Saw Mills on the Farm

The first patent in America for a mechanical invention was issued in 1646 for improvements in a sawmill. This suggests that people were constantly working on improvements even if they were not making radical changes. The typical saw was an up and down sash saw. The problem with it was that it had a very thick blade, 3/8″ to 1/2″ thick. This blade chewed up a lot of wood into sawdust. But it was fast and saved labor which was more important than trying to save wood. A sawmill with one man, perhaps assisted by a boy, could produce 1,000 ft. of pine boards in one day. It was five times more efficient than two hand sawyers who could produce a dozen boards per day on the average.

Before Home Depot, or Lowes, the farmer needed wood to build homes and barns for their stock.

So they came up with a mill that that could be driven by the pto on their tractors.

If you have never seen one of these mills, you will have a opportunity to see a mill in action. Come to the Sarpy Co fair on August 2 and 3. In Spring Field Nebraska.