Harvesting. Reaping and Binding by Hand. Before the invention of the reaping machine scythes and sickles were the only implements used for reaping. The sickle is of remote origin; for the ancient Egyptians used toothed sickles of bronze and iron. Our picture is based upon an early 19th century drawing. A "Combine" Harvesting Machine. In some of the vast wheat-growing areas of California and Canada the weather conditions are reliable enough to allow crops to stand until ripe enough to be threshed immediately after reaping. Mammoth harvesting machines have been devised which cut; thresh and sack in a ten-hour working day 100 to 300 acres of wheat. Illustration for one of a set of cigarette cards on the subject of Past & Present issued by Wills in 1929.