Wyoming's Early "Leaf Picker-Upper"

Wyoming must have been an early innovator in leaf collection. In 1941 the Milwuakee Journal published a photo of this "leaf picker-upper" developed by Fred Gedge, at the time Wyoming's public service inspector, and who later became city manager. From the house in the background, it looks like this picture was taken on Wilmuth Avenue. I wonder if they were making compost with them back then, too?

Source: Milwaukee Journal November 5, 1941
via Google News.