First, a bit of history on the weeder. Before the use of herbicides and pesticides, farmers controlled weed growth by the use of cultivators, rotary hoes, and weeders, pulled by horses or mules. Though not a high-use implement, when the Ferguson 3-point lift came on the scene, many implement companies jumped at the chance and redesigned their products to the new hitching method. Records indicate Ferguson first used B.F. AVERY COMPANY to manufacture the weeder around 1942-1943. FARM TOOLS may have made some too, but not many. I spotted a weeder for sale by the side of the road yesterday so stopped to look at it. Upon closer examination, I could see faint hints of grey paint but no ID tag. The frame had minor differences than the Ferguson and Dearborn I own in my collection. The seller wanted $75.00 for it. I now am convinced this is one of the rare FARM TOOLS weeders as only about 2500 were made. Perhaps I will go back and haggle. Both Ferguson and Dearborn used one manufacturer for weeders, CENTRAL ARCHITECTURAL IRON WORKS, Chicago, Illinois. Around 1947, CENTRAL spun off its farm implement division under the new name of FARM RITE IMPLEMENT COMPANY. FARM-RITE became Ferguson's main supplier around 1946, though the implement would still be made and sold under the Central name. Neither Ford/Dearborn nor Ferguson put a high-dollar/high-volume tag on weeders, nevertheless it was still considered an essential implement to offer to farmers. Here is the Assembly & Operating Manual for the DEARBORN FOUR ROW WEEDER from 1947, with virtually all parts being one and same for the Ferguson Weeder.
DEARBORN FOUR ROW WEEDER; FRONT COVER A&O MANUAL-
Tim Daley(MI)
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