Posted 8 years ago
Thoughtbui…
(34 items)
This is an interesting tool. I assume it is or was sussed to anchor a structure or perhaps an animal to the ground. About 3 feel long and once the lever is moved and the top is depressed anchor spikes protrude from its side
Way off.... See below for what it really is
This is called a "hay hook". It's operation is not clearly apparent from the pics but it works this way: When the farm wagon came in from the field with a load of hay bales they needed to be lifted up to the loft in the top of the barn. This device had a rope tied to the large ring and another tied to a lever near the top. The device was suspended from a pulley by the ripe through the large ring. With the lever in the down position and the points at its end folded into the hook, it was dropped like a spear down through a bail and then the rope on the lever was pulled turning the "hooks" - the two points - outward, catching the bale so it could be lifted up. The pulley was hung on a "hay trolley” which rolled on wheels on a track attached to the barn’s ceiling beams and sticking out the door several feet. When the bail got up level with the top floor it was pulled across the barn on the trolley rail to where the hay was to be stacked the lever was folded and the hook withdrawn, rolled out to the door above the wagon and dropped onto the next bale. There are several variations. One has an upside-down "U" shape with two folding hooks.
Absolutely brilliant and thorough response. I would never have guessed. I believe my original assumption is proof of that. Thank you so so much