December 2011 Mystery Tool A

Four-gang core box used in a foundry. Photo submitted by Jim and Jan Couchman, Medford, Okla.

December 2011 Mystery Tool B

We struck out on this item and no answers were received from readers. Photo submitted by Jerry Kamp, Wooster, Ohio.

December 2011 Mystery Tool C

Matador meat slicer made by Gwinner Mfg. Co., Hamilton, Ohio (missing some parts). See patent 492,934. Photo submitted by Bill Shields, Nampa, Idaho.

December 2011 Mystery Tool D

Disston cross-cut saw handle. Photo submitted by James Wilson, Comanche, Texas.

Do you recognize this tool?

It measures 12-3/4 inches and is 1-inch in diameter. The metal piece measures 5-1/2 inches; the curved handle measures 6-1/2 inches. The metal handle has a slight groove on the top side extending through the vertical post to the smaller end.

If you recognize this tool, leave a comment in the comment section below.

Check back here January 17 for the correct answer, or find it in the February 2012 issue of Farm Collector.

Have a tool you want to submit? Email us at editor@farmcollector.com with at least one photo taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece.

Do you recognize this tool?

It measures 39 inches wide by 9 inches tall and has an adjustable blade.

If you recognize this tool, leave a comment in the comment section below.

Check back here January 17 for the correct answer, or find it in the February 2012 issue of Farm Collector.

Have a tool you want to submit? Email us at editor@farmcollector.com with at least one photo taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece.

Do you recognize this tool?

It is made of 24-gauge galvanized metal. The seams are crimped and soldered. It measures 8 inches in diameter, 8 inches deep. It also has two 12-inch tubes.

If you recognize this tool, leave a comment in the comment section below.

Check back here January 17 for the correct answer, or find it in the February 2012 issue of Farm Collector.

Have a tool you want to submit? Email us at editor@farmcollector.com with at least one photo taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece.

Do you recognize this tool?

It is marked "One Minute Mfg. Company, El Reno" and "70." It measures 2-3/4 by 6 inches.

If you recognize this tool, leave a comment in the comment section below.

Check back here January 17 for the correct answer, or find it in the February 2012 issue of Farm Collector.

Have a tool you want to submit? Email us at editor@farmcollector.com with at least one photo taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece.

I am interested in learning the manufacturer of this buzz saw. The only markings are the number 2183A on the flywheel. Although the framework is repainted, it is the original color. I do not know the year it was purchased by my grandfather, but it must be about 100 years old. Any information is appreciated.

Dale Kincaid, 1331 N. Co. Rd. 2730E, Newman, IL 61942

I collect memorabilia from my hometown of Ladd, Ill. I recently purchased a seed corn planter box manufactured in Ladd, Ill. The person I purchased it from told me it was found in Iowa. The cast iron lid reads: “THE LAD / LADD MFG CO / LADD ILL.” I have done numerous searches on the Internet, but I haven’t found much information other than the fact that the company was in business in the early 1920s. Does anyone know anything about the Ladd Co., or have pieces from that manufacturer in their collections?

Jim Piacenti, P.O. Box 7, Ladd, IL 61329; (815) 894-2840; email: jimndebp@frontier.com.

Your hobby is bigger than you think; perhaps even bigger than your wife thinks! In fact, your hobby helps fuel your community.

Here’s how it works. If you go to old iron shows, or if you’re an exhibitor at old iron shows, you help that club produce a bigger and better show. Whether you’re paying admission at the gate, buying a pork burger or setting up a display, your very presence contributes to the bottom line.

And who goes to just one show a season? Nobody. If you load up the pickup and head down the road to a show, chances are good that you’ll do business with the locals when you arrive: buy gas, get a room, hit the convenience store for on-the-road needs. Others traveling with you may do a bit of shopping at local shops. At the end of the day, there may be a meal at a local restaurant, and so on. Your hobby is a shot in the arm for businesses and communities.

And don’t overlook the people who feed you at the show. For instance, at the 2011 Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the Boy Scouts sold 67 dozen homemade cinnamon rolls. The Pork Producers made more than 8,000 sandwiches. Local churches produced enough beef and noodles, mashed potatoes and pie to feed an army. Proceeds from those activities filter down to support everything from local projects to international stewardship.

You may not think it adds up to much. Economic development experts know otherwise. That’s why they make sure promotional materials and online resources feature museum collections and annual shows. Check out websites for your local chamber of commerce or county economic development organization. If your club’s show isn’t featured, it should be. If the museum you support isn’t included in a list of local attractions, it should be. People who travel are looking for this information: Give them what they want.

And the next time you find yourself on the wrong end of a conversation about the newest addition to your collection, run the economic development argument up the flagpole. It may just buy you enough time to seek shelter from a rolling pin! FC