Take a good look at the silver tool pictured here. You may have never seen one, but odds are your grandpa and grandma used one. If they didn’t use this particular one, they may have used a device similar to it made by a different company.

This device was found on many farms when farms were small and almost everyone still had a few dairy cows. It was before the days when farmers sold off livestock and tore out fences to concentrate on corn and soybean production.

Tell not only what this device was used for but name the company that produced this particular model. If you can do that, you will be entered into a drawing for a gift card.

Include your name and mailing address and send your answer to [email protected] or Indiana Prairie Farmer, P.O. Box 247, Franklin, IN 46131.

Elusive plow

Thanks to everyone who correctly identified the three-bottom, Minneapolis-Moline plow featured in the March issue, and shown again here. And thanks to all those who took time to call or write who didn’t guess it correctly! It’s always good to hear from readers.

AND THE REAL MAKER IS: This is a three-bottom Minneapolis-Moline plow, featured in our March issue. It proved to be a tough plow to identify for many people.

Previous owners of this model say the high-arch design gives it away. Perhaps another clue is the paint scheme. Minneapolis Moline used red and yellow on some of their implements. The yellow comes from the hydraulic cylinder, which allowed lifting the plow without reaching back for a handle. It was a relatively new feature when this plow was introduced.

Other guesses included Case, Allis-Chalmers, International and International’s early Little Genius plow — almost everything but Oliver or John Deere.

The winner this month is William Kolish of Winamac. Thanks to everyone who participated and keep reading!