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Post by jean on Dec 3, 2008 19:16:42 GMT
Has anyone heard of these tools before ? I've been given this gadget to use and it comes with a plough and a banker attachment too. I would like to find out when it was made but can't find a listing for it even after spending ages googling. Any ideas ? Its very easy to use so it won't get painted and used as a garden ornament   |
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Post by Tig on Dec 3, 2008 19:44:50 GMT
Found this information for you Jlottie -
"The company that made Planet Jr. garden tractors was begun in 1866 by Samuel Leeds Allen, whn invented two pieces of farm equipment: a fertilizer drill for spreading guano, the “Planter Drill”, and a seed drill, the “Planet Junior.” Over the next two decades, Allen would grow the S. L. Allen Co. into a leading manufacturer of small farm equipment, the “Planet Junior” line. The company’s offices and manufacturing facilities were located in Philadelphia, and were managed solely by Samuel L. Allen and his father, John C. Allen.
The Allens found that production of farm equipment was seasonal, with factory workers hard to find during the summer planting and autumn harvest months. And of course, sales of farm equipment plummeted during the winter. Casting about for a new product that would keep factory workers employed the full year round, the S. L. Allen Co. introduced the “Flexible Flyer” sled for in the early 1800, After struggling to expand sales of the sled for seven years, Allen Co. salesmen sold the sled to two of the largest department stores at that time - Wanamaker’s in Philadelphia; an R. H. Macy Co. in New York City.
With year-round sales assured, S. L. Allen Co. thrived though most of the twentieth century, until 1968, when The Leisure Group, of Los Angeles, bought S. L. Allen Co. It was the first of a series of buy-outs that would asset-strip and destroy the company, making it another casualty of the financial deregulation of the so-called “go go years,” and the replacement of industrial capitalism with financial capitalism."
Looks like a lovely bit of equipment - great condition (I see quite a few Planet Junior [or Jr] tools are for sale at various on-line auction sites)
OM will be green with envy!!
x Tig
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Post by Tig on Dec 3, 2008 20:26:32 GMT
I don't know if yours has a number on it JL, but I found this from 1930's catalogue ..
"PLANET JR. GARDEN TOOLS
No. 4, Planet Jr. Combined Hill and Drill Seeder, Wheel Hoe, Cultivator and Plow...No. 4, D Hill and Drill Seeder...No. 11, Planet Jr. Double Wheel Hoe, Cultivator, Plow and Rake...No. 12, Planet Jr. Double and Single Wheel Hoe...No. 16, Planet Jr. Single Wheel Hoe, Cultivator, Rake and Plow...No. 17, Planet Jr. Single Wheel Hoe...No. 19, Planet Jr. Single Wheel Hoe...No. 19, Planet Jr. Single Wheel Hoe...No. 25, Planet Jr. Combined Hill and Drill Seeder, Double Wheel Hoe, Cultivator and Plow...Fire-Fly Garden Plow"
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Post by jean on Dec 3, 2008 20:54:27 GMT
Ta very much Tig, I've been googling & googling  Its still got the patent number & brand name stencilled on the shaft and even has left & right stencilled on each handle. I will have to take a pen and paper with me to the veggie plot and write it all down, I didn't think that it would be so difficult to identify  Its very easy to use and I reckon as long as I leave enough space between rows, weeding will become a doddle My brother found something similar a few years ago in a derelict shed but it has moving scissor like blades that work just below the surface and is a great weeder too ;D |
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Post by Tig on Dec 3, 2008 23:16:46 GMT
You are welcome Jl - I enjoy a good google  It does look like a sturdy and useful bit of kit - I wonder if the patent has expired  x Tig |
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Post by Amo on Dec 4, 2008 7:29:12 GMT
It just looks so nice too! Well given, and used, JL! You wait until Moley sees it ;D |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 4, 2008 9:30:48 GMT
 I just love the look of these old tools, so obviously made to last. I had a look on ebay and there are a few interesting bits on there, they are spread about the categories though. Can't seem to get the link to work, but if you just do a search in All Categories for Planet Jr
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Post by oldmoleskins on Dec 4, 2008 15:18:40 GMT
Well , now I have seen it a) as predicted I'm deeply envious and b) a tad thwarted: I saw a set of handles just like those leaning against a pottingshed wall only a few days ago at a garden clear-out. There was nothing nearby that looked like it would fit them, so I left them there. Now I know what I might have missed, I'm doubly a) and will see if I can get back in there...
OM.
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Post by Dutchy on Dec 4, 2008 18:39:05 GMT
I too did a bit of Googling but most things you will find even on E-Bay are USA based.
Do go back and try to get it OM.
You'll never forgive yourself when you let it go.
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Post by jean on Dec 4, 2008 20:48:13 GMT
I won't be able to get the info from my gadget, which I now know is called a wheel hoe, till Saturday. Dad reckons he has seen the wrenches/tools somewhere too I hope you can find those handles OM, I'm sure you will be able to find some original attachments or adapt some more modern ones to use |
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Post by Tig on Dec 4, 2008 23:30:09 GMT
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Post by jean on Dec 6, 2008 18:54:57 GMT
Thanks Tig, it looks like they are making new shiny ones too I took this information from the inside of the right handle Planet Jr Reg Pat Off Marque Deposee M IND RGTRDA No 17260 DE 8 OCTUBRE 1919 MARCA DE FABRIC I don't know if it was made in 1919 or made from the original specification produced 1919 and it seems it must have arrived via Europe |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 8, 2008 9:03:16 GMT
Just love all these old tools, if I had the room I'd have them all. You set me off JL looking about on the net and I came across this site www.twgaze.com/Diss-Auction-Rooms/Current-Catalogues/View-Catalogue?Event=166&pg=-1 It had some really unusual bits up for auction including some Planet stuff. These caught my eye as I scrolled through, can't believe some of the prices stuff went for. 5041. A pair of early secateurs 5241. A Nash clay spade 5254. A 19th Century English man trap 52" long with 14" jaws  There were some other traps too for our 4 legged furry friends 5329. A pair of 1930's Spong's garden hedge trimmer 6065. A Planet Junior push hoe6086. A Triang pedal tractor, Triang Major WOW 6208. A push cultivator and Planet Junior single row seed drill |
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Its still got the patent number & brand name stencilled on the shaft and even has left & right stencilled on each handle. I will have to take a pen and paper with me to the veggie plot and write it all down, I didn't think that it would be so difficult to identify 
Its very easy to use and I reckon as long as I leave enough space between rows, weeding will become a doddle 
I just love the look of these old tools, so obviously made to last.
There were some other traps too for our 4 legged furry friends