Andrews & Beaven Chaff Cutter

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Andrews & Beaven Ltd

c. 1900

Overview

This is a self-bagging Chaff Cutter with an elevator that was made by Andrews and Beaven Ltd. in Christchurch, New Zealand and used at the Bussells’ farm Cattle Chosen between 1915 and 1920. It is probable that this chaffcutter was on originally wheels so that it could be towed to where the hay was waiting but the wheels have since been removed. The cutting mechanism was driven by a pulley system that would have been powered by a horse works, stationary engine or in later years by a tractor power take-off (PTO).

Historical information

A chaff cutter is a mechanical device for cutting straw or hay into small pieces which were mixed together with other forage and fed to horse or cattle. The very first known chaff cutter was designed by James Edgill of Frome, Somerset, England and it was believed to have had a single spiral knife. Soon after, in 1794, Reverend James Cooke of London lodged a patent for a hand-powered chaffcutter. Chaff cutters then became a ubiquitous part of farming as chaff proved to be economical, provided fibre which aided the animal's digestion and encouraged good feeding habits, especially during the months when fresh feed was unavailable. Over the years chaff cutters became more refined and fit for purpose and were manufactured all over the world. Whilst their use declined when tractors replaced horse power, chaff cutters are still used today on horse and dairy farms.

In 1876 William Andrews exhibited his portable self-bagging chaffcutter at the Christchurch show and claimed it to be the first of its kind in the world. In 1878 Andrews met Arthur Beaven and they formed the partnership of Andrews & Beaven (A & B) which is still operating today in New Zealand. It is estimated that about half of all chaffcutters manufactured by A & B were exported to Australia.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2023.79

Item type

Machinery

Material

Steel

Inscriptions and markings

ANDREWS & BEAVEN CHRISTCHURCH NZ

Contextual Information

It would have been at least a three-man operation using this chaff cutter with one feeding the hay or straw into the loading tray, another forcing it into the cutting blades and another to manage the bags catching the chaff as it exited at the top of the elevator. It would have been hot and dusty work for all involved.

When the Bussell brothers moved from Augusta to the Vasse in 1832, John Garret Bussell was granted 3,573 acres of land on the Vasse River which was named “Cattle Chosen”. Claude Vines, the great grandson of JG Bussell, recalled how the family used to take this chaff cutter from Cattle Chosen to neighbouring farms to help out during the chaff cutting season. It was common practice for small acreage farms to share equipment in this way and quite often after the work was done it would turn into a social occasion with food and drinks shared amongst the family and workers.

Keywords

Busselton

Farm Machinery

Cutting Chaff

Place made

Christchurch
Canterbury
New Zealand

Year

c. 1900

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Related Objects

Parent records