Hazard Knowles, an employee of the Patent Office, invented the hinged cutter-bar, which could be lifted over an obstruction, but never patented the invention.

William F.Ketchum of Buffalo, New York, in 1844, patented the first machine intended to cut hay only, and dozens of others followed.

The modern mowing machine was practically developed in the patent of Lewis Miller of Canton, Ohio, in 1858.

Several times as many mowers as harvesters are sold, and for that matter, reapers without binding attachments are still manufactured.
Hayrakes and tedders seem to have developed almost of themselves.
Diligent research has failed to discover any reliable information on the invention of the hayrake, though a horserake was patented as early as 1818.

Joab Center of Hudson, New York, patented a machine for turning and spreading hay in 1834.