LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Ditcher or lister?
This implement has IHC-marked parts on the wheel hubs. In an IHC book, I found some printed information, but no photos. They called it a "damming ditcher" or a "lister," but I am still wondering if that is right. Does anyone know anything about this type of implement?
- Ray Loewen, 2134 6th Ave. N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 0W7 Canada
'What-is-it?' whoops
In response to the mystery tool C in the September issue of Farm Collector, which was identified as a woodworking scraper, possibly a scorp: I'm sure that the tool is a turpentine hacker. The tool was used to slash the bark on a pine tree to allow the sap to flow into a bucket. The tool had an iron weight on the end of the handle to provide additional momentum, as the tool is pulled downward for the cut.
I am certain that the item pictured in the September Farm Collector What-is-it? page, item C, was used to tap pine resin from trees in south Georgia and north Florida.
- Preston Currey, Box 338, Hughes Springs, TX 75656; (903) 639-7305
Grandfather's plow identified through Weir catalog story
Reading through a recent issue (Farm Collector, September 2002), I saw the reprint of the 1886 Weir Plow Co. catalog, and through it I was able to identify my wood-beam walking plow, which belonged to my grandfather. I am 75 years old and only remember it as a used plow. It is a wood standard "extra" model with a rolling cutter. It has been used so much that the metal on each side of the drawbar is worn into the holes.
The unusual thing about Weir plows is that they were made right handed at a time when all other plows were left handed. Right-hand plows didn't come out until the tractor plow.
I also liked the fanning mill article in the same issue. I have the Maytag version of the One Minute Mill. It is the same in design but carries the Maytag name instead of One Minute.
- Herman F. Calvert, 11886 E. 400th Ave., Newton, IL 62448