Description
Pine and tin, original dark cranberry red painted finish, iron/wood handled crank, cloth strap (diamond shaped steel plates hold the strap), c. 1870, “Shakers saved time and seed with a 10-foot wooden seeder. Filled with small seeds, it hung from sower’s neck by the cord and was balanced in front with the curved iron waist band. As he walked, the sower moved the lever, connected to a long-toothed wooden strip inside, forcing the seeds through holes in the tin strip on the bottom. The seeds sprinkled out so evenly that none was wasted, and the field was seeded in a fraction of the usual time (Canterbury, NH).” June Sprigg, page 42, By Shaker Hands, A.A. Knopf, Inc., 1975; 4″ h, 10′ 2″ l, 4″ d, (ex. Doug Towle, 9-4-05, lot 89A).
Estimate $400 – 600