When we moved to the hobby farm in the late sixties, machines like this were still being used by neighbours for haying. The long horse drawing tongue was cut down for use behind an Allis Chalmers B or other light tractor. One kid drove, the other lifted and lowered the bar. Whole fields 5. feet. at. a. time. When they say no frills or furbelows, they actually mean safety hadn't been invented.
My Dad being born a hundred years too late, decided to modify one of these to pull behind a Massey 30. Guess who rode the contraption? Two things
ReplyDeleteimmediately become apparent. First no shock absorbtion and secondly nowhere to hang on. Ours had a foot release system to trigger the tines and as I recall no lever within reach. A horse would pull slower than a rookie farmer and I suspect having your arms out managing reins might provide some sort of balance to it all ( I had a death grip on the seat.)
Didn't know there was ever a time when a mower owner might have to go aftermarket for the furbelows. Man, now that is PREHISTORIC.
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