I have a old plow it was made by the Syracuse chilled plow co.inc. Sycracuse NY. It has numbers on it NO. 10 1878 It is in good shape The only thing I can find out about it is John Deere brought the company. I would like to know if it is worth any money or should I put it in the front yard for people to look at. Any information I could get would be wonder full.
Thanks Mike
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The best thing to do with that plow is hitch up the team and go to work. To many good used peaces of farm equipment ends up in the front yard.

I would do that but my wife left me I guess thats why she left me she was tired

Brad; that is so true! I have been restoring old horse drawn equipment around here for my friends and my self. The biggest problem I have is driving by someones yard, their equipment is much better than what we are trying bring to bring back to life. Michael,if you are not going to use your plow for plowing, than maybe you could talk to your local draft animal club. They may have something that is better suited for display for you. They could give that old plow back its life at field days, plowing matches etc. A teamster may even get you on the handles at a local field day. What bigger price could anyone get than that.

I would do that but the area we live in does not have local field days We do have 4-h but thats about all we have unless you all know of someting in the Loudoun County Va. area.
Thanks
Mike

Are you guys talking about a riding plow or a walking plow?

If it's a walking plow, plant some flowers around it! It's not worth the trouble of buying the parts. At auction if its in decent shape it might bring $75.

The only people that might have parts are Brabant Owner in SC or Farmer Brown.

Try www.vdhma.org

That groups main membership is in Northern Va.

If your area has no plow days then you just need to make one... If you make it.. they will come

The old walking plows are not worth money, the are worth their weight in gold in my opinion. Contact one of those guys Todd mentioned to get some parts and put new bolts and handles, either of them can help you. BUT don't waste our new parts if you are going to make it look pretty and hang a mailbox on it. If you are going to use it, fix her up and put it in the dirt. It's better than therapy.

Do you know by chance if it is a one horse or two? This forum has a for sale page and you can maybe get an idea of what to expect regarding price, and then post a pic and put it on that board. I might be looking for a one horse walking plow in good condition. I don't know what they bring nowadays and will have to check that out.

You might be suprised at how many people would be willing to trade a useful plow for a decorative one if you tell them that it will be put into service behind a team.

If you have a plow with a sprung beam and a worn share, mock up some brand-new pine handles and paint the whole thing JD green. Then go knock on the door of that house down the road that has a perfectly good plow adorning their garden. Bring a photo of your team to give them, preferrably a photo that shows them working in the garden. Explain that you farm with horses and that useable equipment is hard to come by. Offer to trade your nice-looking but worn-out plow for their useable one. Alternately, offer to do whatever cosmetic job they would prefer on the decorative plow... pink, copper with a verdigris patina, whatever floats their boat.

Believe me, it works more often that you might expect! Sure, some folks get greedy when you tell them that they have something you want, but there are still good people out there who have a sentimental spot for folks who are still plugging away at it Old School Style. I have had people go out of their way to help me get my hands on useable equipment because it belonged to their grandpa or great-grandpa and they'd rather see it used than decorating someone's yard. It's worth a try!

You're in my neck of the woods, I see. Try VDHMA, or give Farmer John up at Temple Hall a call. He has a team of drafts and a pair of oxen, and part of what he does is give demos of plowing, logging, etc. with draft animal power.

I say put it to work. I have been looking for a good riding plow here in MO and not having any luck. Enjoy it.

The plow is a walking plow I guess you could use it for one horse or two horses I do not know that much about them.
Thanks Mike
540-409-6388

The difference is in size. A one horse plow is pretty small; I don't have measurements but can tell one when I see it for real.

Its value depends almost entirely on the condition of the parts that contact the soil. Handles, for example, are easily replaced. The landside, point and share are whar determines whether the plow is useable or not.

Even a sprung or broken beam isn't as big a deal, since I'd say there are more plows out there with a good beam and a bad point, rather than the other way round.

I have heard that there is a place in Stanton Va. where people from different countries show how they planted different crops in the old days. I might try over there and see what I can find out

If you aren't familiar with it, that's the Frontier Culture Museum (they have a website).