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This is a malt plough, used in the process of malting, which is turning barley into malt for use in brewing. The handle of this malt plough is missing. Nothing is known of its origins or place of use.

1 malt plough: metal

Letter, J. H. Nalder to Mr Jewell, 6th November 1957 - 'Thank you for your letter of November 5th. The implement we asked you to identify has turned out to be an old malt plough used by maltsters...', Letter, J. H. Nalder to MERL, 9th October 1957 - 'I enclose a cutting from the current issue of our paper about an unusual implement that we have in our office. I would be very pleased if your could identify it for us. // We have had a number of suggestions from readers as to what it is. These include cutting reeds in ditches, turning barley on malthouse floors, and for scraping earth roads. // Trusting you will be able to help us in this matter.', Press cutting [Practical Power Farming, 1957] – 'Do You Know What This Is? // This unidentified farming implement has turned up in our editorial offices in London. None of our staff can say definitely what it is, although there have been many suggestions. Perhaps some of our readers are more knowledgeable. // It has an iron frame and a steel blade and weighs 18 1/2 lb. The steel blade is 2ft 2in long by 3in wide and is sharpened on the lower edge. The three vertical knives are each 7in long by 1in wide, have 6in intervals between them, and are sharpened on the edges facing the camera. The leading edges of the frame have also been worked down to a cutting edge. // The depth from frame to blade is 13in. The implement was obviously made for heavy work - the socket being designed to take a 1 1/2 in diameter ash shaft. // No prizes are offered, but the Editor would be glad to hear from any readers who can identify this somewhat mysterious object, or who can suggest uses to which it may have been put.'