Creative ideas that changed the world

Header development

The Taylor header harvester had an enormous economic value. Its huge harvesting capacity aided the trend of bulk handling of wheat in Australia. The same principles are used in today’s modern headers.

1911 - Headlie commenced working on a machine which would harvest damaged crops.

1911/12 - Trialled his new machine at the harvest that year, but it was not successful.

1912/13 - Trialled updated version at harvest – stripped approx 200ac with some damaged of the crop damaged that year and was successful

1913 - In October of that year Headlie took out first patents on his new header

1914 - Spring – exhibited the third version of his new machine at Henty Show

1914 - December – success with harvesting using his third version

1915 - April – Melbourne Machinery manufacturer, Robinson commenced building 5 machines, with 3 ready for harvest that year.

1915/16 - Harvest – 3 machines cost £1500 and sold for £150 each
Harvest results were satisfactory. H V McKay inspected

1916 - March – agreement signed with McKay

1916 - April – HST began operations with McKay at Sunshine

1916/17 - Taylor headers worked successfully, many orders flowed in

1919 - Pea front and concave for standard header built

1920/21 - Over 1000 Sunshine Headers manufactured with crop lifters for storm damaged crops and won a reputation as the greatest of all harvesting machines

1922 - Engine function header developed for rice and other crops

1924 - Developed the Sunshine ‘auto header’

1929 - Set up factory in Canada to build auto headers

1936 - Built Sunprong pasture renovator and TD Harvester

1938 - Developed ‘Power Take Off’ (PTO) Header

1941 - Mechanised flax harvesting with 3 separate machines

1943 - Cutter bar for pick up modified also comb cleaners designed

1953 - Re-designed Auto Header

1954 - Retired from Sunshine Header Works

1957 - Died at age 73