Figure 4.--Cotton planter, about 1895. (Catalog No. 37.)Figure 4.—Cotton planter, about 1895. (Catalog No. 37.)
Figure 4.—Cotton planter, about 1895. (Catalog No. 37.)
38.Cast-Iron Plow, 1854. USNM 150396; 1938. A cast-iron plow made by Stephen McCormick of Fauquier County, Virginia, in 1854. The plow embodies features covered by patents issued to Stephen McCormick on February 3, 1819, January 28, 1826, and December 1, 1837. Plows of this type, made chiefly between 1826 and 1850, involved interchangeable parts. The first patent precedes that of Jethro Wood by seven months, but the principle of interchangeable parts had been worked out and patented as early as 1813. Gift of Leander McCormick-Goodhart, Silver Spring, Md.
39.Mehring's Milking Machine, 1884. USNM 148530; 1938. Original working model of a hand-powered milking machine built by William M. Mehring in 1884. Mehring subsequently improved and patented the machine in 1892. The improved machine did not work well because it created continuous suction for the length of the stroke. The successful application of intermittent suction, necessary so as not to injure the cow, was worked out in Scotland in 1902. Gift of Mrs. Bessie D. Mehring, Keymar, Maryland.
40.Hand-Powered Milking Machine, 1892. USNM 148530; 1938. Practical hand-pump milking machine designed and built in 1892 by William M. Mehring, who was granted patent 488282 on December 28, 1892. This milker, which injured cows when used rapidly, represents an effort to solve the problem of machine milking, although the use of human power also limited its usefulness. Gift of Mrs. Bessie D. Mehring, Keymar, Maryland.
41.Ox Yoke, 1838. USNM 148675; 1938. Edward Scoville (1813-1887) used this ox yoke when driving an ox cart from Trumbull County, Ohio, to De Kalb County, Indiana, in 1838. Until well after the Civil War, oxen pulled most of the wagons going west, and this yoke is typical of all used in the westward migration, in the North as well as in the South. Gift of Reign Scoville, Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
42.Deere Plow, 1838. USNM 148904; 1938. John Deere made this plow, with steel share and polished wrought-iron moldboard, at Grand Detour, Illinois, in 1838. Joseph Brierton bought it and used it on his farm, and the Deere Company obtained it in 1901. It is one of three plows made by John Deere in 1838, and presumably it is identical to his first steel share plow, made in 1837 at Grand Detour. Called the singing plow, it proved especially effective in prairie country after the sod had been broken because the earth did not adhere to the share and moldboard. The implement could also be used as a breaking plow. Gift of Deere and Company, Moline, Illinois.
Figure 5.--John Deere plow, one of the three plows made by Deere in 1838. (Catalog No. 42.)Figure5.—John Deere plow, one of the three plows made by Deere in 1838. (Catalog No. 42.)
Figure5.—John Deere plow, one of the three plows made by Deere in 1838. (Catalog No. 42.)
43.Model of Sulky Plow, 1899. USNM 156653; 1940. Working model of the Hy-Lift sulky plow invented by Niels O. Starks of Madison, Wisconsin, and made by the Fuller and Johnson Company around 1900. Starks received patent 616984 on January 3, 1899. The land wheel on this plow automatically raises and lowers the plow at the end of a furrow. Gift of S. O. Strucksberg, St. Joseph, Missouri.
44.Barbed Ribbon Wire, 1879. USNM 159858; 1941. Specimen of barbed wire made with saw teeth cut out of twisted ribbon wire. Gift of B. F. Arthur, Winchester, Virginia.
45.Chinese Plow, date unknown. USNM 161555; 1941. This primitive, one-handled plow has an iron hook on the end of the beam. Apparently it had an iron shoe for a share, which is now missing. This style of plow is typical of the kind used in rice-growing sections of China. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
46.Carey Plow, about 1820. USNM 161555; 1941. The share and landside of this small cultivating plow are in one piece of wrought iron with sockets for the left handle and the standard bar share. It has a flat wooden moldboard. Used in Northumberland County, Virginia, until 1855 or 1860, for cultivating corn and other row crops. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
47.Plow, about 1790. USNM 161555; 1941. Only the share, colter, and beam of this plow are original, the rest having been reconstructed. The original parts came from Northumberland County, Virginia. Gift of Edwin Brown, Brown's Store, Virginia.
