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PLOUGH SINGLE FURROW

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H V McKay Pty Ltd

1900 - 1940

Overview

A single arched ''I'' beam forms the main frame and has a bracket in two halves bolted to the nose to accommodate a curved flat bar with eleven holes and sits at right angles to the beam through a rectangular slot. There is an equalising rod which is linked back to a bracket on the upper part of the beam. A wheel to control the depth of cut is mounted on a flat bar and is fixed to the beam via a ''U'' clamp just behind the nose bracket.
The ploughs shear and mould board are bolted to the lower part of the beam and the flat bar handles are fixed at the same point and extend up with cross bracing. A further two braces are fixed to the upper part of the main beam. Cast hand grips are riveted to the handles.
There is moulded text on both sides of the wheel. Moulded text on left and right sides of the nose brackets. Text on left hand grip.

Historical information

This McKay single furrow plough was used on a property in the Byford area in the early 1900s. It is representative of the types of ploughs commonly used in the region from the mid 1800s through to the mid 1900s. The ploughs were often pulled by a horse. McKay's first harvesters were made under contract in the Victorian towns of Melbourne, Bendigo and Ballarat. He established the McKay Harvesting Machinery Co. in 1890 and traded profitably until the economic crisis of 1893-93. McKay, with the aid of a small syndicate bought the company assets and traded as the Harvester Co. In 1893 he built an improved harvester and tested it in two successive harvests and marketed it as the ''Sunshine''. He or the company went on to build a range of agricultural machinery which he exported to South and North Africa and South America. When he died in 1926 he left an estate of nearly one and a half million pound.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-AK1976.203

Material

Ferrous Metal

Width

1955 mm

Height or length

755 mm

Depth

582 mm

Inscriptions and markings

Text on wheel [H V McKAY PTY LTD / SUNSHINE] reverse side of wheel [P387]. Text on nose bracket, left side [P222] right side [P221]. Text on left hand grip [N 743].

Keywords

McCALMAN, GARDE & Co

McKay H V Pty Ltd

Byford

Place made

Australia

Year

1900 - 1940

Statement of significance

This McKay single furrow plough was used on a property in the Byford area in the early 1900s. It is representative of the types of ploughs commonly used in the region from the mid 1800s through to the mid 1900s in the rural industry. The plough, " a bladed farm implement used to turn over the surface of the soil and bury stubble, weeds, etc. in preparation for the cultivation of a crop" - As defined by the Chambers 21st century dictionary.

Comparative significance criteria

Rare or representative

City of Armadale - History House

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