Item 36: The Old Antebellum Cotton Press, 1907

Color image of an old cotton press, several portions of which appear to be falling down or missing. A man and a dog can be seen standing next to it on the left. Printed on the reverse of the card: "The Old Antebellum Cotton Press. Each plantation had its own gin and cotton press, operated by mule power. The seed cotton was held in a box, inside of which was a grate of steel bars; between this were notched steel discs, which rotated rapidly and separated the fibre from the seeds; a cylinder covered with bristles revolved against the discs and took from them the lint, which was later pressed into bales. Now the work is done by compresses of 300 horse power capacity, costing from $40,000 to $60,000." Raphael Tuck & Sons' Post Card Series No. 2370, "In the Land of Cotton". Art Publishers to their Majesties the King and Queen. Printed in Germany. Postmarked August 26, 1907 in Memphis, Tenn. 13.5 x 8.5 cm. Copy A.

Format: Postcard.