Gary's Cool Farm And Forestry Tools
Scroll Down For Images
Contact: Rezfire@Gmail.com
I appreciate comments or questions!
The following tools and machines are from my personal collection. They were obtained primarily from farm retirement auctions, garage sales, and flea markets (in that order). Most items were made in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. The majority of these companies no longer exist. Most everything displayed here still works very well, a testament to the quality of American workmanship of the past. Most items should be good-to-go for another 100 years.
C. T. Ham Barn Lantern
Patented 1888. purchased from original owners granddaughter at Twin Lakes Iowa. The C.T. Ham Manufacturing Company was founded in 1886 by Charles Trafton Ham. After his death in 1903, his son George continued the business until his death in 1915. The company’s manufacturing equipment and customer accounts were sold to the R.E.Dietz Co. and the C.T. Ham Co. was closed.
Gem Curb pump. Cistern Pump used on an Iowa Farm late 1800's until 1920's.
Hay Tools.
Far left is hay/corn cutter (Hand forged), Nellis Hay harpoon used with ropes and pulleys to get hay to loft-1873, and 4 different hay spades including Ely's Dandy, Iwans solid socket hayknife, and arrow brand 1914.
Just another $2 barn find. Clean it up then figure out what it is, and look it up on googlepatents. (1800's drill press in this case).
Universal Huller and Scarifier Used for clover and alfalfa seed preparation. Driven by stationary motor. Patented 1927. (I dare you to find another of these)
Prior to restoration..... Auctioneer thought it was a corn grader (very wrong!) Had to go $9 for this one, a bit beyond my usual budget.
Champion Blower and Forge Post Drill 1897 and Canedy-Otto Western Chief Drill.
Two old Post Drill presses
After restoration on left. Right image is as
purchased at farm auction for $2. Flat flywheel is early 1900's, rounded wheel is 1800's made. I've seen these at antique malls for $200--ridiculous!
The Hawkeye Rope Making Machine, Cedar Rapids, IA.
Early 1900's
Swan Barn Boring Machine 1886, Seymour, Conn. Click on the icon for lots of information. Every old wood peg barn in Iowa was made with one of these.
Old Montana Sheperds Crook. Used to hook the foot of sheep or other small animals. Made in 1800's.
R.C. King Bluegrass seed stripper.
First patented around 1870. Picture on left is collecting bunch grass seed with stripper in Sept 1909 on the Wallowa National Forest taken by A.W. Sampson. Bought this one in Kansas, antique dealer said it was for picking berries--incorrect as usual!
Blacksmith Forge and hand operated Blower along with tools. Stole this at a farm auction for $15.
Two drills. Above is Canedy Otto Drilling Machine 1890. Below is a horizontal bench drill often included in Farm Blacksmith kits. It is a Illinois Iron and Bolt Company made drill from Carpentersville, Ill. 1902 patent.
W.F. Vilas Corn Sheller manufactured in Cowansville Quebec Canada. Purchased from a farm near Statford, Iowa.
Hello Mr Sir,
There are still a few of these Vilas Corn Shellers around. There is one at the village Quebecois d' anton in Drummondville, Quebec, another one in capilano suspension bridge and park in Vancouver, British Columbia, and also the Missisquoi museum in Stanbride East Quebec. This type of equipment was built in the early 1900's.
--Cowansville Historical Society
Corn Shellers:
Left is International Harvestor-McCormic Deering from the 1920's.
Right is John Deere-Marseilles Company. Deere contracted with Marseilles to make shellers in 1908 and two years later Deere took over the company and left the Marseilles name intact. They were made in East Moline, Illinois.
Horatius Hand crank Corn sheller. This brand had a reputation as not working very well. I used it last year on several bushels and it worked fine.
Left: Van Doren Hand Seeder patented Feb 14, 1860. Right is Triumph Hand corn seeder. These were used to replant corn fields where needed after horse drawn planting had occured.
Potato Hand Planter
Potato Hand Planter.
Harness Makers Bench and clamps. Used for harness and saddle work. Patented Oct 11, 1887 and called a "Stitching Horse"
Various farm and implement wrenches late 1800's early 1900's.
Grain grinders for cracking corn and other grains, used for chicken feed and other purposes. Front is Wilson Brothers grist mill 1880-1890's. back right is Corona Corn Mill pat in Mexico 1925.
