The following article is reprinted from The Threshermen’s Review, February 1913. It was sent to us by Robert B. Kandler, 25650 Louisa Ave., Romoland, CA 92585.
The Parker Brothers, of Bedford City, Va., have gotten out a ‘pony’ plow for which they make some strong claims, and which we show in the illustration herewith.
As will be seen, the machine is very much self-contained, and has very much the appearance of an ordinary hand cultivator with an air-cooled gasoline engine and traction gear mounted between the handles. The plow can be guided the same as a horse-drawn implement, control being had through the levers at the handles and without letting go of the plow. The two large wheels pull the plow, the suction of the plow holding them down and the spikes preventing them from slipping. It is claimed to be a practical implement in rough soil, the wheels slipping when a stone or root is struck. It works well in sod, soft ground, loam or sand. The engine is a two-cylinder, nine horse ball bearing machine, made dust proof and fitted with a magneto, requiring no batteries or coil for ignition.
While of course this machine could never expect to compete with the tractor gang, its makers claim that it can effectually and economically take the place of the single plow drawn by horses; and that for the professional man or gardener who may wish to cultivate the land in a small way the plow can be used with a variety of cultivating attachments the Parker plow opens up a vista of both profit and pleasure.