At 03:09 09/07/04, you wrote:
> * A buck rake fits on the three point linkage
> * of a tractor and was invented by Paterson in
> * UK and promoted by Harry Ferguson (tractors)
> * who invented the three point linkage system
> * about 60 years ago.
>
>Hi,
>
>The buck rake wasn't invented by anybody and was in wide use
>before Ferguson was born. It was a traditional farm tool.
>The traditional buck rake was generally made of wood on the
>farm, and was fixed to a shaft that ran back between a
>team. It was pushed by the horses.
We never used that implement in Ireland but we had a wheeled rake which we
called a buckrake and pulled by horses. It was like a big comb mounted on a
cross shaft and counter balanced so that the driver could easily lift it
when he wanted to release his load. The teeth were curved. It was a grand
job for a young fella to have especially if the horses were stoppy, because
they could be given their head and if they did not behave and stop when
told, just drop anchor and that put manners onto them.
We also had a hay rake, which was like a horizontal elevator with tines,
driven by the wheels and tossed the hay into or out of the swarth. I think
they had two seperate rakes involved. Theres an old one in a barn here and
I must look at it.
We also had a wheel rake which was, 4 I think, wheels with hay tines, set
at an angle so that the forward motion caused them to revolve and toss the
hay into swarths
Then there was the skid rake and that was lethal. This was a flat rake
pulled along the ground with 18-24in tines front and back. It was used to
bring the hay up to the team making the big 'wines' of hay every 30-50
yards. There was a handle on some kind of slip release to keep it angled
just right; too shallow and the hay escaped. When one was up near the wine
makers one raised the angle, the teeth caught in the ground and the rake
flipped over. The danger was if this happened by accident at any speed then
the rake flipped up in the air and if one was lucky it only tore the horses
leg. It could as easily fly up and come down on the horse.
Some drivers when they were tired draped the 'reins' over their shouders;
then they could be pulled onto the rake. All in all not a job for fools.
Conor
