THE MACHINE AGE COMES TO THE FARM

A. W. Stevens & Son

[c1885] The Stevens Spring Tooth Harrow [Folding Chromolithograph - Scarce Agricultural Ephemera]

THE AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION IN CHROMOLITHOGRAPHY.
A vibrant four-panel folding advertisement showcasing the technological superiority of the 'Arch-Frame' harrow through dramatic comparative lithography. Produced by the noted J. Ottmann Lithograph Company, it serves as a premier example of Gilded Age agricultural marketing.

KEY FEATURES:
+++ Visuals: Four continuous panels of high-quality chromolithography. The primary side features a large landscape scene contrasting the ease of the Stevens Harrow against the 'dismal song' of old-fashioned models. Includes a charming side panel of children in a goat-drawn carriage.
+++ Content: The reverse provides dense technical specifications, patent information (referencing Charles LaDow and G.B. Olin), and a list of available sizes (14 to 22 tooth).
+++ Imprint: A.W. Stevens & Son, Manufacturers & Patentees, Auburn, New York. Lithography by J. Ottmann Lith. Co. N.Y.
+++ Reference: A quintessential piece of New York State industrial history from the Auburn agricultural hub.

PHYSICAL SPECS:
+++ Date: c1885
+++ Dimensions: 13 by 5.75 inches
+++ Format: Four-panel folding trade brochure / chromolithograph

CONDITION: Very Good -- Age-toned throughout with light foxing and surface soil. Hinges are weak with some tenderness and minor separation starting at the folds, but the panels remain attached. Colors are remarkably bright and saturated.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This piece documents the transition from wood-framed to all-steel agricultural implements during the late 19th-century American farming revolution. 

The use of 'comparative' advertising—visually depicting the competitor's product as a 'back-breaking' failure—is executed here with exceptional artistic detail. It is a cross-collectible for both agricultural historians and enthusiasts of Victorian lithography.

KEYWORDS: Agricultural advertising, Spring Tooth Harrow, Auburn New York, Chromolithography, J. Ottmann Litho, Farm Machinery Ephemera, 19th Century Farming, Horse-drawn implements

Item #21507

Price: $125.00