Estancia Punta Alta, Río Turbio,
Santa Cruz
Shearing sheep by machine, c1930
Wool was the principal export "product" of
a sheep ranch. Sheep were shorn annually: the larger ranches had a specialized
shearing shed, where many shearers were able to work at the same time. Mechanized
shears, driven by a belt mechanism from a central power supply, substantially
increased productivity. [More photos of
this estancia]