Showing 331 items
matching farm tools
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Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Reaper/binder, McCormick Deering
The reaper binder was a harvesting machine used to cut crops and bind it into sheaves. The reaper binder was invented by Cyrus Hall McCormick in 1831. Early binders were horsedrawn and the sheaves were bound using wire. William Deering later invented a binder that tied the sheaves with string. McCormick Deering was the trademark name of a line of farm machinery manufactured by the International Harvester Co. The company was founded in 1923. Large red reaper/binder, canvas covers, some green fittings, 2-3 horsefarm, machinery, hay, chaff, reaper, binder, horse drawn, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - Comet Windmill, 1930s
Comet Windmills was founded in Rockhampton, Queensland in 1879 by Sidney Williams. The Comet became known as "Australia's Leading Mill". The company survived two world wars and three generations of the family and was sold in 1992 and terminated in 1998. The windmill is a vital farming tool as it assists with agriculture, irrigation, and water supply. This windmill drew water from the 'Windmill Dam' for decades before Churchill Island's acquisition by Victorian Conservation Trust in 1976. In 1981, VCT invited BP Westernport Refinery Manager, John Shawley, to inspect the windmill with view of restoration. This was then done through the next year, as BP Social Club Members (including engineers, managers, and accountants) restored the pump, wheel, tower and piping. The wheel itself was lowered to the ground through a jury mast. The pressure from the windmill is weak, and was found to be brackish and excessively salty.This windmill is anecdotally the oldest working mill of its model in Gippsland. Its connection to Churchill Island is vital as it has been a fixture for the last 80 years. Windmill on metal stand "COMET" painted on silver vane. Restored in 1980s.farm, machinery, windmill, water, pumping, dams, dam, churchill island, comet -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Scoop, Gaston & Sons, 1920
The mud scoop was used to dig out soil and rocks for dam or road building. Dragging by horse or later by tractor would fill the scoop and releasing the levers would dump contents, similar to a modern day bobcat. The manufacturers are Gaston Bros who produced farming equipment in Kensington, Vic. until 1987. This scoop was recovered from a San Remo property in Victoria.Mud scoopGastonfarm, machinery, scoop, horse drawn, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Three Quarter Yard Scoop, Gaston & Sons, 1920
The Three Quarter Yard scoop was used to scrape out and relocate dirt. Early scoops would be dragged behind horses with the worker guiding direction. In later years scoops were attached to a tractor. The dragging collected dirt in the bucket, the bucket was then raised and the contents taken to be dumped. The scoop could also flatten earth. This scoop may have originally sat in a chassis with wheels and tow bar. Early agricultural photos of scoops show their use on Victorian farms in dam and road construction. The manufacturers are Gaston Bros who produced farming equipment in Kensington, Victoria until 1988. This particular scoop was recovered from a San Remo property.Scoop, three quarter yardGaston 3/4 Yardfarm machinery; scoop; horse drawn -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Milking Machine Engine
Aqua engine case, surface rust, with driving wheelsfarm machinery, dairy equipment, cow milking, machine driven, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Potato digger
The potato digger was harnessed to horse or tractor and dragged through the potato mounds. This digger could be set for deep or shallow mounds. The horizontal flat shovel unearthed the potatoes. The iron raddle would agitate the potatoes free from the soil. Some diggers had prongs to flip potatoes to the side. The crop was then collected by hand. Previously the crop would be dug up by hand with hoes.Single row potato digger, with upward prongson digger and depth adjuster at rear. Green/blue with red wheelsfarm machinery, digging, harvesting, potatoes, horse drawn -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Grindstone, 1920s
Rotary grindstones have been in consistent use for centuries as devices to sharpen or shape ferrous metals. Pedal-operated rotary grindstone on timber stand. The circular stone is attached to a four legged stand, with a length of wood linking to a pedal. Unpainted, unfinished, and slight deterioration. farm machinery, grindstone, churchill island, rotary, farm -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - Long steel lathe
Power-driven, metal-cast woodworking tools such as this lathe were produced in Melbourne during the 1930’s by Royston Siddons. The lathe is designed to hold and rotate wood, which is shaped into circular, cylindrical or moulded forms using changeable cutting tools. Long lathes, such as this one, were used to turn verandah posts. The metal base supports a headstock (far end), tailstock (right) and moveable tool rest. The fixed headstock comprises cone pulleys, a spindle and chuck with spur centre to grip the wood. The adjustable tailstock will hold wood at the required distance, with additional central support for long pieces. The tool rest can be moved along the bed to the required position.Long steel lathe with black metallathe, steel, hand operated, machine operated -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Machine - Grain hopper/grinder