Twin City Seperator Company corn seed grader. Turn of the century (circa 1908-1911) seed Corn graders were very common in their day. They were very useful - before hybrid corn was developed and average yields were ~33bu/ac. everything was "bin-run." These grader/sizers allowed farmers to weed out the poor seed and size the seed into as many as four classes. This helped improve planting by avoiding skips in horse drawn planters. Sorting also improved expected germination. Bought this one from original owners son.
Hales Threshing Tool. Robert Hale inventor--Minneapolis.
Wheat band cutter. Patent info reads: My invention relates to that class of bandcutters used in clipping the wire bands around sheaves of wheat as they are fed to a thrashing-machine, and is designed to prevent the wire from passing with the grain into the machine, where it is more or less liable to be severed into short pieces and mix with straw, thus endangering the lives of the stock feeding on the straw. Patent 201006 March 5, 1878
Here is another type of seed corn grader purchased at farm auction in Stratford, IA. This one is made by the Monarch Self Feeder co. of Cedar Falls, IA. Made prior to 1907.
Seed Planter Plates. These were used in horse drawn planters. Top row is corn bottom is soy bean. They would turn as the planter was pulled and seed would drop through. These are International Harvestor except lower right is John Deere.
John Deere planting Check Row wire anchor Stake.
Best Check Row Planting Description I could find:
The Way It Was: By Dale Steadman
Check Row Corn Planting Weed control in early corn fields established the need to cultivate both between the rows and also in the rows. The resulting field lay out was to use a marker which had three marking legs in which one leg was kept in the last row marked. This marker provided two new rows each pass and kept each row at an exact distance, usually 40”, apart. After the field was laid out in one direction the marker was used to mark rows at 90 degrees across the first rows. Corn was then planted at each intersect at the rate of 4 kernels per hill. Why four kernels you ask … one for the cut worm, one for the crow, one to rot, and one to grow. At first this planting took place using a stick called a dibble to make a hold for four seeds being dropped and then covered with the foot. This brought the entire family to the planting party, a very labor intense ordeal. Looking for an easier way with less back bending the stab planter also called jobber was invented. The stab planter was great allowing the user to walk upright but still was very labor laden and time consuming. As a result two stab planters were fastened on a frame at 40” apart allowing the user to plant two hills at the same time. And yes you guessed it the next planting devise was a horse drawn two row (and later a 4 row) corn planter with 40” rows and dropped hills of corn at 40” spacing. The check row planter provided hill drops using a large spool of wire containing trip balls (bumps on the wire) every 40” fed through the trip mechanization. In this case the roll had to be rewound at the end of each trip across the field and then timed so the hill drop would match the planted row. Other models of check row planters used a chain (instead of a roll of wire) stretched across the field. Keeping track of the chain or wire required extra help besides the operator/driver. The check row planter was selling for $28.00 in 1910. The check row field was easy to maintain because one could cultivate up and down, across, and even at 45 degrees to the rows. A lot of labor was put into an acre of corn to yield 25 bushels compared to 300 plus bushels today.
Vintage antique collector's sample of corn planter check row wire. This sample features a cast iron trip. Trip is a cast iron disc with four holes. This trip is called the "Cast Iron Coat Button" by collectors. This trip is listed in Goedert & Greer as No.128 with patent ascribed to William Johnson, dated April 22, 1884. Trip measures 7/8" in diameter. The bottom trip wire is a cast iron cup patented May 1882.
Corn Shock Tier-compressor
Originally the tool had about a 15 foot piece of 1/4" rope attached to the ring of the flipper. Several corn bundles were propped up together in the field. The point of the tool was poked into the corn while the rope was wrapped around the entire shock. The rope was slipped over the pulley and pulled to tightly compress the corn shock. The flipper was used to lock the rope in place. A piece of twine was then wrapped around the shock and tied. The tool was loosened and was ready for the next shock. These were used in the late 1800's and in the 1900's up until about the 1940's when the mechanical corn picker was developed.
Barn hay carrier or trolley and track.
William Louden, of Fairfield, Iowa, invented the barn hay carrier and the patent was dated September 24, 1867. He started Louden Machinery Co., to supply farmers, with labor saving equipment, and by 1925 had sold "millions" of carriers. The carrier to the left is a Whitman Barnes Diamond #4, from 1907 -- salvaged out of a dump.
