[AT] ).T. - Wanted - double thumbed corn shucker gloves&potatodigger

[Ron Cook]

I must say I have never heard of anything like that used as a potato 
digger.  Just would not work in these parts.  The closest thing like 
that was a corn rake, but they have thin, tapered tines.
Here, we had dig potatoes with what is called a spading fork in other 
parts of the country.  It is called a potato fork here.  Four thick 
tines like the one that farmer references but in a spade design.  I was 
under the impression that Herb has been looking for something more like 
the Hoover horse drawn one-row potato digger. They used to be plentiful  
but have become sort of scarce.  I have one to restore at the family 
farm, so I can use that thing.  It has sat in the grove since I was a 
youngster.  Last year it was pulled out to more than likely be 
scrapped.  My 20 and 30 something nephews that think they own that place 
are not the least interested in history, but like dollars.  Some day 
they probably will own that farm, but I laid claim to the potato 
digger.  I found out why we quit using it.  It has some broken castings 
that I will duplicate with steel.  Hopefully digging potatoes this 
fall.  No photos yet.

Ron Cook
Salix, IA

On 3/20/2015 7:36 AM, Indiana Robinson wrote:
> This is what we call a potato digger:
>
> http://seymourmidwest.com/en/42256
>
> We mostly used them for raking ear corn around and a tiny bit in the
> garden. This one while heavy is not the kind we looked for. Just like with
> a "good" pitch fork we always looked for one with well tapered tines.
> Lighter to use and in dirt or manure it will penetrate and release from the
> material better. Even with a 3 tined hay fork tapered tines work much
> better. Most of the new stuff made today has straight tines. I guess the
> makers now have never personally used one all day long.
> Note the picture with the tines turned up. Just that picture makes me
> cringe. We were always fanatic about NEVER laying one down in that position
> but I have seen guys do it.
>
>