48.Old Colony Strong Plow, 1740. USNM 161555; 1941. The moldboard of this plow is made of wood and covered with thick pieces of iron. The plow has a lock colter and wrought-iron share fitted on the end of a wooden beam. Pelatiah Kinsman of Ipswich, Massachusetts, had the plow made in 1740. It represents the New England open-drawn plows of that time. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
49.Old Colony Plow, 1783. USNM 161555; 1941. This plow resembles the Old Colony Strong Plow (No. 48) but it is not as large and the moldboard is covered with uniform, narrow iron straps. Farmers used this plow for cross-plowing after initial breaking by the Strong Plow and for cultivating. It probably was drawn by oxen. John Foster, a corporal in the Revolutionary Army, had this implement made at Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1783. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
50.Tavenner Plow, between 1810 and 1860. USNM 161555; 1941. The Tavenner plow has a cast-iron moldboard and a wrought-iron share and colter. Plows of this type were made and used widely in Loudon County, Virginia. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
51.Smith Plow, about 1800. USNM 161555; 1941. This sod-turning plow has its landside, moldboard, and colter in separate pieces. It was built on the lines of a plow patented by Robert Smith in 1800. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
52.Gideon Davis Plow, about 1825. USNM 161555; 1941. Gideon Davis received a patent in 1825 for his improvements of the Newbold plow patented in 1797. In tests in 1825 to determine the efficiency of different plows, the Davis plow took first place in a competition with five others. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
53.Woodcock Plow, about 1848. USNM 161555; 1941. The Woodcock plow has separate landside, moldboard, share, cutter, and point. This plow has the first reversible point. Woodcock plows were first used in 1847, in Maryland. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
54.Eagle Plow, 1849. USNM 161555; 1941. The Number 25 Eagle Plow, which first appeared in the catalog of the J. Nourse Company in 1849, became the standard plow of New England after the middle of the 19th century. Its moldboard was based on a design worked out by Thomas Jefferson. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
Figure 6.--Eagle plow, about 1849. (Catalog No. 54.)Figure6.—Eagle plow, about 1849. (Catalog No. 54.)
Figure6.—Eagle plow, about 1849. (Catalog No. 54.)
55.Mexican Plow, about 1890. USNM 161555; 1941. This Mexican bull tongue plow has an iron shoe on the point and it closely resembles Spanish plows of the 16th century. It was intended to be pulled by an ox and to break the soil for only three or fourinches at the most. Gift of United States Department of Agriculture.
56.Butcher's Saw, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. This saw is part of a set of butcher's tools (Nos. 56-67) presented to William H. Hoover by the Washington Light Infantry Corps in 1879. All the tools have a silver presentation plate on the handle and have nickel plating. A. Nittinger, Jr., of Philadelphia, made the set. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
57.Splitting Cleaver, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tool. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
58.Cleaver, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tool. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
59.Meat Axe, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tool. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
60.Knife, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's knife. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
61.Knife, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tool. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
62.Triangular Scraper, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tool. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
63.Hand Meat Hook, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tool. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
64.Meat Hooks, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tool. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
65.Carcass Spreader, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tool. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
66.Carcass Spreader, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tool. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
67.Meat Pins, 1879. USNM 130572; 1942. Butcher's tools. Gift of N. Auth Provision Company, Washington, D. C.
Figure 7.--Babcock butterfat tester, about 1895. (Catalog No. 68.)Figure7.—Babcock butterfat tester, about 1895. (Catalog No. 68.)
Figure7.—Babcock butterfat tester, about 1895. (Catalog No. 68.)
68.Babcock Butterfat Tester, about 1895. USNM 173353; 1946. A machine used in determining the amount of butterfat in milk or cream. The Vermont Farm Machine Company of Bellows Falls, Vermont, made the centrifuge, which mixed sulphuric acid with the milk in order to produce a reading of the amount of butterfat tested. The Brighton Farm at Patuxent River, Montgomery County, Maryland, used this machine around 1895. Stephen M. Babcock developed this tester in 1890 and released it to the public, without patent, in 1891. The device had far-reaching effects in the dairy industry, because for the first time it allowed accurate payment to farmers for the actual amount of butterfat in their milk; also, it allowed farmers to test their cows to discover which ones produced the most butterfat. Gift of Sidney S. Stabler, Hyattsville, Maryland.
69.Buggy Rake, 1840. USNM 175393; 1947. The buggy rake harvested grain after it had been cut with a cradle. The rake has handles and a wheel, like a wheelbarrow, with long wooden tines in front to scoop up the grain. When the binder stepped on a bar at the back of the buggy the tines would move up and allow the grain to slide back against the uprights in a convenient position for binding. Although it undoubtedly reduced the physical labor of binding, this rake would not have been very efficient and would have allowed the reaper to get farahead of the binder. Gift of F. B. Day, Owosso, Michigan.
70.Model of Plow, about 1885. USNM 179841; 1949. The model has a share, standard, and moldboard of metal with a gauge wheel on the beam. The beam pivots on the standard, allowing adjustments of the angle of draft. The end of the beam is fastened to a brace which extends to the back of the moldboard. The share and point are in one piece; and the moldboard is one piece. The model resembles the plows of James Oliver, which by 1885 had been widely known and were quite possibly copied. Donor unknown.
