Horse-Drawn Sickle Bar Mower Value Guide

The horse-drawn sickle bar mower represents a pivotal shift in American agriculture, transitioning from manual scything to mechanical harvesting between 1900 and 1940. These machines, crafted from durable cast iron and steel, are highly sought after by collectors for their intricate gearing and historical significance in livestock fodder production.

What Is Horse-Drawn Sickle Bar Mower Worth?

The typical price range for Horse-Drawn Sickle Bar Mower is $300 - $500 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Mechanical functionality: Mowers with internal gears that still turn and move the sickle bar command higher prices.
• Completeness: The presence of the original wooden pitman arm and the grass board at the end of the cutter bar significantly increases value.
• Condition of the cast iron: Value is heavily dependent on the absence of cracks or welds in the main housing and wheels.
• Originality: Examples retaining original factory paint or stenciling are more valuable than those with heavy rust or modern repaints.

How to Identify Horse-Drawn Sickle Bar Mower?

• Look for manufacturer names cast directly into the iron frame, such as McCormick-Deering, John Deere, or International Harvester.
• Examine the cutter bar for the original triangular sickle sections and the presence of the wooden pitman arm which connects the drive wheel to the blade.
• Verify the presence of heavy, cleated cast iron wheels designed to provide traction for the internal gear-driven cutting mechanism.
• Check for the distinctive long wooden tongue used for hitching a team of horses, often found in varying states of preservation.

History of Horse-Drawn Sickle Bar Mower

Before the advent of mechanized tractors, farmers relied on animal power for most tasks. Horse-drawn implements like this sickle bar mower revolutionized agriculture in the 19th and early 20th centuries, allowing for faster and more efficient harvesting of fodder for livestock and various crops. These machines were a significant improvement over manual scything.