Countless contraptions that revolutionized farming in the 19th and early 20th centuries have become contemporary curiosities, or even mysteries. Here are six sent in by readers. Do you know what they are?
Answers to the September 2023 items will appear in the November 2023 issue.
Answers for new items in this issue must be received by Sept. 13, 2023.
A. Tool measures 4 inches long. No markings other than those (0-100) on the dial.
Revolution counter or gauge. RPM stands for revolutions per minute. Also known as a tachometer. “The one pictured would be used to measure rpm for any shaft,” says Marcus Miller, Pleasant Hill, Ohio. “My father used a gauge very similar to this one to monitor the rpm on the threshing machine. The cylinder speed in a threshing machine is very important to the best function. As the thresher was in motion, Dad would use this to check cylinder speed. He would then give hand signals to the man at the tractor who would then increase or decrease the speed of the belt that drove the thresher.”
“It is held in the hand so that the arrow on the dial passes under the thumb,” says Maurice Hooks, Silverdale, Wash. “When engaged with the shaft end, the arrow can be felt passing and you count the number of passes over a period of time (like a minute). On this one, as is normal, the arrow passes each 100 revolutions. If counted over a minute period, it gives the rpm of the shaft (30 seconds, half the rpm). It can be used by just watching the dial, but then someone else needs to watch the watch!”
Identified by William Evans, St. Joseph, Mo.; Tim Frieden, Lamar, Mo.; Dave Blausey, Gibsonburg, Ohio; Stan Lougheed, Singhampton, Ontario,
Canada; Elwin Bender, Hastings, Mich.; Jimmy Clint, Palmyra, Ohio; Gene Revlett, Calhoun, Ky.; Jerry Wells, Glendale, Ariz.; Royce Chambers,
Bird City, Kan.; Bill Hermann, Port Angeles, Wash.; Dave Pidgeon, New Haven, Vt.; Kerry Gish, Kewanee, Ill.; Ken Bolton, Fall Creek, Wis.; John Wilding, Hermann, Mo.; Larry H. Beuzenburg Sr., Irving, N.Y.; Alfred Gulvin, Creedmoor, N.C.; Randall Waldrip, Metamora, Ill.; Maurice Hooks,
Silverdale, Wash.;
Loren Lindsay, Mankato, Minn.; Michael Locke, Ontario, Canada; Merlyn Grage, Colman, S.D.; Nick Caldiero, Afton, N.Y.; Angela Green, Webster, Fla.; Ron Ratajczak, Newton, Wis.; John Lemke, Lantry, S.D.; Don Stiner, Catawissa, Pa.; Bill Thele, New London, Iowa; Gary Griesse, Harrisburg, S.D.; Glenn and Retta Smith, Wichita, Kan.; Mel Weddle, Greenfield, Ind.; Don Banwart, West Bend, Iowa; Bud and Laura Fisher, Jamesville, N.Y.;
Edward Hebert, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada; Lloyd Weber, Riverside, Iowa; Terry Yust, Viola, Minn.; Hope Lambert, Saco, Maine; Ellis Macha, Renwick, Iowa; Ed Price, Frederick, Md.; Leo Bard, Hartland, Mich.;
Dennis Schenk, West Burlington, Iowa; Ron Unverdorben, Marilla, N.Y.; Alan Gustafson, Superior, Wis.; Del Southern, Latham, Ill.; Harlen Maier, Stockton, Calif.; Lyle A. Olson, Faribault, Minn.; Marlin O. Herbst, Merrill, Iowa; Gene E. Jerovitz, Kewaunee, Wis.; Jerry Kline, South Bend, Ind.; Jim Wharton, Byron, Minn.; Don Hartl, Platte Center, Neb.; Alan Duffield, Browns Valley, Minn.; Jerry Jordan, Roscoe, Ill.; Bruce Patterson, Ludington, Mich.; Marlin Nuss, Tripp, S.D.; Clark Colby, North
Huntingdon, Pa.; Sherb Mabie, Kennan, Wis.;
Keith Bullock, Lake Worth, Fla.; Mike Rocca, Tipton, Iowa; Bob Palte, Glandorf, Ohio.; Ken Stensland, Ithaca, N.Y.; Eugene R. Roelofs, Byron Center, Mich.; Mose S. Hostetler, Spring Run, Pa.; Wayne Spiess, Dawson, Minn.; Homer G. Kreider Jr., Lebanon, Pa.; Arlis R. Springer, Delavan, Ill.; Tom Whalley, Hancock, Wis.; Gerald Swartz, Henning, Minn.; Murray Wells, Fullerton, Calif.; John Ensign, Peru, Ind.; Arthur Bailey, Wilmington, Vt.; Gene Hoenig, Gainesville, Texas; and Miles Young, Downs, Ill. Photo submitted by Don Eickholt, Junction City, Kan.
B. Solid brass handle. Measures 9 inches long with a 1-5/16- inch shaft hole and a 3/8-inch square keyway. The slot is 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. It measures just under 3/4- inch thick in the flat area. No markings except for some green paint on the back of the lever.
Unidentified. Photo submitted by Kevin Hohner, Minneapolis, Kan.
C. Box formed of two identical wooden halves that are hinged to a bottom board. The latch that holds the two sides together is a hairpin-like device made from one piece of heavy wire. A slight pull on this wire allows the two sides to fall open with a loud bang.
Live bird trap used to hold and release live birds for target practice. This box could hold two live pigeons. When the shooter standing nearby was ready, he would shout, “Pull!” and a person some distance away would pull the long rope. The hairpin-like wire caused the box to open quickly. Photo submitted by Joe Smith, Ionia, Mich.
D. Mounted on a 4×4 block of wood. Measures 15 inches long with two 4- by 5-inch slides on top (one is missing). Also, a steel head action on top; spring returns.
Unidentified.
E. Tool has a sharp blade on top.
Hog snouter. Identified by John Wilding; Jack Simmons, Mt. Vernon, Ill.; and Glen Haselbarth, Minden, Neb. “These were used before hog rings were applied to the edges of hog snouts,” John says. “Both were intended to make the snout hurt when hogs rooted in the dirt. They would root along the sides of their pen, dig a hole under the fence and escape. This was to keep the hogs in their pen. Eventually the wounds would heal and then the farmer would slice the snout again. A little block of wood is missing from the part of the tool to the right. The sharp knife on the left would cut the snout with the snout held against the wood. Not a very pleasant situation for the farmer or the hog!”
“To use the snouter, the pig was held in a head gate and a cut was made with the blade of the snouter in the top of the pig’s nose (or snout) above and parallel to the nose bone,” Glen says. “The snouter was turned sideways and another cut was made in the middle, making the top of the snout in two. Their noses were sore for a day or two and then they were fine. This was very effective in comparison to nose rings, which the pigs often worked out.” Photo submitted by Tom Larson, Vivian, S.D.
F. Markings on flat surface are not legible. Round part end of the tool appears to have been beaten. Shown in open and closed position.
Unidentified. Photo submitted by Jacob Mast, New Castle, Pa.
To submit photos:
Send prints to Farm Collector, 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609. Send digital images to editor@farmcollector.com.
- Photos should be taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece. We cannot guarantee every photo will be published, nor can we respond to inquiries regarding when photos will be published. No photos will be returned.
- Digital photos should be sent as .jpgs at a minimum of 300 dpi.
To identify an item:
Send answers (with your name and address) to Farm Collector, 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, KS 66609. Email responses may be sent to editor@farmcollector.com.
Answers for new items shown in this issue must be received by Sept. 13, 2023.
Originally published as “September Mystery Tools” in the September 2023 issue of Farm Collector magazine.