This grinder is attached to the Sundial stationary engine by a leather belt. The grinder would have been used to grind grain for flour and by adjustment for animal and poultry feed. The hopper is constructed of wood but the grinding mechanism below is marked J. Buncle, Iron Works, N. Melbourne. John Buncle (1822 – 1889) was born in Edinburgh and completed an apprenticeship in engineering and piano making. He worked with firms designing steam engines and locomotives and in 1846 was working in the Vulcan foundry when he married Mary Ann Binns, the daughter of his employer. They had eleven children of whom eight survived infancy. The family arrived in Melbourne in 1852 at the height of the gold rush and he was immediately employed at Langlands foundry. Melbourne had an acute shortage of skilled tradesmen so after six months he started his own business using his various talents. As the gold rush subsided, he settled in to engineering and contracting and among other things, supplied the iron work for the Johnston Street bridge over the Yarra River. Gradually he turned to the design and manufacture of agricultural machinery and tools with which his name is chiefly associated. With his iron works in North Melbourne he was held in high esteem by his contemporaries, becoming the President of the Chamber of Manufacturers and serving two terms as Mayor of the Municipality of Hotham. He wrote Experiences of a Victorian Manufacturer with amusing anecdotes of conditions in early Melbourne. The company became J.Buncle & Son and finally in 1952, John Buncle-Commando Ltd. It finally went into liquidation in February 1957. Yellow wooden hopper on black grinder with blue parts mounted on green stand. Attached by belt drive to Sundial enginefarm machinery, grain grinder, hopper, machine driven, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Grain grinder
Green metal grain grinder, metal hopper, metal stand; 2 drive wheels, one smaller than the other painted light blue. Attached to "Moffat Virtue" enginechurchill island, farm machinery, grain grinder, hopper, machine driven -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - Forge blower
The forge blower is one of the most important tools in a blacksmith's workshop. The function of the blower is to deliver a consistent air supply to the base of the fire to aid the combustion process.Red forge blower made of strong metal, with centrifugal design and top square vent for air. Crank missing. farm machinery, forge, forge blower, machine operated, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Tiller
Unusual objectHand pushed two drum tiller, unpainted wooden handle, metal drumsfarm machinery, soil cultivation, hand tiller, hand operated -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Winnower
Winnowers were used in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Winnowing is a process by which chaff is separated from the wheat grains. A separate machine called the “stripper” would cut and thresh the grain which would then be dumped into piles ready to go into the winnower. Some years later these two machines would be combined into what became known as a “combined” or “stripper harvester”Hand operated winnower with handle and hopper unpaintedfarm machinery, winnower, hand operated -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Tiller
The tynes on this horse-drawn machine would dig into the ground to break up and aerate the soil in preparation to plant crop.Burgundy structure with cream wheels seat and white hand brake. Single long unpainted polehistoric farm machinery, tiller, cultivation, horse drawn -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Super spreader
Horse drawn, burgundy and white hopper, unpainted shafts, rubber wheelsfarm, machinery, fertilizer, super spreader, horse drawn, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Dump hay rake
Horse-drawn dump hay rakes were used by farmers to collect cut hay and place it into piles. Metal ‘teeth’ were mounted on two wheels and dragged along the ground to collect the hay. Operated from the seat, the lever to the right of the seat was used to lift the teeth from the ground when dumping a pile of hay onto the ground. Horse-drawn dump hay rakes were used until around the mid-twentieth century.Red dump hay rake, white wheels, single horse, single row of rakesfarm machinery, hay, chaff, hay rake, horse drawn -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Potato digger, Martin & Co, 1911
This digger is a more sophisticated model than the single row digger. It is dated 1911. It features a seat and footrest for more comfortable work. The digging blade is followed by spinning tynes which separate soil from crop and flip the potatoes into lines for manual collection. Martin’s Cultivator Company in Stamford U.K was founded by William Martin. He invented prize winning agricultural machinery and later a water and froth fire engine. Typical of machines used in GippslandPotato digger, ground drive, single rowPatent potato digger, winner of the first prize of 20. Martin's Cultivator Co, Stamfordfarm machinery, digging, harvesting, potatoes, prize, horse drawn -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Potato digger
After the crop of hay has been mown it is tedded, a process that spreads and fluffs the grass to speed the curing. Then the hay rake is used. It is attached to a tractor and the wheels adjusted to height and angle.The rake is then dragged over the tedded paddocks. The hay rake teeth spin mown grasses into long lines of hay called windrows. The hay is then ready to be baled.Unusual pieceSingle row potato digger with upward prongs on digger and depth adjuster at rear. Green/blue with red wheelsfarm, machinery, digging, harvesting, potatoes, horse drawn, potato, harvest, churchill island, farming -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - T Square tool, Printer's plate 1887 on; T square 1890
Samuel Amess, who bought Churchill island in 1872 was a Presbyterian Scot as also was James Balfour. There may have been a personal link.T square made from printer's plate, metal and wood, riveted together with 10 rivets and a hanging hole in top centre of wood.One side, metal: Balfour, Elliott and Company Limited/ Incorporated under the Companies Statute 1884 /20 Queen St MELBOURNE / Capital L250,000 in 250,000 shares of L1 each / This is to certify that... / is the property of .../ Part of circle printing in join with wood and scroll work on metal at join. Other side: scratched in "H R Balfour"james balfour, e.c elliott, balfour, presbyterian, t square, square, tool, tools, amess, samuel, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - Bag filler and rammer, After 1907
