Testimonials

Just a note to thank you for the wonderful cider press kit that you sent me. I completed it today using some Ash that I had. I am attaching a photo. The plans were great and the whole thing went together without a hitch. Unlike many products that are purchased today, your press reminds me of the rugged machines from long ago. It is built to last a lifetime. I can't wait to try it out this Fall with the whole family (hopefully, someone will make donuts!).

Thanks again!

Bob Dunn
Troy, Vermont

EASY GRINDING FOR LELAND!

"I am really happy that I purchased your American Harvester cider press! It is strongly made and is so easy to grind and press apples. I am 65 years old and should have had a press many years ago as a lot of apples went to waste."

Leland McIntyre
Gregory, SD

FAMILY GETS INTO THE ACT!

"As you can see from the photographs everyone in our family gets into the act, from the tree to the actual pressing. This is the first press we've owned and everyone enjoys making cider. It's more of a game to the children who beg to be allowed to work the press, and can't wait to be the first to get a glass of cider as it starts to flow from the base.

We were so impressed and talked so much about the Homesteader cider/wine press that a fellow worker borrowed our catalog and purchased a smaller press for his wine making. We could not be happier with our cider press."

Mr. & Mrs. Wayne A. Schmid
Rosebush, MI

FAMILY GATHERING AND CIDER MAKING PARTY!

I decided on the American Harvester press after looking at brochures of different kinds, and I felt your cider press looked the strongest and best made for the price. It's also similiar to the one we had been using that had been in our family for generations.

At this family gathering my brother is doing the squeezing, my 8 year old nephew in grinding the apples, and my cousion is checking the tub and my uncle and dad are waiting to sample the sweet juice.

I'm really glad I purchased this press as it's very easy to use and clean up. I like the way the grinder really cuts the apples up so you get every drop of juice out of them.

Carol Thums
Omro, WI

MAKES GREAT APPLE WINE!

"I've made lots of good cider, both soft and hard, and am about to bottle five gallons of great apple wine. The yield was as you advertised 2-3 gallons a squeezing. All told I processed 25 gallons of cider.

I did my press a little different as you can see by the picture. My wife likes bright colors."

Alan Belanger
Rainier, OR

60 GALLONS OF CIDER IN 3 HOURS!

"Cider making on our old press would consume more time and effort than seemed reasonable. Our first session with the "Apple Eater" grinder from Happy Valley increased the performance of our old press four times. Four people washing apples, running the press and bottling produced 60 gallons of cider in 3 hours. Definitely an improvement on our old time due largely to the 'Apple Eater'."

Peter E. Nuskey
Southampton, PA

I have the Homesteader assembled and coated in Poxy Coat.  My first batch of cider delicious.  It is a great press and your layway plan was much appriciated.  Thank you for everything.

Mike Shannon

"Hello,

I have inherited my father's Homesteader and decided to sterilize it this year and get it running again (after 15 years of inactivity).

I'm not sure if you have heard what a great year for apples it was in Connecticut but, I took more apples out of our orchard this year than I have since my father's death. What a wonderful tool your press still is. It brought back such happy memories of my father and our time working together. I was able to show my two sons (2 and 4 years old) what their grandfather and I used to do with Grampa' Hal's apples.

Thanks for making a product that I can pass down to my sons, you don't see quality like that these days and; you folks should be proud of what you do and what you build.

Thanks Again,"

Harold Nelson Jr.
Lebanon Connecticut

"Thank you so much for the prompt service. My husband and I are so glad we decided on the larger press. We are DELIGHTED with it! To date we have made over 20 gallons of cider and look forward to making lots more!

It is by far the best present I ever purchased for him.

Thanks again for an excellent product and excellent customer service."

Sincerely, Cindy Fountain
East Corinth, Vermont

Dear Happy Valley Ranch,

"We have just made our third batch of cider with our new press. All your claims are true! It works great, grinding and pressing more easily than the press we used to borrow. We took 5 gallons to a community dinner Sunday and many people commented how good it was. Thanks!"

Dave & Laurie Gano

We just finished our 18th year using our HVR apple press. We do between 30 and 60 gallons a year, depending on the crop. In that 18 years we have never had any problems, although we might need a new nylon bag one of these days.

A great piece of machinery!

S. Altman

Aberdeen SD

Thought you should know that your Homesteader (mine) took center stage at Lakewood, Colorado Cider Days on Oct 4 & 5, 2008. For 16 hours it produced 3500 3 ounce cups of cider that were given to the attendees. They were impressed with the machine AND they cider. The fair is held over the first full weekend in October. Had a few of your catalogs available and handed out a few.

Russ Gleason

Hello David, I received the Homesteader. I got it assembled and coated and I love it. Thank you very much. I could not have done it without the layaway program. I think I'm going to have a decent apple crop this season but nothing like the bumper crop last season. Thank you again.

Ernie Walker

Monteagle, TN     04/05/09

Hello, gentle people:

My husband purchased your press in 1990, and we press between 50 and 60 gallons of cider from our orchard each year.  What a wonderful press!!!  We also pressed grapes the last two years. 

Many friends marvel over the beauty and functionality of your press.  I believe that some of them have bought your press, after seeing and "cranking" ours.

Sincerely, Barbara, Aberdeen, South Dakota     05/27/09

I had bought (actually my wife bought for an anniversary present) a cider press from "Beech Hill Artisans" a couple of years ago. While unpacking the press from the shipping container, I commented to my son, "This looks like a Mom and Pop operation, and one of them was away".

Things went down hill from there. Long story short; It was a piece of junk. (I have photo's if you'd like to see them)

So it was with a bit of apprehension that I decided to purchase another press; yours.

What a difference! First; the wood. Why, this stuff is strong and hard! And the pieces fit together! Amazing! Second; the cast iron. Wow! Strong; solid.

What a difference. Through bolts. Acme threads. Fit. Substance.

So far, I haven't used it yet. I'm still just looking at it. It's beautiful....

Steven Coster     09/14/09