I received a pretty awesome gift today and I had to tell someone about it who would appreciate the value of it. My aunt and uncle had purchased my great grandmother's farm some time back. Well, they've started getting older and decided they should sell the farm and move closer to their kids and grand kids. Well, they called me to say that they had an old rake of some sort in the barn and wanted me to come look at it tell them what it was worth. Turns out it was a McCormick one horse dump rake, setting up on boards in under the hay mow of my great grandpa's barn; right where he had left it probably something like 70 + years ago. I looked it all over and it looked like it had just been greased and set there last week, other than a stray vine that had grown up and round one spoke, and the boards it was setting on were starting to show some rot. We talked a while about what it might be worth, and they finally told me to load it that they wanted me to have it. Well, I was tickled to death! Unbolted the tongue and the nuts came off the bolts like they had just been put there. I'm looking forward to raking some hay with it this spring just to say I did. It's just a six foot rake but I'm still anxious to get it out and use it.
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NoraWI says 2017-01-18 09:50:34 (CST)
What an absolutely wonderful gift, Jerry! Not only is it in good shape and useful, but it brings along a family history. They couldn't have gifted it to anyone who would appreciate it more than you!
7 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
Billy Foster says 2017-01-18 10:32:14 (CST)
I use the heck out of mine. Good gift for sure.
Billy
7 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
Jonathan Shively says 2017-01-18 12:48:49 (CST)
Good on you and don't forget to send them a photo of you using it. Just bought one and plan on using it next year just to clean up the end rows for that odds and ends.
7 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
G.D.Rose says 2017-01-18 19:23:40 (CST)
Could you post a picture of it. I don't think I have ever seen one. It is always nice to get a old piece of equipment that has family history.
7 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
JerryHicks says 2017-01-19 04:54:11 (CST)
I am pretty pleased to get this rake. I've got a book here that shows the color scheme and I figure maybe another stretch of warm weather, it might be a good project to get it painted. I saw on one tractor site that this size rake was discontinued in 1923. I don't know if that's true or not. My neighbor told me it was a hillside rake. He based this on the wheels. Rather than smooth like my 8 foot dump rake, this one has wheels like a cultivator. There is a lip on each edge of the band that points out, I suppose to better grip the ground. I plan to make a set of thills, rather than a tongue, so that they can be split to make a tongue or spread to make shaves.
7 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
Ralph in N.E.Oh says 2017-01-21 19:35:13 (CST)
Great gift! Have a good time with it Jerry.
7 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
JerryHicks says 2017-01-23 04:58:37 (CST)
I appreciate all the kind words. I'm planning to get it painted correctly and get the thills back on it and then I'll do my best to get some pictures up. Really looking forward to putting the mules to it and bunching some hay this spring.
7 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
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