An Australian Invention: Falkiner Cane Harvester in Operation

Clip 1: Harvesting and topping sugar cane

2 min 48 sec

Taken from the sponsored film An Australian Invention: Falkiner Cane Harvester in Operation (c1925)

Original title classification not known – this clip chosen to be G

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Availability of the complete title

Please note: this clip is silent

Curator’s clip description

An animated sketch demonstrates how the harvester elevates, tops and collects cane, illustrating all the major parts of the machine that aid this process. A live-action demonstration follows, broken down into the working parts engaged in this sequence. Intertitles are used to clarify and name each part.

Curator’s notes

The development in ‘topping’ the cane stalks was incorporated into the harvester after identifying that cane tops are roughly the same length.

Lauren Williams, curator

australian screen