71.Diorama of Tropical Banana Plantation, late 19th century. USNM 186623; 1950. The diorama shows bananas being harvested and trees being cut. The banana bunches get to the railroad cars on burros. At the bottom, bananas are shown in various stages of growth and ripening. Gift of United Fruit Company, Washington, D. C.
72.Diorama of Tropical Coffee Plantation, late 19th century. USNM 186553; 1950. The diorama shows coffee berries being dried in the sun and in the shade in preparation for marketing the coffee. At the bottom, various stages of growth and ripening of the coffee berries are depicted. Gift of The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A & P), New York, New York.
73.Food-Slicing Machine, mid 19th century. USNM 188878; 1950. Cutting knives, set in helix in a wooden axle, move the meat through the box, cutting it finer and finer. Gift of George Murphy, Washington, D. C.
74.Fanning Mill, about 1860. USNM 192872; 1951. A hand-crank operated the winnowing mill for separating grain from chaff and beans from hulls. A four-blade, wooden fan, shaped like a paddle wheel, blows a draft below oscillating screens. The chaff is blown off from the threshed grain, and the grain or beans fall from the screens into the path of the draft. The screens catch any straw left after threshing. Gift of Arden Wilson, Harrisville, West Virginia.
75.Two-Row Corn Planter, about 1854. USNM 193259; 1952. This hand-operated planter, of a type patented by S. Malone on January 3, 1854, was sold by WilliamM. Plant, a dealer in seeds, tools, and machines at St. Louis, Missouri. When the planter was dropped to the ground, the two handles moved about 8 inches in a slot toward the outside. This movement opened a space for the corn to drop into the shoe, where a small piece of wood opened and the corn fell to the ground. Gift of Warren Hammond, Fayette, Missouri.
Figure 8.--Two-row corn planter, about 1854. (Catalog No. 75.)Figure8.—Two-row corn planter, about 1854. (Catalog No. 75.)
Figure8.—Two-row corn planter, about 1854. (Catalog No. 75.)
76.Model of Ferguson Tractor, 1952. USNM 193939; 1952. This plastic and metal model of a Ferguson tractor operates a Ferguson hitch. Gift of Topping Models, Inc., Akron, Ohio.
77.Model of Two-Disk Plow, 1952. USNM 193939; 1952. A plastic and metal model of a two-disk plow for a Ferguson tractor. Gift of Topping Models, Inc., Akron, Ohio.
78.Model of New Idea Mower, 1952. USNM 193939; 1952. A cast-iron model of a New Idea mower with an operating pitman for use behind a tractor. Gift of Topping Models, Inc., Akron, Ohio.
79.Model of New Idea Manure Spreader, 1952. USNM 193939; 1952. A plastic and metal model of a New Idea, tractor-drawn manure spreader. Gift of Topping Models, Inc., Akron, Ohio.
80.Model of New Idea Corn Picker, 1952. USNM 193939; 1952. A plastic and metal model of a one-row, tractor-drawn corn picker. Gift of Topping Models, Inc., Akron, Ohio.
81.Tiling Spade, 1952. USNM 193940; 1952. This hand-forged steel spade has a bit with three tines. This style spade was invented around 1895 and was widely used for digging trenches for drain tiles on sticky or mucky soil. The Osmundson Forge Company of Webster City, Iowa, made these spades as late as 1952. Gift of A. G. Osmundson, Webster City, Iowa.
82.Glass Churn, about 1900. USNM 193941; 1952. This German-made churn, of 4-liter capacity, has a hand crank which drives a metal propeller at the bottom in one direction while paddles on the shaft turn in the other direction. Gift of A. G. Osmundson, Webster City, Iowa.
83.Cedar Sap Spouts, about 1800. USNM 194893; 1952. Sap spouts, made of cedar, about 15 inches long. Spouts like these were made and used by settlers of upper New York about 1800 to gather the maple sap after the trees had been tapped. Gift of Frank E. Olmstead, Potsdam, New York.
84.Cedar Sap Spouts, about 1800. USNM 194893; 1952. Sap spouts for maple tree tapping, about 15 inches long and made of cedar. The maple syrup and sugar industry provided some income for frontier farms, as well as providing sugar for domestic use. Although maple syrup often sold at high prices, the industry never achieved major importance even in the localities where it flourished. These spouts are of the sort used in the pioneer period in New York. (See also Nos. 83, 85-87.) Gift of Frank E. Olmstead, Potsdam, New York.
85.Iron Sap Spout, possibly late 19th century. USNM 194893; 1952. A cast-iron maple sap spout, about 3 inches long, used for gathering the sap into buckets. Possibly factory-made and used later than the frontier period, after maple syrup manufacture had become a commercial enterprise. The leading areas for maple syrup have long been Ohio, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Gift of Frank E. Olmstead, Potsdam, New York.
