Horse-Drawn Equipment Key to Collection

Markings on implement seats may appear to indicate the manufacturer's identity. However, even that clue is unreliable because a cracked or broken seat was typically replaced by one stripped from another implement. "Most seats only had one bolt so there was a lot of pressure on them with all the lurching and jolting they went through. And some people put a bigger seat on because they needed it," Dave says with a laugh. "Sometimes I wonder how much they rode. Maybe they walked behind the disc a lot."

It'd be understandable if they took a break from walking. In the horse-farming days in his area, Dave says 160-acre farms were common. "But there was always a lot of pasture ground," he says. "They only farmed the nicest and easiest ground, so 40 acres of small grain would be farmed, there'd be 30 acres in alfalfa and the rest was pastureland. Even so, with a 1- or 2-bottom plow or a little disc, it takes a while to work that land." FC  

For more information: Dave Bromenshenkel, 40197 County Rd. 183, Sauk Centre, MN 56378.
Bill Vossler is a freelance writer and author of several books on antique farm tractors and toys. Contact him at Box 372, 400 Caroline Ln., Rockville, MN 56569; e-mail: bvossler@juno.com.