Cole duplex planter?

[Olred]

So I remembered last night that my grandfather had this old planter at my dads house. So while I was over there today I took a look and was able to get one of the wing nuts off and got a seed plate out and cleaned up enough to read (small corn 6 hole cole mfg) from Google it looks like a cole duplex planter. The hopper needs work, but might be salvageable. I have not been able to find any hopper replacement options out there. My plan would be to clean it up/ get it operational and make a fast hitch mount for it. Current investment $0, I would still love an IH 184, but this could be fun to use in the meantime. Has anyone here rebuilt one of these hoppers?

[Clemsonfor]

Has it been laying on the ground all these years? Looks pretty rough.

[Olred]

Has it been laying on the ground all these years? Looks pretty rough.

Yeah it has been hanging outside for as long as I can remember so probably Atleast 34 years

[Mht]

I’ve had several cole duplex planters over the years. They were very common in the south when farming with horses and mules was the norm. Many have been converted to be used behind a tractor. They will work fairly well in well prepared soil if pulled at a horses walking speed. I would think they would have been pretty common in Virginia where you are and with just a little effort you can find several “parts planters” for little or nothing and that will be the best way to accumulate plates as they can be pricey if you try and find them in places like eBay.

[Olred]

Mht, i am keeping an eye on craiglist and the marketplace, im in no real rush at the moment, but it would be nice to have one ready to roll for next planting season

[Mht]

Plates are the biggest concern with any old planter. I quit messing with old cole planters for that reason. If you are serious about using a planter for a big garden or truck farming operation find a planter at least new enough to accept modern plastic plates. The 184 you mentioned will use them. A mounted cub planter with a combination or Richmond hopper will use the same plates. Plastic corn plates are readily available cheaply. Corn plates can also be used to plant most beans, peas, and sunflowers. Best of all the plastic plates can be modified by filling some or all of the holes and filing or grinding new “holes” to fit most any seed and seed spacing. A John Deere 71 flex planter is a great planter to work with if you are not totally IH. The JD planters use their own plates which are also readily available and inexpensive. I know JI Case also made a planter that would use IH plates because I have a row version and it’s a great planter. I have a 174 planter I put together for my cub and I like it but I do have a tractor dedicated to it. The “unit” planters like a 184 or the JD71 or my Case with disc openers will be more accurate and less problematic. Also just plain easier to deal with if you will be taking it off and putting it on much. For me personally I like my cub with my runner planter and combination hopper because it plants accurately enough and is more efficient in my smaller and fenced garden spots.

[Super A]

They made more updated Cole planters for tractors. My dad had a 2 row version mounted on an IH toolbar cultivator he got new in the 60s. Plates and etc. were essentially the same as the old mule drawn units.

They're popular still for sweet corn patches and such here, but they are crude. But, they don't drop the seed 3' from the ground like the IH planters, so that's a big advantage! Personally I'd hold out for an IH 184, 185, or JD 71.

Al

[Olred]

They made more updated Cole planters for tractors. My dad had a 2 row version mounted on an IH toolbar cultivator he got new in the 60s. Plates and etc. were essentially the same as the old mule drawn units.

They're popular still for sweet corn patches and such here, but they are crude. But, they don't drop the seed 3' from the ground like the IH planters, so that's a big advantage! Personally I'd hold out for an IH 184, 185, or JD 71.

Al

Thanks Super A, I found what looks like a 184 fast hitch planter on fb market place, its pretty rusty. i just cant take the time to run down and pick it up(i have 60 days to finish the house)

[Mht]

Don’t get in a hurry and you’ll find one that’s the right deal. You’re definitely going to be better served with the 184 or similar than that old cole planter. Once you have a planter you may find it’s easier to modify plates to get proper seed spacing than changing gear ratios on the planter. Fill the existing seed cells with JB weld or something similar and then file need cells as needed. Good luck on getting set up for next years garden