86.Iron Sap Spout, possibly late 19th century. USNM 194893; 1952. A thin, metal trough, plated, and about 3 inches long, used to convey maple sap from the tap in the tree to the sap bucket. This is the type spout most commonly used today in those areas where farmers supplement their income with maple syrup production. Gift of Frank E. Olmstead, Potsdam, New York.
87.Sap Bucket Spikes, possibly late 19th century. USNM 194893; 1952. Hand-made iron spikes used to hold buckets for maple tree sap. They had to be hooked somewhat so the bucket could hang on them well. Gift of Frank E. Olmstead, Potsdam, New York.
88.Diagram of Jefferson Moldboard, 1798. USNM 198605; 1953. A three-dimensional wire diagram, at half scale, illustrating Thomas Jefferson's design of a plow mold-boardas he described it in a letter to Sir John Sinclair in 1798. In the same year Jefferson read a paper to the American Philosophical Society that was titled "Description of a Mold-Board of the Least Resistance and of the Easiest and Most Certain Design." The wire diagram was constructed by the Division of Crafts and Industries, Smithsonian Institution.
89.Model of Jefferson Moldboard, 1798. USNM 198605; 1953. The model consists of four separate blocks of wood cut to show the progressive steps in the construction of the Jefferson moldboard: (1) the block of wood marked for sawing with the rear section cut out, and in two parts; (2) the block of wood sawed on two diagonals, with the rear section cut out, and in three parts; (3) the block of wood sawed transversely on guide lines down to the diagonals, with the wood between the transverse cuts removed and leaving the face of the moldboard roughly shaped; (4) the rear surface of the board produced in the same manner as the front, resulting in a completed moldboard. The models were constructed by the Division of Crafts and Industries, Smithsonian Institution, after Jefferson's original moldboard, located at the Natural History Museum, Paris, France.
90.Wooden Curd Breaker, about 1860. USNM 198617; 1953. This curd breaker is made of wood with iron pegs in the cylinder and hopper. Gift of Laurence Hathaway, Easton, Maryland.
91.Grain Cradle, about 1844. USNM 198620; 1953. Caleb Paul Duval used this cradle on his Glen Echo farm near Baltimore, Maryland. Gift of Virginia Duval, College Park, Maryland.
Figure 9.--Grain cradle in use in the field. International Harvester Corporation photo. (Catalog No. 91.)Figure9.—Grain cradle in use in the field. International Harvester Corporation photo. (Catalog No. 91.)
Figure9.—Grain cradle in use in the field. International Harvester Corporation photo. (Catalog No. 91.)
92.Barrel Churn, about 1860. USNM 198620; 1953. A wooden barrel churn with iron crank and paddles. Such churns were of too small volume to be used on commercial dairy farms, and they were not at all useful in creameries, which first appeared in 1861. Gift of Virginia Duval, College Park, Maryland.
93.Cookie Roller, about 1860. USNM 198620; 1953. A wooden, grooved, one-handled cookie roller, about 14½ inches long and about 3¼ inches in diameter. The roller added an esthetic touch to home-made cookies but was of little importance in the history of commercial food processing. Gift of Virginia Duval, College Park, Maryland.
94.Meat Grinder, 1859. USNM 198620; 1953. This iron, hand-cranked meat grinder was patented August 2, 1859. Gift of Virginia Duval, College Park, Maryland.
95.Butter Prints, about 1860. USNM 198620; 1953. Two butter prints. One is circular, with a tri-lobed leaf design and about 3 inches in diameter; the other is a box mold with two five-point star designs and about 5 inches long, 2½ inches wide, and 4 inches high. The butter was pressed into these molds before being served, or, sometimes, before being rolled in paper and sold in towns. This aspect of farm dairying quickly disappeared after the creamery dominated the industry. Gift of Virginia Duval, College Park, Maryland.
96.Shoe Last, possibly mid 19th century. USNM 196820; 1953. A small last, to fit either foot, for a shoe about 8¾ inches long and 2¼ inches wide. Such implements were useful in frontier communities and generally were owned by itinerant cobblers who went from house to house. Gift of Virginia Duval, College Park, Maryland.
97.Model of Fanning Mill, 1857. USNM 198620; 1953. This is a working model of a fanning mill invented by Joseph and James Montgomery and covered by patents 10324, issued in 1853; 13062, issued in 1855; and 16447, issued in 1857. The crank handle and the slide, which governed the flow into the hopper, are missing. James Montgomery took the model on sales trips as a demonstrator. Gift of Ruth Montgomery, Peoria, Illinois.
98.Model of McCormick Reaper, 1831. USNM 121526; 1953. A scale model of the 1831 reaper of Cyrus McCormick, built long afterwards from descriptions by the inventor. Gift of McCormick Historical Association, Chicago, Illinois.
