Hay Carrier and Hay Tool Collectors Meet for Annual Show

Most manufacturers made salesmen’s samples to demonstrate the working mechanism for a particular model of carrier. Collectors are particularly fond of those pieces.

Carrier manufacturers also produced shop carriers or merchandise carriers for use in moving heavy items through the shop and hardware stores. Since goods were required or stored in various locations in a shop, switches were built into the track to direct the carriers, just like switches in railroad tracks control train travel.

Hay tools hit the auction block

An auction was a highlight of the 2011 NAHTCA show and swap meet. Hay carriers made up the bulk of the offering. Some were still in their work clothes; others were completely restored, painted in the colors of the original manufacture and ready for display.

The crown jewel of the event was a U.S. Wind Engine & Pump Co. carrier with a patent date of April 4, 1878. Manufactured in Batavia, Ill., it was purchased by Dennis McGrew, Lawrence, Mich., for $1,000. It operates on a wood beam 2-by-4 positioned upright with a cast iron metal track on top of the 2-by-4. The wood beam track is fastened to the barn rafters with odd-shaped L-type brackets. One side of the carrier is open to allow the carrier to pass along the track brackets while the other side is enclosed and contains all the rollers. The carrier has a set of three rollers on each of its support arms and an idler guide roller on the bottom to keep it on the track.

The 2012 NAHTCA show will make an encore appearance in Ashland on April 27-28, 2012. The feature next year will be Ohio-made carriers. FC 

For more information on NAHTCA: Doug de Shazer, North American Hay Tool Collectors Assn., 55005 897 Rd., Lot #8, Crofton, NE 68730; phone (402) 510-8845; e-mail haytoolcollector@yahoo.com. 

James N. Boblenz grew up on a farm near New Bloomington, Ohio. He now lives in Marion, Ohio, and is interested in antique farm equipment, particularly rare and lesser-known tractors and related items. E-mail him at jboblenz@aol.com.