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Fresno Scraper
The Fresno scraper wsas invented in 1883, in Fresno California, by James Porteous..jpg)
Fresno scraper being pulled by team
Throughout history, mankind has moved the earth's soil for agricultural and construction purposes. Historically, some underdeveloped countries still transport it by carrying it on their heads, hanging it from poles, or hanging it from baskets. The use of draft animals for pulling slip/scoops dates back to Flemish husbandry. For better lateral control of scraping, sliding, and loading, the single handle was replaced by two handles. The buckboard was developed by Western Americans in the mid-1800s. Essentially, it was a horse-drawn board used to smooth and level the ground by removing soil from a high spot and pushing it into low spots. The driver of the Buckboard stood upon a tailboard until the soil was ready to be dumped. When the earth was dumped by slip/scoops, slip/scoops, and buckboards were often used to smooth and level it. Early agricultural development in California's San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys was particularly evidence of this.
Improved Fresno Pattern scraper
A Fresno scraper is a machine pulled by horses that scrapes and moves soil, discharging it at a controlled level. This is to increase manual work volume.
Turlock Special scraper
As the history of the Fresno Scraper goes, it all began with James Porteous, born in Scotland in 1848. He was the son of William Porteous, a wheelwright, and blacksmith who built and repaired carriages, wagons, and farm equipment. James Porteous moved to California in 1874 after learning his basic skills. After coming to Fresno in 1877, he established a wagon shop downtown. He started manufacturing buggies and heavy wagons in 1877 and prospered. A citizen of the United States by the year 1880, he had evolved into an integral part of the farming community of Fresno Valley.
Fresno scrapers leveling a roadbed
Between 1884 and 1910 thousands of Fresno scrapers were produced at the Fresno Agricultural Works which had been formed by Porteous, and used in agriculture and land levelling, as well as road and railroad grading and the construction industry. They played a vital role in the construction of the Panama Canal and later served the US Army in World War I.
The Fresno scraper was one of the most important agricultural and civil engineering machines ever made. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers designated the Fresno Scraper an International Historic Engineering Landmark in 1991. It can be seen at the San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum.
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Fresno scraper operation.
Wheeled buck scraper
Slip scoop scraper