Figure 10.--McCormick reaper (1831) in use in the field. Photo courtesy of International Harvester Corporation. (Catalog No. 98.)Figure10.—McCormick reaper (1831) in use in the field. Photo courtesy of International Harvester Corporation. (Catalog No. 98.)
Figure10.—McCormick reaper (1831) in use in the field. Photo courtesy of International Harvester Corporation. (Catalog No. 98.)
99.Bee Colony, 1953 (renewed yearly). A 3-storybee hive with about 60,000 bees. The hive was designed by experts at the Department of Agriculture Research Station, Beltsville, Maryland. The United States Department of Agriculture donated the hive and the Italian bees.
100.Model of Ox-Powered Sugar Cane Mill, 1925. USNM 200380; 1954. Model of a mill of a type used in Puerto Rico as early as 1523. It took ten men and four yoke of oxen to operate the mill, which could crush about four tons of cane in a 12-hour day. This type of mill extracted about 40 to 45 percent syrup based on the weight of the cane, compared to 80 to 85 percent extracted by modern mills. Gift of Daniel Thompson, Petersburg, Virginia.
101.Model of Water-Lifting Wheel, 1884. USNM 200380; 1954. A model of a wind-driven waterwheel used for raising water into the evaporating beds in salt works. This type of device lifted water from the ocean in Puerto Rico. Gift of Daniel Thompson, Petersburg, Virginia.
102.Model of Grist Mill, 1883. USNM 200380; 1954. This model of a water-powered grist mill resembles those used throughout America in the 19th century before the discovery of the gradual reduction process and the consequent centralization of the milling industry. This particular mill, known to have operated from 1883 to 1940, ground corn in Puerto Rico. Gift of Daniel Thompson, Petersburg, Virginia.
103.Farm Copybook, about 1840. USNM 209042; 1955. Wells Forbes, who had a farm near Alexandria, Virginia, kept this book for about a year in the 1840s. Gift of Bessie W. Palm, Washington, D. C.
104.Grain Cradle, about 1900. USNM 210597,1956. Grain cradle used before 1900. Gift of Jennie Sabrosky, Sturgis, Michigan.
105.Model of Hussey Reaper, 1833. USNM 212910; 1956. A model of the 1833 reaper patented by Obed Hussey and based on the specifications of the patent. Constructed by the Office of Exhibits, Smithsonian Institution.
106.Horse Spurs, possibly late 19th century. USNM 211312; 1956. Gift of Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C.
107.Bridle Bits, possibly late 19th century. USNM 211312; 1956. A rugged type of bridle bit with steel rings used to control horses. This particular bridle bit may have been used in Texas and Mexico in the cattle industry. Gift of Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C.
108.Cow Bell, possibly late 19th century. USNM 211312; 1956. Gift of Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C.
109.Braided Whip, possibly late 19th century. USNM 211312; 1956. A home-made horsewhip. Gift of Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C.
110.Tobacco Clips, possibly late 19th century. USNM 211312; 1956. Seven clips, each different, denoting a brand for labeling tobacco. Gift of Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C.
111.Bar Share Plow, 1807. USNM 214608; 1957. A left-handed wooden moldboard plow. Most American plows cast the furrow to the right. The Reverend Christian Lesher brought this rare sort of plow from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Washington Township, Pennsylvania, in 1807. Gift of Daniel Lesher, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
112.Sausage Stuffer, about 1820. USNM 213816; 1957. This hand-lever sausage stuffer, mounted on a bench, may have been made in England in the early 19th century and later brought to Brampton, Ontario. Not all parts are of the same age. The replaced parts seem to be those most subject to wear and tear. This style sausage stuffer was quite common in the 18th and 19th centuries. Gift of Tee-Pak, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.
Figure 11.--Sausage stuffer, early 19th century. (Catalog No. 112.)Figure11.—Sausage stuffer, early 19th century. (Catalog No. 112.)
Figure11.—Sausage stuffer, early 19th century. (Catalog No. 112.)
113.Meat Grinder, about 1830. USNM 312816;1957. A hand-cranked meat grinder made of wood with iron slugs to push the meat against stationary knives. Overall, 14 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 10 inches high. Gift of Tee-Pak, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.
114.Sausage Stuffer, early 19th century. USNM 213816; 1957. This hand-cranked sausage stuffer, made of wood and with an iron screw, fits on a small bench with lard press. It is 20 inches long, 8½ inches wide, and 11 inches high. Gift of Tee-Pak, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.
115.Lard Press, late 19th century. USNM 213816; 1957. A lard press made of cylindrical perforated metal, with a screw press to be mounted on a small bench. The press is 11 inches in diameter and 10 inches high. The bench is about a yard long, 8 inches wide, and 18 inches high. Gift of Tee-Pak, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.
