OT: Binders!

CLTX · Apr 22, 2011

I grew up hearing I-H trucks being referred to as "row binders" or just "binders". I've always been curious as to the origin of the term. I assume that it may refer to Cyrus McCormick's "reaper", which led to the binder and eventually a merger with I-H, though this seems somewhat of a stretch. Can anyone enlighten me as to how the term originated?
C. L.

Adirondack case guy · Apr 22, 2011

The tractors and trucks here were also refered to as "Binders" or "Corn Binders" I don't hear the term as much now but everyone knows the term. It was a bit of a putdown, and the IH guys seldome used the term. I always thought like you that the term came from the old McCormick binders.

rrlund · Apr 22, 2011

That's what my assumption was too.

55 50 Ron · Apr 22, 2011

I am aware of the term "corn binder" and those that used it meant that International trucks were rough riding and shook a lot just like the real corn binders. I heard this as a young guy growing up in ND. Haven't heard it now for many years. Maybe the ride has improved on those trucks.

Jim in Ma. · Apr 22, 2011

I also think the name same from those older ones.
Have also heared them called "Corn field Cadillac"

Ultradog MN · Apr 22, 2011

There is about a 1965 International 3/4t pickup that is parked close by the sandblaster that I use. Has those personalized license plates on it.
Yep, you guessed it. Plates say BINDER

Tony in Mass. · Apr 22, 2011

Where my mother was from, everyone called any 'corn binder' a Papec, no mater who made it. I guess IHC was famous for corn binders and other implements years before it started making trucks, so it was a ...term of endearment?? I knew people who called Studebakers 'manure spreaders' I guess because that company was once famous for that sort of thing?.... this is before cable TV, internet, and people laughed at their own jokes... like I do. BTW, I have an International grainbinder...called 'new ideal'. The 'New Idea' people must have loved that one...

KEB1 · Apr 22, 2011

When International Harvester was formed from the merger of the McCormick & Deering harvester companies, plus several smaller companies, the resulting company had something like 90% of the worldwide grain binder market. This was long before the advent of the combine, and the normal grain harvesting process was to cut and bind the grain into sheaves, stack them and let them dry in the field, then bring the sheaves to a central location for threshing.

Hence, IH products have been referred to ever since as "binders", or "corn binders". The term doesn't seem to be used as much since IH was broken up in the 80's.

And no, its not a derogatory term.

Keith

Hay_Man · Apr 22, 2011

I have always heard them called, and have called them "row binders". International Harvester Made one:

So any International Truck was known as a "Row Binder" just to have something funny to call it. I drove a International Pick-Up Truck in my younger years, and drive an International 9200i Big Truck now. I still call it the Row Binder. Some people look at me kinda funny, but the old timers like me around the truck stop know what I'm talking about.

60 acre hillside · Apr 22, 2011

Trucker's status was determined (in the mind of some) by the kind of truck one drove. One I remember: Driving a Transtar is like having a sister in a brothel, Really not too bad but nothing to brag about.

bill mart · Apr 22, 2011

a little history on the binder from the internet

The first reapers cut the standing grain and, with a revolving reel, swept it onto a platform from which it was raked off into piles by a man walking alongside. It could harvest more grain than five men using the earlier cradles. The next innovation, patented in 1858, was a self-raking reaper with an endless canvas belt that delivered the cut grain to two men who riding on the end of the platform, bundled it. Meanwhile, Cyrus McCormick had moved to Chicago, built a reaper factory, and founded what eventually became the International Harvester Company. In 1872 he produced a reaper which automatically bound the bundles with wire. In 1880, he came out with a binder which, using a magical knotting device (invented by John F. Appleby a Wisconsin pastor) bound the handles with twine.

just another old geezer · Apr 22, 2011

My understanding of the lore is this:
The Corn binder (Korn Binder) nickname came about at the factory when the KB series came out. the initals lead to the nickname right from the factory to identify the new models KB as opposed to the earlier K series. The nickname stuck and grew to include all IH trucks. At least that's how they tell it at the IH truck museum in Ft wayne.

55 50 Ron · Apr 22, 2011

Where is that in FT Wayne? I visited Ft Wayne several times a few years ago and called IH factory there and they told me no such museum existed. That puzzled me.

just another old geezer · Apr 22, 2011

I was there in '91 it was right next to another truck museum, had a scout III proto type and was about 8 blocks from the Chord, Auburn, Duesenberg Museum. I will look in my notes, We had found it in the AAA travel book for Indiana.

NY 986 · Apr 22, 2011

Papecs were made in Shortsville, NY near Rochester, NY. Grandpa had a 1 row Papec chopper that sat in a shed forever after Dad upgraded to the IH 50. A crying shame it was cut up for how nice a shape it was in but nobody wanted it.
Your mother would not be from the Rochester or Finger Lakes area of NY by any chance?

Anonymous-0 · Apr 22, 2011

The CORD, Auburn, and Duesenburg museum is in Auburn, Indiana, not Ft Wayne

Ultradog MN · Apr 22, 2011

Thanks for doing that legwork.

old · Apr 22, 2011

The way I was told was IH/Farmall where the first company to make a binder so that stuck to all the stuff they made over the years. Can not say it is true but that is what my dad said but he has been dead for 4 or 5 years now

Tony in Mass. · Apr 22, 2011

Close but no cigar, Clinton county, right on the Quebec border. Her family used to farm rocks, till the market dropped, then went into livestock, mostly mosquitos and blackflies. A lot of stuff from your area was popular up there, like Savage rifles, Remington shotguns, Genny cream ale, Utica Club.....

Old Roy · Apr 22, 2011

Yep heard many guy sayin My K Whopper ( Kenworth ) will blow the doors off yer "Binder"

Or your Binder won't get close enough to smell my Big Dogs ( Mack ) Butt

Know what? They were right , Because the V 190 model Tri Axle with the 5x4 I ran was worn out twice before I got it.

Kinda like the old Ford, Chevey, Dodge argument.

And don't get beside a Harley with a Goldwing they call it a Rice Burner.

tjdub · Apr 22, 2011

> a magical knotting device (invented by John F. Appleby a Wisconsin

There's a road plaque somewhere around Spring Green, WI where Appleby lived which commemorates him and his invention. It was truley a marvel as inventions go. I still have a hard time figuring out how they work on my JD 24T.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 22, 2011

I have always known them as " reaper & binder"

supergrumpy · Apr 23, 2011

genny cream ale

my lord, loosens my bowels just to hear the words

scotc · Apr 23, 2011

They are also known as the 13 letter s_ _t spreader.

Peterbilts are known as Peter cars. As well as something a little more colorful I won't repeat here.

Freightliners are freightshakers. For good reason.

GMC's were called Jimmy's back when they built a road truck.

Kenworths were Katty Whompers.

OT: Binders!

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