... iron bag filler rammer tools tool farm churchill island Barklem ...Galvanised iron with funnel hopper, half covered, rammer underneath, cylindrical pipe.Barklem /bag filler/&/ rammer/ patent registered no 7012galvanised, iron, bag, filler, rammer, tools, tool, farm, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - large hatchet
Medium length wooden axe handle modern head cast iron. Blacksmith made cast and forged. One flat side, hammer end.hatchet, tools, hammer, blacksmith, blacksmithing, smithing, churchill island, farm -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - Bill hook, pre World War 1
A billhook or bill hook is a versatile cutting tool used widely in agriculture and forestry for cutting woody material such as shrubs, small trees and branches. A billhook consists of a handle and a blade with a bevelled cutting edge. The blade is curved at the top end to form a hook shape. The handle is virtually always wooden.Rough pine handle with many borer holes. Commercially made (no ID) cast in socket one end, strap iron riveted other end. Cast blade.tools, hook, bill hook, churchill island, farm, iron -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Extended Mathieson Auger, Mathieson
Alexander Mathieson & Sons Ltd ('& Sons', after c. 1890), of the Saracen Tool Works, Glasgow, advertised as 'manufacturers of planes, mechanical, engineering and edge-tools'. They received 'prize medals' at the London, Melbourne and Edinburgh International Exhibitions of 1851, 1862, 1880 and 1886, in their 'quest for perfection in tools'. Mathieson's vast output included specialised craft implements for coopers, ship's carpenters, tinsmiths and wheelwrights. The firm originated when master plane-maker John Manners opened premises in Saracen Lane, Glasgow, in 1792. 4 Alexander Mathieson (c. 1797–1852) took over his business in 1821, which he gave as the foundation date of his firm. He was later succeeded by his son, Thomas A. Mathieson (1822–1899), a prominent Glasgow magistrate and preceptor of Hutcheson's Hospital charitable institution. In 1854, Mathiesons moved to East Campbell Street, and had opened branches in Edinburgh, Dundee and Liverpool by 1876. The third generation comprised Thomas O. and James H. Mathieson (born 1867), the latter being a Glasgow bailie (councillor), whose estate totalled an enormous £150,939 in 1926. Mathieson's hand- and small machine-tools (e.g. bandsaws and beading machines) were exported worldwide, especially their 'heavy duty auger bits used... for boring railway sleepers'. Damaged wooden handle (not original) bit welded on to metal rod, handle welded on to rod,. Surface rustMathieson + (illegible)mathieson, auger, tool, tools, farming, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - Adze, late 20th century
... Churchill Island Heritage Farm 246 Samuel Amess Drive ...The adze is an agricultural tool, similar to an axe, but the blade is affixed perpendicular to the handle. Used primarily for smoothing or carving wood, the adze can also be used as a hoe. The wooden handles vary in length depending on their particular purpose and can be designed for one handed or two-handed use. This adze was made by Australian farming company, Hytest.Adze. Long, slightly curved wooden handle, with a steel arched blade perpendicular to the handle. Hytesthytest, adze, axe, tool, tools, farming, farm, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - Iron bound wooden mallet
Round wooden handle. Large head with metal band at each end. Some paint stains.iron bound, wooden, mallet, tool, tools, hammer, churchill island -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - Paling/shingle cutting blade
... Churchill Island Heritage Farm 246 Samuel Amess Drive ...The cutting blade was used to cleave timber apart into shingles or palings. A haft (handle) would have been attached through the socket giving the tool an L shape. The base of the blade is driven into the timber with a mallet forcing timber into two parts along the grain. Twisting the haft then levers apart the two pieces. This can be repeated until several long strips of timber have been cut from a log. Also called a frow or froe. This tool allowed more accurate and controlled splitting over an ordinary axe and required less force.well used blacksmith made. No handlepaling, shingle, cutting, blade, tool, tools, churchill island, farm -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - log splitting wedge
... . splitting wedge log lumber tool tools churchill island farm well ...An agricultural tool used by loggers, or farmers, the log splitting wedge has been used for thousands of years and was originally made from stone. They were either driven straight into the wood or into a previously made incision with the blade parallel to the grain. Using a sledgehammer or other tool hammered onto the flat end, the wedge is forced deeper into the log until the force splits the timber.well used, slight surface rust. Octagonal shaft to collar then wedge. Top badly burred over from use.splitting, wedge, log, lumber, tool, tools, churchill island, farm -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - Mortise axe
... Churchill Island Heritage Farm 246 Samuel Amess Drive ...A wooden handle would have been fitted through the socket. The shaped iron edge would be struck into timber chiselling out a niche called the mortise, to receive the corresponding projecting tenon. This method would lock two pieces of timber together to form a framework for buildings and furniture.chisel ended, curved underneath. No handle. Rusted.mortice, axe, tool, tools, churchill island, farm -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Tool - combination spanner/single claw hammer
... spanner claw hammer tool tools churchill island farm purpose made ...purpose made with large spanner at one end of handle and single claw hammer at other endcombination, spanner, claw, hammer, tool, tools, churchill island, farm -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - Box spanner
... tool tools churchill island farm W E CARY LTD large box spanner ...large box spanner #2 cast; socket for extension. Shows screw marks from castingW E CARY LTDbox, spanner, tool, tools, churchill island, farm