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Spring was time to clean barns in days gone by

Forgotten Tool: Real horse power pulled this spreader in the mid-20th century.

February 3, 2022

1 Min Read
vintage spreader
TOUGH TOOL FOR TOUGH WORK: Most loads of manure going into this spreader were forked by hand. The operator got to rest while driving the team of horses to the field to spread it. Tom J. Bechman

If your family farmed in the mid-20th century, a family member — perhaps you — may have operated one of these manure spreaders. Bought new in 1938, this spreader was pulled by horses. There were mechanical loaders for tractors, but many barns weren’t ready for them. Odds are manure was forked by hand to fill this spreader.

Several companies made horse-drawn manure spreaders, some starting early in the 20th century. Can you identify which company made this manure spreader? Send your answer and qualify to win a gift card, drawn from all correct entries.

Just for kicks, can you also identify the model? Likely only those who got to know this spreader personally will remember the model designation.

Old-time iron

The Forgotten Tool featured in the January issue of Indiana Prairie Farmer was technically called a mangle iron. Many correctly identified it as an appliance for ironing, and a few even described it as a mangle iron.

While it wasn’t the most common appliance in the 20th century farm home, several wives report using one. Sources say it was especially useful for ironing bigger items, like drapes. However, some people ironed clothes.

Winner of the drawing for the gift card is Tom Ziliak, Evansville, Ind. If you can identify this month’s Forgotten Tool, send your answer with your physical address to [email protected] or P.O. Box 247, Franklin, IN 46131.

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