John,
   The farm I worked on as a kid raised a LOT of tomatoes and I was the picker. My mother says I was the the only model....she swears by that! <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt=":wink:" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> 
  In seriousness tho', a mechanized tomato picker was such a remote idea for the farmers operation, it was easier to have a bunch of hired hands pick. I would be interested in hearing more. I hope you receive a serious answer.
               Cal