In response to the question posed by Tony Friga in the June 2003 Farm Collector, ‘Plow needs a name:’ The ‘SBCPCO’ on the back of the moldboard suggests that the bottom was made by the South Bend Chilled Plow Co. The wood parts don’t appear original. The company was located in South Bend, Ind., in the late 1870s and was a division of St. Joseph Reaper and Machine Co. It was evidently attempting to reap the benefits of chilled plow sales, perfected by James Oliver, owner of the Oliver Chilled Plow Works, also located in South Bend.
The pictures show both sides of a South Bend Chilled Plow Co. trade card. Notice that the trade card made the statement, ‘The most popular plows in America.’ For some reason the plows weren’t popular enough to be listed with 63 other manufacturers in the book by Alan King, Horse Drawn Plows.
Morris Harrison, 3080 360th St., Sioux Center, IA 51250; (712)722-3013
Planting seeds
Our club in north-central Oklahoma is planning for the future. We want to provide financial assistance to young people 13-19 years of age who are interested in doing a restoration project with tractors, farm machinery or stationary engines.
Does anyone have or know of such a local or state contest? We are also interested in organizing an information booklet on the history of antique farm equipment including tractors, implements and stationary engines for kids 6 to 12.
Does such a contest exist, or would anyone be interested in organizing something like this?
-Gene Powell, 13950 County Road 60, Perry, OK 73077; (580) 725-3321
Editor’s note:ChevronTexaco Global Lubricants Tractor Restoration Competition is an annual restoration contest sponsored by the FFA, a national organization for young, future farmers. For more information, contact Christa Williams at ChevronTexaco at (888) 385-4026; e-mail: christaw@allen-martin.com
Why’d they do that?
I am rebuilding a 1920 International 3-hp engine. Why are the governor break shoe, eccentric strap and the fuel pump (not counting the discharge check value, plunger and plunger top) made of brass? My research has led me to individuals that have heard about the engine, but they have never seen one. I would appreciate any information regarding why these parts were made of brass.
Louis Werner, 405 E. Mill St., Freeburg, IL 62243; (618)539-3950
In the dark about seeder
I just purchased a light-duty, chain-driven, steel-wheels-with-cleats seeder. It has two rotating spreaders, is lightly rusted, and I would like to touch it up a bit. The axle is about 54 feet and has a hitch for a hook up. It may have been horse drawn, but now is attached with a hitch for a tractor. It also has a large, steel holding bucket with a four-prong rotating mixer. The only markings have an ‘F&H’ on the inside of the hubs. There are no other markings, and I can’t tell its original paint colors. Can anyone tell me the seeder’s manufacturer and paint colors?
Grover Gibson, P.O. Box 42151, Fredericksburg, VA 22404; e-mail: mggg11aol.co
