Heirlooms 2024 52 Ancestors in a Year

Heirlooms are items that are handed down from generation to generation.  Some heirlooms are items that our ancestors may have used.

Our family heirlooms include tools used in the industry of agriculture.  Some could still be used today.  My husband mounted our collection on a board and hung it in alcove by our front door.  

#1 Scythe—used for cutting grass, hay or grain by hand

#2 corn planter-used for planting by hand

#3 Hames-used in horse collars for work horses

#4 Loose Hay cutter-loose hay stacks was a common way to store hay & divide hay between the landlord and farmer

#5  Railroad spike puller

#6 Draw knife-to trim wood or lumber

#7  Trowel-used with concrete to smooth it out

#8  Hand drill-used in carpentry

#9  Potato fork-used to dig potatoes

#10  Wrench-pipe wrench

#11 Sugar beet fork-used to lift sugar beets from the ground to the truck when harvesting by hand

#12 Hay saw-to cut loose hay or even hay in bales

#13 Ice saw-used to cut ice blocks from frozen lakes or river for refrigeration 

Branding irons were used on horses or cattle and were heated by a wood fire.  In modern days they might be heated with propane.

The Diamond X brand was recorded in 1884 in Montana by my husband’s great Grandfather.  It is still used today.  

The S Bar brand is my brand and still used today. It was a gift from my father.