116.Butcher's Table, late 19th century. USNM 213816; 1957. A heavy, low table made of two thick slabs of wood with a gutter cut along the edges of the table. Used in cutting up animal carcasses. Some 6 feet long, 34 inches wide, and 24½ inches high. Gift of Tee-Pak, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.
117.Chopping Bowl, late 19th century. USNM 213816; 1957. Elliptical wooden chopping bowl, some 30 inches long, 17½ inches wide, and 7 inches high. Gift of Tee-Pak, Inc., Chicago, Illinois.
118.Thresher, about 1855. USNM 214890; 1957. A threshing machine marked "J. and P. Flickinger, Hanover, Pa., No. 41." It once had a drive for a vibrating straw separator. Gift of James W. Brown, Brookeville, Maryland.
119.Grain Cradle, about 1870. USNM 214890; 1957. A grain cradle made at Brighton, Maryland, by William Nickerson, Jr. The cradle fingers are of ash, and the braces of hickory. This type of cradle continued in use in many places even after the advent of harvesting machinery. Farmers with only small acreages in bread grains or who farmed rough or hilly soil could not effectively use the reapers and harvester of the middle 19th century. Gift of James W. Brown, Brookeville, Maryland.
120.Binder's Rake, about 1870. USNM 214890; 1957. The binder followed the cradler. This hand rake, used by the binder for gathering the grain before binding and later shocking, had teeth rived out of hickory. Such a rake could also be used by a binder who followed those the early reapers used before the invention of the twine binder. Gift of James W. Brown, Brookeville, Maryland.
Figure 12.--Harpoon hayforks. (Catalog Nos. 121, 123.)Figure 12.—Harpoon hayforks. (Catalog Nos. 121, 123.)
Figure 12.—Harpoon hayforks. (Catalog Nos. 121, 123.)
121.Harpoon Hayfork, late 19th century. USNM 214890; 1957. A double-harpoon hayfork and pulley for lifting hay from a wagon to a barn hayloft. Power was supplied by horse or mule. The small barbs on the harpoon could catch and hold a surprising amount of hay. Gift of James W. Brown, Brookeville, Maryland.
122.Grain Sack, 1842. USNM 214608; 1957. A grain sack of homespun linen made from flax grown on the John Lesher farm near Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Woven at a roadside mill, the sack has a capacity of three bushels and is marked "John Lesher, No. 26, 1842." Prior to the advent of and widespread use of the elevator system of grain handling, nearly all grain was moved in sacks that had to be shifted about by hand and stored in warehouses. The elevator system began in Buffalo, New York, in 1842, but reached a position of prominence only in the 1870s when it began flourishing in Chicago and Milwaukee. Thereafter the grain sack became virtually a curiosity. Gift of James W. Brown, Brookeville, Maryland.
123.Single-Harpoon Hayfork, about 1895. USNM 216224; 1957. A hay harpoon, commonly called a hay needle, about 35½ inches long. Gift of Cora E. Robinson, Schenectady, New York.
124.Tractor Engine Starter, 1930. USNM 218874; 1958. The starting device could be bolted to the rear wheel hub of an automobile. An extendible shaft went from the wheel-fitting to the crank on the tractor. The car engine then could turn over the tractor engine. The starter was made by C. O. Goodrich, who marketed it for about eight years in five midwestern states. Self starters on tractors eventually ended the need for the device. Gift of C. O. Goodrich, Plymouth, Indiana.
125.Fordson Crank, about 1925. USNM 218874; 1958. This device was used to crank the engine on Fordson tractors. Gift of C. O. Goodrich, Plymouth, Indiana.
126.Milking Machine, 1896. USNM 220004; 1958. A Mehring foot-powered milking machine. Gift of Earl J. Waybright, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
127.Carey Plow, about 1800. USNM 220005; 1958. A type of plow widely used in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the United States. This particular plow was a one-horse, single-bottom, walking type, with wooden handles, beam, stock, and moldboard. The share point is of iron. All wooden joints are joined with wooden pegs. There is a bolt-type brace from beam to stock and a small iron brace with a larger wooden brace between the handles. Gift of International Harvester Co., Albany, New York.
