Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience will be closed Monday, March 16, for a day of staff learning and development. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience will be closed Monday, March 16, for a day of staff learning and development. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Oliver Plow, 1870-1929

Contact Us About This
01

Artifact Overview

"Chilled" cast iron was the latest thing in plows in the 1870s, a process perfected by James A. Oliver, of South Bend, Indiana. The chilling process involved cooling the cast iron with water, hardening the metal. It polished like steel, allowing it to pull through the soil easily. A copy of this plow is used at Greenfield Village's Firestone Farm.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Plow (Agricultural equipment)

Date Made

1870-1929

Creators

Place of Creation

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2014.5.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of the Family of Wayne G. Lilly.

Material

Wood (Plant material)
Iron (Metal)
Paint (Coating)

Color

Brown
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 37.5 in
Width: 29.75 in
Length: 93 in

Inscriptions

On both sides of beam: MANF'D BY/ OLIVER CHILLED PLOW WORKS/ SOUTH BEND IND. U.S.A. oN TOP OF BEAM: 40 On back of blade: 40 OLIVER On brace: R40 0Y380 On brace: WV186
Keywords