Horse Drawn Cultivators and Harrows
Goat Cart. These were used to haul pumpkins, hay, potatoes, and other food to the fields for goats and other livestock. They were also used in gardens. Made in the 1800's in Europe. Right picture is as found in the barn near Otho Iowa. Left is after assembly and replacement of some wooded parts.
Duplex Hay carrier made by Louden co, Fairfield, Iowa. For a short period in the late 1890s. Louden billed this model as "the easiest working carrier made!"
Patented Sept. 14, 1897.
F.E. Meyers Hay Carrier. Purchased at Pocahontas, IA farm auction.
Dr Macdonalds Vitamized Feed-- Pig Feeder. Made in Fort Dodge Iowa.
Various farm animal tools. Left to right: Bull and cow leads, Hog Tongs (1872), Hills Hog Ringer 1872, Dr Handy Hog Holder 1931, Dr Miller Animal Marker and Pig Snouter 1898.
The tool to the left is animal tattoo pliers. Ink was applied to the ear and the small needles were crimped. Initials or numbers could be used.
The Cart to the right is the deluxe model with a hand brake.
Various Hay tools. Left to right: 3 tine hay fork, Double harpoon hay Fork invented by William Burnham, Batavia, Ill in 1885, hay thief-blacksmith make used to test hay in bale or stack, two hay saws (also used to cut ice).
Rotary Hoe Wheels: Top left to right- Oliver, International Harvestor, IHC Rolling Shield, John Deere, Avery, J.I. Case
Hand operated corn seed grader. A.B. Gaston Janesville Machine Company. 1880-1918.
Seed Planters for the garden. Settings for Lettuce onion radish parsley beet peas and bean. Midget brand patented in 1914.The Standard Garden Tool Co. can be traced to 1907, when Willard A. Hancock, a blacksmith in Montrose, Iowa, It was popular for its single thumbnut, depth-adjustment feature during a period when most of the competition required unscrewing two bolts with a wrench. It became a good seller as part of the company's line of garden plows, seeders and sweet potato diggers.Up until the time it was sold in 1917, Standard was the only firm manufacturing garden tools west of the Mississippi River and only one of three in the entire United States. Unfortunately, the demands of World War I meant a scarcity of the needed raw materials, and before the war ended, the enterprise was effectively put out of business.
Various farm tools: Old Wagon jack, combination fencing and hammer tool, open handle lever wire stretcher by American Wire and Fence co., American Steel and wire co Wire stretcher-1908, Horse tooth cutter/puller.
1924 add.
Wheelwrights Traveler. Blacksmith made tool used to roll around the outer edge of wagon or buggy wheel to measure circumfrance. Metal stock was cut to length to clad the wheel.
Bjornlie Tire Tool. Used for Clincher tires-Made in Watertown, SD, 1918.
Cattle Dehorners. Left is M.T. Phillips 1897. Right is Modern Dairyman.
To the right is the Clipper soy bean sorter. Pat. in 1902. I purchased this at a flea market from a fellow collector and friend. He also had a salesman sample fanning mill that I could not afford!
Home made tools from around 100 years ago. Foot strap operated scroll saw, drill bit box made out of an old fruit crate, hand forged screw drivers, Farriers hoof tool, branding iron, wooden square level, cow kickers (keep milk cow from kicking), Hog Trammel (used to hold boiling pot of water over fire--hide was dipped in water then scraped-used on an Arizona ranch). Handmade mallet for cracking walnuts.
Cow-Poke. Placed around head of cattle to discourage them from pushing through a fence.
Shingle Froe, Draw Knife and old pruning clippers.
Left is an early American broad axe, commonly used throughout the 19th century for making square timbers for wooden shipbuilding, log buildings, timber framing, and railroad ties. Right is a pickaroon, used in the logging and sawmill bussiness for moving small sawlog and pulpwood.
Left is a pond ice saw made by George Bishop Co, right is an old two man cross cut saw.
Wagon Ice Saw
From 1897 catalog--Gille Hardware and iron Company, Kansas City, MO.
