Pick Hook

Angelo

Angelo

Bronze Member
Mar 7, 2006
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Idaho
Went to a friends 10 acre property that up till a few years ago was a cattlemen's auction house. It began in the early 1900's and was used up till about 7 years ago.

Found the following item partially buried. It must of been used to up bales of hay?

Any idea as to age? It's about 24 when extended.

Will post pictures of old buildings later.

Tony
 

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Thanks MJ and Matt!

The ones I found seem to have been used by a tractor lift. Also, am wondering what ICE would have been used at the site since there was no slaughter of stock.

And if it would have used to pick up bundles of hay, it seems that the sharp prongs would of have been difficult to remove from the bundles as the one remaining is arrow shaped.

Tony

Found Stamped name: G? H? or G O Ford Wood Co.
Hudson, N.Y.

Might even read: GIFFORD WOOD CO.
 

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4518_1.JPG


Gifford Wood Co. Ice tongs on ebay now. circa 1920

DCMatt
 

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Angelo, before your time they didn't have refrigerators. They had ice boxes that they put blocks of ice in to keep the contents from spoiling. That was what they used the ice tongs for, to carry the ice. It's possible that there was an ice box at the auction house.
 

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lumbercamp said:
Angelo, before your time they didn't have refrigerators. They had ice boxes that they put blocks of ice in to keep the contents from spoiling. That was what they used the ice tongs for, to carry the ice. It's possible that there was an ice box at the auction house.
Click to expand...

My Dad used to tell me they would cut ice blocks from a frozen lake, and keep it packed in sawdust to keep the ice from melting during the warmer months.
-MM-
 

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Fort Scott,Kansas still has Old Ice house building,It has an area once cleared led down slope to the Marmaton river where blocks were winched into sheds to be cut to size.
Since then it was mechanized,closed and ultimately converted to office space.
Happy Hunting,Mont
 

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Ice was often cut in winter and placed in underground locations like a cellar to keep meat and other produce cold, or cool in summer.

When they didn't have ice handy, such as when a hunting party would go out for large amounts of game, they would do all the butchering inside canvas, or hide covered tents which they would have someone throw water onto. They often smoked meat as needed for the trail, but would need a cool place to do the butchering and water evaporating from the covering on the tent would cause cooling inside.

Just my 2¢ worth.

F.
 

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A similar tool was used to carry logs. It sure looks to me like it could be that tool considering the fact that it has a place to rig it to a lift of some sort (to stack logs for a cabin).

-Wardster
 

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I think the answer is closer than you think, Angelo. In Southern Idaho hay country I've seen Tongs like yours as the terminal tackle on a home built hay bale loader. It's a system of old 4X4 Pickup with a steel boom fitted with pullys and cable and a winch. The "hooker" worked on the ground setting the tongs in a bale and then it was swung up on the hay wagon via the winch and boom. could do 100 plus pound bales that way.
 

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DCMATT: Thank you for the mark. It is exactly as the one you posted!

SILVERSWEED: That makes a lot of sense and it fits the type of business where used!

And thanks to all the rest of you for your input!

Tony
 

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A tack for what?

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