a trailed implement.
Early prototype Fox forage harvester working in early 1930's.
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Early prototype Fox forage harvester working in early 1930's.
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Timeline of Important Fox Milestones
- 1919 Fox River Tractor Company founded in Appleton, WI and manufacturing of tractors began.
- 1923 Fox began manufacturing silo fillers with steel frames and anti-friction bearings.
- 1931 Developed first field-going harvester by combining essential elements of stationary silo-filler and field-going hay loader.
- 1932 First prototype forage harvester sold to Brook Hill Farms in Genesee Depot, WI.
- 1936 First commercial sale of five production forage harvesters with pickup hay heads.
- 1937 Production increased to eight harvesters and crop blower for use at silo or barn also introduced.
- 1940 Production increased to 108 harvesters and direct-cut grass head introduced.
- 1941 First direct-cut single-row corn head introduced.
- 1950 A new design developed with introduced a lighter machine and quick change attachments.
- 1955 Two-row corn head introduced.
- 1957 Self unloading forage box to improve unloading logistics introduced.
- 1960 Fox self-propelled harvester introduced.
- 1970 Fox River Tractor Company sold to Koehring Farm Equipment Division.
- 1981 Koehring sells the Fox product line to Piper Industries, Inc.
- 1986 Fox sold by Piper Industries, Inc to Hiniker and production of Fox Forage Harvesters ceases in Appleton, WI.