Top is a well made, forged grafting blade with a loop in handle. Bottom is an early forged barking spud with a cherry handle purchased in central Maine. (used to peel bark from log)
Cream Separators:
A cream separator is a device used to separate cream from milk. Milk and cream separation was common on many farms years ago. Most farmers milked a few cows, usually by hand, and separated milk. Some of the skim milk was consumed - the rest was used to feed the calves and pigs. Enough cream was saved to make butter and the excess cream was sold to provide much needed income for many families.
This manually driven cream separator worked by using centrifugal force. When it spins, the milk, which is heaviest, is pulled outward against the walls and the cream, which is lighter, is collected in the middle. The cream and milk then flow out of separate spouts. Small versions of separators were called table-top models, and were more for small dairies with only a few cows or goats.
The Montgomery Wards Table Top Cream Separator pictured to the left, was purchased at Corwith, IA at a farm retirement auction.
Antique Bohlerstahl Scythe hammer made in Austria, used by farmers to remove dings from their scythes while in the field. A small anvil, hammer, and sharpening stone were carried in a horn filled with water were carried to the field. The anvil would be put on a stump or fencepost, and then the dings on the scythe would be hammered out. These were used before mechanical horse drawn equipment was available. This hammer was purchased at a Knierim, Iowa estate sale for $1.00. It was made early to mid 1800’s. The search goes on for the anvil to go with it. The logo on the hammer are “kissing swans”. Picture at right is a scythe with pat date of 1909.
This is a root-Heath, "Never Fail" Corn
Sheller, made around 1904. Purchased it at a half price tag sale for $6.00. My wife shelled a bushel of corn in just a few minutes. It really works well.
This is a very small portion of my farm wrench collection, from companies that no longer exist.
Top Left: Mann Bone Cutter Wrench
Kingman Plow Co wrench, Des Moines, IA prior to 1917
Morrison MFG, Horse drawn Implement wrench, Ft Madison, IA 1880-1909
Oliver Tractor wrench
Deering Hay Rake wrench (prior to merger with McCormick in 1902)
Iron Age implement- cut out wrench
Wade Wrench Co, White pigeon, Mich
Top Right: Eberhard Buggy wrench after 1879
Litchfield Manufacturing implement wrench, Waterloo, IA
Parlin and Orendorff Implement wrench, prior to 1919
Mast Foos co., Windmill pump wrench after 1875
Abram Ellwood MFG co., implement or buggy wrench, Dekalb, ILL, 1892-early 1900’s
Planet Jr. cultivator cut out wrench
Cheney Farm Grinder, 1916. Used in the field, often mounted to a wheel and used to sharpen sickle mower blades. Purchased at Humboldt, Iowa auction for $5.00.
Niagara small burr tinsmith machine. Used for sealing cans and stove pipe work.
Star Plug Tobacco Cutter. Purchased at a flea market in Spirit Lake, Iowa for $10. These would set on a general store counter. Measurements of 1 and 2 inches are etched on the base. The inscription of “save the tags” appears on the handle of the cutter. This refers to the tag that appeared on the bulk tobacco brick. These tags could be redeemed for merchandise. Patent date is 1885. By 1930 the use of tobacco tags and cutting the brick of tobacco had pretty much disappeared. Tobacco was now pre-packaged for sale.
To the right is a rope measure tool with dial. It would have been used in a general store. Large bales of rope of various size would have been stored in the basement, with the ends fed up through the floor to this machine for mesure and cutting.
This is an old kerosene cook stove from approximately 1920. It came from a farm near Britt Iowa. It would work fine, if filled with fuel.
Above is another Tobacco cutter--purchased for $5 at an estate sale in Mesa, AZ. It is an Amster pat, 1914.
Below is a fairly common type of rope making machine. It is a Bucklin, pat 1901. It would slip over the side of a wagon box or a wood fence.
Below is a Midwest made, non patented rope maker. Would have been clamped to fence rail or wagon side. Used for making ropes to hoist hay to the loft 3/4 to 1 inch rope. Early 1900's made. This one was used on a ranch in Yuma, AZ
Above are several more corn and flour grinders. These were used for making tortillas and were purchased in Arizona. Left is a Krakauer, Zork, & Moye brand made in El Paso late 1800's. Right is a La Campana, CS Bell Company probably 1920's. Top is a Mexican made 1910 grain and coffee mill.
Left is an old wheel wrights spoke makers bench purchased at Humboldt, IA tool auction in 2015
Above is a very old log scale stick.
