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Ashby and Co. (Manufacturer)

This is a two horse rotary harrow made of steel. It is drawn from an axle in the centre at right angles to the draught, and has a bar with an adjustable weight which causes the harrow to move at different speeds anti-clockwise. Harrows are used to break up the surface of the soil in preparation for sowing seed. The design for this harrow was patented by Smith and Ashby of Stamford in 1859, and this is harrow is inscribed ‘T. W. Ashby, Stamford’. It was used by the donor’s grandfather, who died in 1870.

1 rotary harrow: steel

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Description: Circular steel harrow. The tines are mounted through square holes on three rigidly connected concentric angle iron and flat bar rings. The vertical axle is mounted astern, to which is also attached the towing hook and loading weight. The weight causes the harrow to rotate as it is towed. // Dimensions: … // Associated information: see correspondence // Inscription: T. W. ASHBY, STAMFORD. // The rotary harrows were first made by the firm in 1859/60 // References: MERL 3630 // Abridgments of Patent Specifications Agric. Div 1 1618 1866 p 562 No 1939 RASE Cat of Agric Implements Canterbury 1860 p 103, item 1235–1236, ‘Abridgements of Patent Specifications // Agricultural Div. 1 – 1618–1866 // A.D. 1859, August 25. – No.1939 // SMITH, Henry, and ASHBY, Thomas Woodehouse – (A communication from J. Pintus and Co.) – Harrow // The harrow is composed of a circular frame, formed of concentric rings with cranked bars uniting them. At the centre is a vertical spindle, to a radial arm from which the draught gear is attached. From a collar on the same spindle a radial arm projects, and this can beheld at any angle with the draught arm by a link and sliding collars on the arms. This second arm is weighted, and the effect of this is to drive the tines on the weighted side deeper into the ground than those on the opposite side. The harrow is thus caused to rotate on its axis while it moves forward, and the tines therefore describe curves instead of straight lines. By bringing the weighted arm in a line with the draught arm, this rotary movement is no longer produced. The two arms may also be formed in one piece, so that the angle cannot be varied. Several harrows may be connected together by tie rods.’, Official Blackstone Engine Website (http://www.oldengine.org/members/blkstone/History1.htm) – The harrow is inscribed ‘T. W. Ashby, Stamford’. 1844: Henry Smith of Henry Smith and Co. joined in partnership with Thomas Woodhouse Ashby. 1845: Renamed Smith and Co. 1852: Renamed Smith and Ashby. 1860: The partnership came to an end and Thomas Ashby began to trade as Ashby and Co., with a catalogue appearing on 1 September under the banner ‘Agricultural Machinery and Implements manufactured and Patented by T. W. Ashby & Co., late Smith & Ashby’. 1864: Became Ashby, Jeffery and Co. 1866: Became Ashby Jeffery and Luke and Co. 1876: Became G. E. Jeffery and Co.

Stamford

1859