We have three of the mystery tools, and their patent papers, whose pictures appeared in the May, June and August issues of Farm Collector.
The May tool, under the heading ‘Unusual piece needs identifying,’ is a horse hay fork, patented April 9, 1867; the June tool, titled ‘1914 tool has collector stumped,’ is a rotator for piles of plates in a centrifugal cream separator, patented Dec. 15, 1914. The August tool is a meat tenderer, patented Nov. 1, 1898.
You will notice little similarity between the tool on page 5 of the June issue and the drawing on patent No. 1,120,882, the rotator shown lower right, but they both share the same date, Dec. 15, 1914. We have carefully examined each patent drawing that was issued on Dec. 15, 1914, and I have to believe they are the same. After many years of patent research we have found many times that the item that was sold to the consumer has a small change or complete makeover. Until you yourself have the job of dissassembling and washing a dirty cream separator, the use of this rotator may not be clear. Want you to know that we love your magazine. When it arrives, everything stops and the next two hours are spent looking. Jim Moffet, patent research hobbiest, Modesto, IL 62667
Editor’s note: We regret that the photographs of the meat tenderer and another, unidentified tool, were switched in the ‘Letters’ column of the August issue.
SEARCH ON FOR WARD-LOVE PUMP PARTS
I am a regular subscriber to Farm Collector magazine and I need some help. I am trying to overhaul a hand-powered water pump. It was made by Ward-Love Pump Corp., Rockford, III.
I need two cupped leathers for the piston. The inside bore is 5.090 inches. This pump was used on a water wagon back in steam engine days.
If someone can help me find these leathers, please contact me. You can call collect.Morris P. Hinken, 309 Short St., Lee’s Summit, MO 64063, phone 816-524-7521.
SEEKING SOURCE OF ‘FRESNO’ EXCAVATOR NAME
Back in the good old days of farm dirt excavation, the first excavator was a ‘Slip’ with two handles on the buck that the operator lifted so it would cut into the soil and then lifted high up to dump the load.
Then came the ‘Fresno’ with one long handle with a rope at the back. It operated similarly to the Slip but cut a bigger load.
Next in line was the ‘Tumble-bug’, which was pretty well automated for filling, hauling and dumping.
So what is my question? What was the source of the name ‘Fresno’? Can anyone tell meIvan L. Pfalser,R.R. 1, Box 162, Caney, KS 67333, phone 620-879-2938
MORE ON THE B.F. AVERY TRACTORS
I wish to respond to the answer in the June Farm Collector by Sam Moore to the question by Samuel W. Rush about the B.F. Avery tractors.
The only difference between the Cletrac General ‘GG’ and the Avery ‘A’ was the color. After the purchase by B.F. Avery in 1942, Cletrac built more than 800 tractors for B.F. Avery. Early in 1943, Avery started tractor production at the firm’s Louisville, Ky., factory, beginning with Sn: 1A845.
Avery introduced the new hood and grill design for the ‘A’ in December 1945 with SN: 7A270. The IXB-3 engine and hydraulic control were introduced in mid-1946 with SN: 8A601. The Model ‘R’ was introduced in 1950. After the merger with Minneapolis-Moline in 1951, the ‘R’ was renamed the ‘BF’ to distinguished it from the Minneapolis-Moline ‘R.’Jessie D. Coyle Cottontown, TN
OLD TOOLS FOUND IN A BARN
I would like you to find out what the tools pictured here are. They were found in a barn and they are old. I see different things in your magazine; I like to read it. I have different things I cannot identify and thought you might be able to help out. Clarence Champlin, 4002 W. Epton Rd., Henderson, Ml 48841-9733
TRANSPLANTER IDENTIFIED
Thank you for including the picture of my ‘mystery’ machine on page 4 of the May 2001 magazine.
As it turned out, it was a mystery to me only.
I was soon to find out it is a plant transplanter. I learned it was used to plant almost anything, from bulbs to sweet potatoes to pine trees.
I thought I had found a rare one, but some fine folks out there informed me otherwise.
A big thank you to the people who took time to contact me and share some information and experiences.
Keep up the good job.-Richard Hak, Saginaw, Ml
‘EGG BEATER’ IDEA
I believe the item in the photo ‘It’s not an egg beater,’ which ran in the August Farm Collector, is a holder for wool ‘rolags’. Rolags are the small rolls of carded wool done in preparation for spinning.
Many spinning wheels, especially those called the Saxony-style, have a similiar device built into the design. This one appears to hang from either the spinning wheel or from a nearby bracket. Joy LeCount,3472 W 800 N, Wawaka, IN 46794
PURCHASED AT AN AUCTION
Can any of your readers tell me how this tool might be used? My father purchased this at an auction just because no one knew what it was!
The handle ratchets the length of the bar for large or small objects. There is a cutting blade on the bottom. One side appears to cut irregular shapes and the other side is straight.
A plate on the bottom side has ‘Waller Tool Co., 327 E. Marquette Road, Chicago, ILL USA, patent pending.’Joann Mott, Route #2, Box 145,Marceline, MO 64658,660-272-3795,jcmott@memsys. com
HAY FORK THANK YOU’
I want to thank you for running my letter of inquiry about the corkscrew hay fork in the May issue. I had 14 letters and two phone calls.William McCormick, Marcellus, NY
ENGINE ON AUGUST COVER
The engine on the cover of the August 2001 Farm Collector was built by Hercules Gas Engine Co. of Evansville, Ind. I have a Jaeger engine, plus a Hercules engine and some others. I enjoy Farm Collector magazine alot.Marlin Asmussen, P.O. Box 432, Nicomo Park, OK 73066
