Patrick is absolutely correct on Item 3.  And, yes, the teeth are riveted on to the bar.  I had to deal with these on a daily basis when cutting hay on a ranch in the 1970s.  I'm sure they are still used.  I looked in my 1902 Sears catalog and there is a small illustration of a horse-drawn one.  I can't tell if the mechanism is the same but it looks similar. 


The first item looks like a knife (think paring knife size and style) where the (probably wood) handle has deteriorated away.  


Harding Polk II
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-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Martin <[log in to unmask]>
To: HISTARCH <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Jun 10, 2014 12:15 pm
Subject: Re: Mystery Objects


Dunno about the first two, but the third looks like the cutter bar from a
hay mower..... reciprocates back and forth through a stationary bar with
teeth, lowered from the side of a tractor, driven from the power take off.
Probably lots of them still operating.  I remember blade/teeth being
removeable/replaceable, maybe riveted rather than welded in place.
PEMartin


On Tue, Jun 10, 2014 at 2:07 PM, Kenline, Brooke <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Hello everyone-
>
> I need some help identifying these three mystery objects. The context is a
> 19th/20th c. site in Western Maryland with a grist mill, saw mill, and
> several house foundations.
>
> Photos can be found here:
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/101041879@N08/sets/72157644627465467/
>
> Object #1 is an iron alloy object and is approximately 12 cm long (see
> first 2 photos). It was retrieved from a context with lots of nails and
> other miscellaneous hardware.
>
> Object #2 is a lead alloy object measuring 4.06 x 1.72 x 0.28 cm. It has
> two rivets and is crudely made (probably not an ornamental piece such as a
> buckle). Might be something electrical-related?
>
> Object #3 is an iron alloy object that measures approximately 1 m in
> length and has 12 "teeth". The teeth are welded onto the bar, not riveted,
> suggesting a function that wouldn't place too much stress on them (not a
> saw).
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
>
>
> Brooke Kenline, MA, RPA
> [log in to unmask]
>



-- 
*Patrick E. Martin, PhD*


*Professor of Archaeology and ChairPresident, The International Committee
for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage*
*Department of Social Sciences*
*Michigan Technological University*
*Houghton, MI  USA  49931*
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