Anybody know...

[Barnyard]

...what it is? We saw it in the swap meet in Prtland Indiana. It had McCormick on the platform.

[ricky racer]

Looks like a yard ornament for the Barnyard to me.

[Urbish]

It's the back wheel and platform for a horse-drawn header. What do I win?





http://www.oldoregonphotos.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/4835c60b7dac2cbe49001fc396787352/i/n/in172z500.jpg

[Scrivet]

The expanse of knowledge on this site truly amazes me at times.

Looks more like a horse pushed header to me though. But then again, they are pulling on it, but it is out in front of them
Anyway, somebody had better move that colt before they get going again!

[Urbish]

The expanse of knowledge on this site truly amazes me at times.

Looks more like a horse pushed header to me though. But then again, they are pulling on it, but it is out in front of them
Anyway, somebody had better move that colt before they get going again!

I actually didn't know either. But it looked like something you would stand on and it was definitely very old. So did a google image search and started trying various combinations of "mccormick" followed by various implement names. I nailed it in about 5 minutes on the phrase "mccormick harvesting".

From what I read, these were largely unsuccessful as the header out in front of the horses tended to spook them and made control very difficult.

Oh, and that "colt" used to be a gelding until he got in front of the header, which made him a little shorter. Chop chop!

Jim

[Jim Becker]

Here is a picture I took some time ago, also a link to the entry in a General Line Catalog.
http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ihc/id/25051/show/24812/rec/1

[Urbish]

Hah, I figured the steering tiller must be thigh controlled. And there's some proof.

[Denny Clayton]

My first thought when I saw it at Portland was an oversize tricycle with a HUGE seat!.........and no rear wheels.

[Scrivet]

..........
Oh, and that "colt" used to be a gelding until he got in front of the header, which made him a little shorter. Chop chop!
Jim

Hah, I figured the steering tiller must be thigh controlled. And there's some proof.

I think you mean the colt is a gelding now and I'd be concerned that would happen to me if I was the driver and that wheel hit a rock sideways.

When you're driving a tricycle front tractor you never wrap your thumbs inside the steering wheel, in case you hit something with the front wheels that gives a sudden jerk to the steering wheel. Hit a rock, hole, or low stump fast and hard enough and you can remove your thumbs from your hands.

Just where are you supposed to put your boys on that "thigh steer" contraption?