Grain Sickle, 1800-1840

Summary

Sickles helped farmers harvest grain crops. Using this age-old tool, however, was backbreaking work. Laborers constantly had to stoop over to gather and cut the stalks. The work also had to be done quickly before ripen grains were scattered by the wind or poor weather destroyed the crop. The invention of mechanized reapers did away with this laborious task on large acre farms.

Sickles helped farmers harvest grain crops. Using this age-old tool, however, was backbreaking work. Laborers constantly had to stoop over to gather and cut the stalks. The work also had to be done quickly before ripen grains were scattered by the wind or poor weather destroyed the crop. The invention of mechanized reapers did away with this laborious task on large acre farms.

Artifact

Sickle

Date Made

1800-1840

Creators

Wetzel, H. 

Place of Creation

United Kingdom, Great Britain 

Creator Notes

Made by H. Wetzel, possibly in Great Britain.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

00.3.16794

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Steel (Alloy)
Wood (Plant Material)

Color

Brown
Gray (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 12 in

Width: 1 in

Length: 23 in

Inscriptions

stamped on blade: H. WETZEL

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