Both faithful readers of this blog are aware that Maysville, Oklahoma is well known because of two famous past residents \u2014 Wiley Post and me. However, few people, even the faithful readers, know that Maysville is well known for another reason throughout the world \u2014 especially in the baking industry.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know all the details, but let me start at the \u201cbeginning\u201d and I\u2019ll tell you what I know and remember…..
\nEarl Burford was born in the neighboring (to Maysville) town of Lindsay \u2014 I don\u2019t know the date, but I\u2019m pretty sure it was before Oklahoma became a state in 1907. He was a farmer by trade, but he always had a knack for coming up with labor-saving devices. His first \u201cinvention\u201d was a machine that lifted hay bales into moving trucks \u2014 that led to him developing a machine to move hay bales into barns.
\nIn 1945, World War II had created a manpower shortage that inspired Burford to invent an automatic wire-tying hay baler. The patent for that machine was later purchased by International Harvester Corp.<\/p>\n
After moving his family to Maysville in 1950, he developed a better automatic wire-tie machine for hay balers that is still used all over the world. While living in Maysville, he founded, along with his son, the Burford Company in 1961. They built their plant on their farm north of Maysville, on the bank of the Washita river. They invented the first twist tie machine\u00a0 for bread wrappers. Just like their machine to tie hay bales, the bread-tie machine is used around the world.<\/p>\n
Earl Burford died in 1968. His son, Charles, continued to run the business until his death at the age of 81.
\nThe plant in Maysville employs about 80 people \u2014 most of them farmers in the area. Today, the company makes over 30 different products.<\/p>\n
So next time you\u2019re thinking about Maysville, remember that it\u2019s not just famous for Wiley and me \u2014 the Burford Company helped put it on the map, too.
\n\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n
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Both faithful readers of this blog are aware that Maysville, Oklahoma is well known because of two famous past residents \u2014 Wiley Post and me. However, few people, even the faithful readers, know that Maysville is well known for another … Continue reading