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- Sheaf Fork - Pitchforks worked as extensions of farmers' arms, allowing them to skewer, lift, and move larger quantities of hay, sheaves of grain, or straw than they could do with just their hands. They used different fork designs for different jobs. Two- and three-tine forks like this (with short metal points) worked best to pitch bundles of grain from field to wagon to thresher.
- Collections - Artifact
Sheaf Fork
Pitchforks worked as extensions of farmers' arms, allowing them to skewer, lift, and move larger quantities of hay, sheaves of grain, or straw than they could do with just their hands. They used different fork designs for different jobs. Two- and three-tine forks like this (with short metal points) worked best to pitch bundles of grain from field to wagon to thresher.
- Hay Knife - Farm families cut and cured enough grass each summer to feed hay to their livestock all winter. Stored hay settled over time and farmers used special knives made by blacksmiths to cut out chunks for feed. The smiths forged wrought-iron blades with a long cutting edge. The wooden handle was set on a tang (a pointed metal extension of the handle) and secured with a metal collar for durability.
- Collections - Artifact
Hay Knife
Farm families cut and cured enough grass each summer to feed hay to their livestock all winter. Stored hay settled over time and farmers used special knives made by blacksmiths to cut out chunks for feed. The smiths forged wrought-iron blades with a long cutting edge. The wooden handle was set on a tang (a pointed metal extension of the handle) and secured with a metal collar for durability.
- Hay Rake, 1825-1835 - This rake was common from the 1700s to the 1840s. Two horses dragged the rake over the field, reducing physical labor and time needed to harvest the scythe-cut hay. A farmer or a field hand walked behind holding the two wooden handles to keep the rake's teeth parallel to the ground. The operator stopped periodically and tipped the rake to deposit the hay into windrows.
- 1825-1835
- Collections - Artifact
Hay Rake, 1825-1835
This rake was common from the 1700s to the 1840s. Two horses dragged the rake over the field, reducing physical labor and time needed to harvest the scythe-cut hay. A farmer or a field hand walked behind holding the two wooden handles to keep the rake's teeth parallel to the ground. The operator stopped periodically and tipped the rake to deposit the hay into windrows.
- Sheaf Fork, circa 1875 - Pitchforks worked as extensions of farmers' arms, allowing them to skewer, lift, and move larger quantities of hay, sheaves of grain, or straw than they could do with just their hands. They used different fork designs for different jobs. Two- and three-tine forks like this (with short metal points) worked best to pitch bundles of grain from field to wagon to thresher.
- circa 1875
- Collections - Artifact
Sheaf Fork, circa 1875
Pitchforks worked as extensions of farmers' arms, allowing them to skewer, lift, and move larger quantities of hay, sheaves of grain, or straw than they could do with just their hands. They used different fork designs for different jobs. Two- and three-tine forks like this (with short metal points) worked best to pitch bundles of grain from field to wagon to thresher.
- Hay Knife, circa 1850 -
- circa 1850
- Collections - Artifact
Hay Knife, circa 1850
- Hay Hook, circa 1850 -
- circa 1850
- Collections - Artifact
Hay Hook, circa 1850
- Pitchfork, circa 1870 - Forks worked as extensions of farmers' arms, allowing them to skewer, lift, and move larger quantities of grain, straw or hay than they could do with just their hands. This fork started as a square wooden piece of ash or hickory. Riving (or separating) one end and bending the tines (or points) created two- and three-tine forks that farmers used to move bundles of grain or hay cut from stacks.
- circa 1870
- Collections - Artifact
Pitchfork, circa 1870
Forks worked as extensions of farmers' arms, allowing them to skewer, lift, and move larger quantities of grain, straw or hay than they could do with just their hands. This fork started as a square wooden piece of ash or hickory. Riving (or separating) one end and bending the tines (or points) created two- and three-tine forks that farmers used to move bundles of grain or hay cut from stacks.
- Hay Fork, circa 1880 -
- circa 1880
- Collections - Artifact
Hay Fork, circa 1880
- 1960 Advertisement for the Ford 981 Diesel Tractor and Ford 250 Hay Baler, "Up To 10 Tons Per Hour...That's Making Hay the Ford Way!" -
- 1960
- Collections - Artifact
1960 Advertisement for the Ford 981 Diesel Tractor and Ford 250 Hay Baler, "Up To 10 Tons Per Hour...That's Making Hay the Ford Way!"
- Hay Fork, circa 1885 -
- circa 1885
- Collections - Artifact
Hay Fork, circa 1885