128.Hoe, possibly mid 19th century. USNM 213356; 1958. Only the blade remains of this socket-type hoe. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
129.Log Roller, late 19th century. USNM 213356; 1958. Oxen drew this roller in preparing seed beds. The roller crushed clods and compressed the soil, leaving a firm, compact seed bed. It was useful, obviously, only on certain types of soil in fairly humid areas. The roller is made of four log sections, each 23 inches long and 14 inches in diameter. The logs are set in a weighted frame measuring 35 inches by 9 feet, with a tongue about 13 feet long. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
130.Grain Cradle, late 19th century. USNM 213356; 1958. A form of scythe used for harvesting grain before the reaper came into use, or used in places where the reaper proved uneconomical or technologically inappropriate, as rough or hilly land. This specimen has four wooden fingers, or tines, that are 45 inches long and spaced 7 inches apart. The blade is 2 inches wide and as long as the fingers. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
131.Self-Rake Reaper, 1895. USNM 213356; 1958. A McCormick Daisy Reaper of 1895 in which the operator sat on a seat mounted on the axle of the left wheel. Two horses drew the reaper. Three rotating arms with 3-inch projections raked, bound and shocked the grain. The cutter bar, over 5 feet long, has three triangular sickle blades which oscillate through the guard teeth, as in Hussey or modern cutter bars. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
132.Barley Fork, possibly late 19th century. USNM 213356; 1958. A rectangularwooden barley fork with a one-eighth-inch-gauge wire guard for holding the barley on the four tines. The guard was needed because of the nasty stings that the beard could give the worker. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
133.Brush Hook, late 19th century. USNM 213356; 1958. A typical iron sickle, called a hook because of its general shape. It has a circular tip on the end of the blade so that it could be used for cutting brush. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
134.Fanning Mill, late 19th century. USNM 213356; 1958. An early fanning mill with pulley and leather belt. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
135.Scythe, late 19th century. USNM 213356; 1958. A crooked-handled scythe used for cutting grain before the cradle, and thereafter for cutting hay. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
136.Flop-Over Hay Rake, about 1895. USNM 213356; 1958. A rake for piling hay that would be carried from the field or put into a mow. This sort of implement was used as early as 1820. The farmer walked behind the horse-drawn rake and raised the handle when the rake was full; this caused the double set of teeth to revolve, releasing the hay in a pile and putting the second set of teeth into position to rake more hay. The older method involved using small hand rakes and required considerable time and effort in a very disagreeable task. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
Figure 13.--Flop-over hay rake. (Catalog No. 136.)Figure13.—Flop-over hay rake. (Catalog No. 136.)
Figure13.—Flop-over hay rake. (Catalog No. 136.)
137.Victor Mowing Machine, 1880. USNM 213356; 1958. A one-horse, front-cut mowing machine similar to the Buckeye mower. The cutter bar can be raised and lowered parallel to the ground for desired cutting heights, and it can be lifted and fastened in an upright position for transport to and from the field. Mowers cut more rapidly and lower than did reapers, and thus they used a different gear ratio; however, farmers sometimes used reapers for mowing. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
138.Spring-Tooth Hay Rake, late 19th century. USNM 213356; 1958. A sulky rake with spring teeth designed to jump over obstructions in the field. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
139."Railway Horse Power," about 1885.USNM 213356; 1958. A horse-powered treadmill made chiefly of wood, with metal parts where the wear would be greatest. It was used to produce power for belt-driven equipment such as threshers or fanning mills. The machine is set in motion by putting a horse in the pen and releasing the brake. The weight of the horse causes the slats to move endlessly, which in turn rotates the belting wheel. Two-horse treadmills also were used, but such machines, although portable, worked less efficiently than the sweep-power machines. This treadmill was made in Vermont. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
140.Dog-Powered Churn, 1881. USNM 213356; 1958. H. M. Childs of Utica, New York, patented this dog-powered churn in 1871, with improvements patented in 1881. A dog, tied or strapped into the pen, ran forward and so moved the slats of the treadmill which in turn rotated a flywheel. Attached to the flywheel is a pitman rod which raises and lowers a churn dasher. Devices of this sort had appeared earlier for use in the farm-dairy industry. The change of direction effected by the pitman rod caused some loss of energy; in any case, a revolving barrel-churn proved more efficient in the long run. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
Figure 14.--Dog-powered churn, 1881. (Catalog No. 140.)Figure14.—Dog-powered churn, 1881. (Catalog No. 140.)
Figure14.—Dog-powered churn, 1881. (Catalog No. 140.)
141.Winnowing Basket, about 1800. USNM 213356; 1958. The winnowing basket was used to work off the chaff from the threshed grain. When the grain was tossed into the air, the wind would blow away the chaffand the grain would fall back into the basket. Sometimes the grain would be poured from another basket into a winnowing basket, with the wind doing the winnowing. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.
142.Avery Bulldog Tractor, 1919. USNM 222860; 1958. This is one of the several makes of tractors which set a trend toward lighter tractors about the time of World War I. It was designed for light field work such as cultivating but could also be used for belt drive. It developed 5 to 10 horsepower. Sold by Everett Noirot, Freehold, New York.
Figure 15.--Avery Bulldog tractor, about 1919. (Catalog No. 142.)Figure15.—Avery Bulldog tractor, about 1919. (Catalog No. 142.)
Figure15.—Avery Bulldog tractor, about 1919. (Catalog No. 142.)
