Our farm has been in the family since February 27th, 1907. I have purchased a horse drawn manure spreader for an attention grabber for our feed store. I have located the IHC stamped into the castings of a few parts and would like to put the vintage of the unit on the plaque we will have made. Education of the public is sorely needed in our area of south western Vermont. Our farm is divided by the state line. The unit has a narrow front end and a false front with wooden table. When empty you lift a lever and the apron chain reverses until the false front is at the front.
My research is that this is likely an early model of when McCormick-Deering was formed. So the early 1900’s to possible 1912. From my internet searching I did see two other pics of the same or similar unit but in mostly frame only status and one did have side boards.
I tried to get a pic of the three gear sizes on the one drive wheel that drives the apron chain. I am assuming that the different load numbers are loads per acre for more precise accounting of nutrients applied per acre. I also included pics that have multiple locations of the IHC logo. One photo shows how the chain style changes when the floor boards are attached. The photo of the bed shows the mechanics of how the foot lever engages the reversal of the bed chain to reset the false front. Someone has added a square tube to release the reversal system when the front is back in position.
My family farm is the Norton Family of Bennington, Vermont. It was purchased by Emma Norton Emmons. Emma was John Norton’s daughter as I recall the family tree. Norton is a very popular pottery that one can go onto Ebay and find many items for sale for prices that are pretty high, as it is one of the more popular brands in New England in its time. I had a piece that was a part of a toy collection that I had when growing up. I saw the identical piece on ebay sell for $1200. Unfortunately the toy set was destroyed when our home burned in 1976. Fun how what is one persons toy is another persons treasure. Maybe this is part of the reason I am so interested in history.
Thank you,
Ben Gaines
Hoosick Falls, New York
Generation 4 owner.
Hoosick Falls, New York
Generation 4 owner.
Dave Muller says
As the new owner of a McCormick Deering Model 200-H Manure Spreader, I certainly understand the appeal of these works of industrial art. Mine is a later “ironsides” version and is thoroughly rust patina’d by now. It has all of the lengthwise wooden floorboards in decent shape, and tall steel sidepanels. The unique frontal curve under the seat really adds to the appeal of a very handsome unit. I find that the 200-H was produced in 1943 until ?…. This one has been sitting hidden for many years in alpine Arizona. I’ll have it down in the Phoenix area in due course, for fellow enthusiasts to come check out.
Rich says
What apron chain?
Lindell Sparrow says
I purchased a model 100 McCormick manure spreader and I am in need of a wheel, it has 1 rusted thru where the valve stem goes thru.