Left is a 1936 Maytag motor mounted on a cart, one cylinder hit and miss. Used on wash machines, and small belt driven equipment such as grain mills and shellers.
Above is the Ideal corn tester from Des Moines Iowa made around 1910. Prior to hybrid seed it was important to test seed lots by germination timing and viability. Seed was placed in the trays with water added. The keorsene heater was used to create a warm humid germination environment. Seeds of similar germination potentials could be grouped and sorted prior to planting resulting in uniform fields.
Above is the Colfax wild oat separator, similar design to the corn seed separator, except this was used for sorting out wild oats from field oats prior to planting.
The old picture to the left is of a turpentine hack. Used to cut bark and tap pine trees for collecting turpentine. Below is one I purchased at the Humboldt, Iowa tool auction in 2016.
From 1901 patent information: This invention relates to a class of implements employed for hacking pine-trees and removing the crude turpentine-gum therefrom after it has exuded from the hacks.
The object of my invention 'is to provide a novel simple device of the class indicated which is adapted for adjustment of the cutting-blade to project it more or less from the handle and afford means for holding the blade at a desired inclination from the handle.
Here are some interesting very old tools purchased in Arizona. Top left is a wrench from the Kingman Plow Company (horse drawn farm machinery prior to 1917). Middle left is a Miller's vehicle wrench (buggy or wagon) patented 1/27/1891. Bottom left is a rare Newell Sanders Plow Co #24 wrench for a disc plow (see example of disk plow below). The company was around --on and off from 1870's until 1920's. Narrow end used to straighten plow blade. Top right is a Gifford-wood company Ice Shaver used on delivery wagons, it was pictured in a 1906 catalog from Hudson, NY. Doubt if I will ever find any of these again!
Robert Brebner with son and plow team, disk plow ca. 1900 (internet picture could not find a source to credit)
E.C. Stearns Bench Drill as described in the Mechanical News Magazine 1887.
IMPROVED BENCH DRILL. (reprint from 1887)
The merits of the new device illustrated herewith will be appreciated by stove dealers, blacksmiths, wagon makers, tinsmiths, and indeed any mechanic in need of a small, light drill. Although but recently introduced to the trade it has been largely sold, its moderate cost and its efficient working having brought it rapidly into favor.
The distinctively new feature of this drill, which is manufactured by Messrs. E. C. Stearns & C0., Syracuse, N. Y., consists in the spindle being fed down quickly to the work by simply turning the crank; while by reversing the motion of the crank the spindle is as quickly drawn from the work. The machine is 24 inches high, and drills § to 1} inch hole square with the bed-plate. The run of the screw is 34} inches, and the drillstock is {1", inch in diameter. Each drill is furnished with a chuck which attaches to the spindle and will hold a ground drill. or the ordinary square tapered shank or brace drill. The balance wheel weighs 6 lbs., which is sufficient to carry an ordinary drill smoothly, and is not heavy enough to break small drills. The bearings are carefully finished with standard size reamers, and all the parts are interchangeable. The crank has an extension for large drilling, and ample allowances are made for strength and durability. Excellent material and workmanship have been used in the construction. the main standard being neatly japanned, the handwheel nickel plated, and the balance wheel painted vermilion, making the result a very successful combination of attractiveness with substantial utility.
Here is the Stearns Drill I purchased at the Humboldt, Iowa tool auction in 2017 for $40. Only 130 years old, good for at least another 100 years or so. Note there is still some vermilion paint on the handle as described in the magazine article.
Here is the next project--Barn Peg Drills form 1880's need lots of work. May be be coming to a flea market near you soon!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Here is a "Pruning Implement" invented in 1882 and patented in 1891 by Andreas and Fred Bosch of Merrill Wisconsin. Comes complete with carrying case, brass and wood pole sections and brass thumbscrews, several saws and a brush. The purpose of the brush is described in the patent: "in applying wax or a solution to cover up the wounds made by tree pruning. The brush can also be used to apply washes to the trees and for brushing off nests of insects and in the general cleaning of trees."
I purchased this at a tool auction in Winterset, Iowa May, 2017. Probably not many of these around today!
Here are some more oddball farm implement wrenches, BlackHawk Sechler Moline, Lucky Lever multi tool, and two unmarked out of the ordinary.
End of Page (For Now) Keep Checking Back for updates!