Scythes were used with a long sweeping movement which made them much less tiring for labourers to use than reaping hooks or sickles though they still involved great physical labour and considerable skill to perfect. Both hands were in use and the operator did not have to bend his back to reach down to the crop. Scythes were not used as often on farms after the mechanisation of harvesting. They were still used for cutting awkward shaped small plots and for opening a path for the tractors. This item is an example of a tool used by the early settlers of the Orbost district.A curved iron blade with one sharp edge. It is attached to a curved hollow handle with two extensions on one side where the scythe can be held by two hands.scythe agriculture tool

Scythes were used to manually mow wheat or grass. Scythes were used with a long sweeping movement which made them much less tiring for labourers to use than reaping hooks or sickles though they still involved great physical labour and considerable skill to perfect. Both hands were in use and the operator did not have to bend his back to reach down to the crop. On farms scythes were sharpened on a sandstone wheel mounted on an axle with a crank handle on one side. This was hand powered and used with water. Scythes were not used as often on farms after the mechanisation of harvesting. They were still used for cutting awkward shaped small plots and for opening a path for the tractors. This item is an example of a tool used by the early settlers of the Orbost district. An iron scythe blade, curved and tapered. There is no handle and the blade is rusted and pitted."ROSE"scythe tool agriculture rural

A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery. A scythe consists of a wooden shaft and a long, curved blade is mounted at the lower end, perpendicular. Scythes always have the blade projecting from the left side when in use. Mowing is done by holding the handle , with the arms straight, the blade parallel to the ground and very close to it, and the body twisted to the right. The body is then twisted steadily to the left, moving the scythe blade along its length in a long arc from right to left, ending in front of the mower, thus depositing the cut grass to the left. Mowing proceeds with a steady rhythm, stopping at frequent intervals to sharpen the blade. The correct technique has a slicing action on the grass, cutting a narrow strip with each stroke Mowing grass is easier when it is damp, and so hay-making traditionally began at dawn and often stopped early, the heat of the day being spent raking and carting the hay cut on previous daysEarly settlers and market gardeners used these scythes as they established their farms in Moorabbin Shire c1880A large metal scythe with a wooden handle x 2early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, cheltenham, tools, blacksmiths

Scythes were used with a long sweeping movement which made them much less tiring for labourers to use than reaping hooks or sickles though they still involved great physical labour and considerable skill to perfect. Both hands were in use and the operator did not have to bend his back to reach down to the crop. Scythes were not used as often on farms after the mechanisation of harvesting. They were still used for cutting awkward shaped small plots and for opening a path for the tractors. This item is an example of a tool used by the early settlers of the Orbost district. A curved wooden scythe handle with two nailed grips attached with metal rings. There is no blade. There is a metal hook at the bottom.scythe agricultural tool farming

Used as an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or harvesting crops. It is historically used to cut down or reap edible grains, before the process of threshing. Replaced by horse drawn and then tractor machinery. Used by the early farmers in the Kiewa Valley.The steel blade is curved with a pointy end. It is attached to a long, slim wooden shaft with a slight S curve. It has 2 handles, one about half way along the shaft and another near the top both at right angles to the shaft. This results in the handles being on slightly different planes and makes it comfortable for the user when working. scythe, hand tool, mowing, harvesting

A Scythe was one of the most important of all agricultural hand tools, consisting of a curved blade fitted at an angle to a long, curved handle and used for cutting grain. In modern scythes the handle has a projecting peg that is grasped by one hand, facilitating control of the swinging motion by which grass and grain are cut. The exact origin of the scythe is unknown, but it was little used in the ancient world. It came into wide use only with agricultural developments of the Carolingian era (8th century AD) in Europe, when the harvesting and storing of hay became important to support livestock through winters. Scythes can still be found in use today by hobby farmers and permaculturists. ( producing food, by using ways that do not deplete the earth's natural resources) to cut grass in a more eco-friendly way as opposed to using a machine.A hand tool used for the cutting of crops and grain, modern versions are still being produced today in Europe. The subject item gives us a snapshot into agricultural practices in times past.Scythe with long wood Snath (curved handle) with 1 hand holding piece & curved blade. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Used in the 19th century.A handmade steel wide toothed hay rake head with 14 teeth attached to a wooden top made by Wandin Sebire. There are two large holes where a handle would be attached. It was used to rake hay into heaps after scything in the 19th century. rakes, tools, hay rakes, agricultural tools, agricultural equipment

Used in the 19th and early 20th century.A metal scythe with a long curved wooden handle to manoeuvre the blades. There are also two shorter wooden handles or 'nibs' fitted at an angle to suit the user attached to the main handle by a metal ring. It has two curved pointed cutting blades which are attached by nuts and bolts to the handle.agricultural tools, scythes, cutting tools, agricultural equipment