143.Grain Cradle, about 1870. USNM 230323; 1958. This grain cradle resembles a scythe, with modification by the addition of a light wooden frame of four fingers with braces. Gift of Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture.
144.Scythe, about 1840. USNM 230323; 1958. A straight-handled scythe, probably handmade, that largely was used for mowing, although it could be used for reaping grain. Gift of Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture.
145.Harness Vise, probably mid 19th century. USNM 230323; 1958. This wooden device could be used to pry open the jaws of a recalcitrant horse. More often, it held parts of the harness as the saddler worked. Gift of Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture.
146.Wooden Hand Fork, late 19th century. USNM 230323; 1958. A wooden pitchfork for handling hay, straw, and the like. The metal pitchfork gradually replaced these wooden forks between the middle and end of the 19th century. Gift of Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture.
147.Horse-Drawn Hayfork, late 19th century. USNM 230323; 1959. The fork was driven into the hay and the handle compressed until it latched. A rope was attached to the fork, run up over a pully in the barn,and then down to a horse. In this way the hay could be lifted into the barn. Gift of Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture.
148.Horse-Drawn Planter, 1856. USNM 230323; 1958. E. C. Fairchild of Deerfield, Massachusetts, made this planter, which has compartments for seeds and fertilizer. As the drive-wheel pulled a sliding bar back and forth, seeds and fertilizer alternately dropped into the ground. The spacing of seeds and fertilizer could be set by adjusting the metal bar. Gift of Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture.
149.Fanning Mill, mid 19th century. USNM 230323; 1958. A machine for winnowing grain after it had been threshed. Grain fed into the machine landed on vibrating screens which permitted the kernels to fall into the path of a draft of air which blew off the chaff and debris. The clean grain fell into a container beneath the mill. The operator turned a crank which operated both the screens and the fan. Gift of Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture.
150.Hoe, mid 19th century. USNM 230322; 1958. A small hand hoe used for cultivating. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
151.Tile Knife, late 19th century. USNM 230322; 1958. This knife, resembling a small spade, was used to cut the trench in which tile was laid. It has a triangular metal cutter at right angles on the right side, and this gave the trench a straight edge on one side and perhaps helped keep the trench straight. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
152.Hand Hayfork, about 1895. USNM 230322; 1958. Farmers used this metal fork for pitching hay, straw, and possibly manure. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
153.Grain Sickle, 19th century. USNM 230322; 1958. This hand tool for harvesting grain has not changed in design for the last thousand years. The sickle has a curved blade some 22 inches long. The reaper would grab a handful of stalks and cut them with the blade. One man could cut up to an acre of grain by this method. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
154.Grafting Knife, possibly 20th century. USNM 230322; 1958. A knife especially designed to make the cuts necessary for grafting branches onto fruit trees. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
155.Manure Fork, possibly 20th century. USNM 230322; 1958. A typical manure fork. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
156.Ox Muzzle, about 1830. USNM 230322; 1958. Threshers used the muzzle to prevent the ox from stopping to graze while pulling equipment or from eating the grain while treading on it in a threshing operation. This muzzle is made of thin strips of wood. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
157.Hay Cutter, 20th century. USNM 230322; 1958. A knife made with the handle and serrated blade as one piece, all of metal. A wooden stock with a handgrip is fastened to the metal handle. This tool obviously was intended for cutting very small amounts of hay. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
158.Narrow Hoe, probably mid 19th century. USNM 230322; 1958. This is a typical cultivating hoe. Farmers used hoes of this type for cultivating crops until the innovation of plows and harrows. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
159.Ox Yoke, about 1830. USNM 230322; 1958. This yoke, for a single ox, probably was used in pulling small agricultural implements such as cultivating plows. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
160.Grain Flail, about 1840. USNM 230322; 1958. This type flail was used to beat grain free from unbound bundles of grain scattered about on the barn floor. The harvesters then threw the straw to one side and swept up the grain and chaff. The grain then had to be winnowed. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
161.Curd Breaker, late 19th century. USNM 230322; 1958. This machine has a woodenroller with projecting wooden pegs which, when rotated, broke up cheese curds. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
162.Horse-Drawn Cultivator, late 19th century. USNM 230322; 1958. This triangular cultivator was used for stirring the soil and removing foreign vegetable matter. It is adjustable and has five teeth spaced from 12 to 14 inches apart. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
163.Ice Saw, late 19th century. USNM 230322; 1958. This steel-bladed saw cut ice in lakes, ponds, and streams. Gift of Farmer's Museum, Hadley, Massachusetts.
164.Portable Steam Engine, 1877. USNM 211811; 1958. Portable steam engines provided belting power on farms to run threshing machines, circular saws, etc. This Frick model steam engine operated regularly from 1877 to 1949. Gift of Frick Company, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.