Old Walking Plow Identification

TWG1572

New User
25 years ago, I drug this plow out of a falling down old barn on a neighbor's place. We played with it a lot when we were kids - I remember hitching it up to the back of the lawn tractor and cutting a furrow across the lawn. Mom was not impressed! I always thought it was so cool to hold onto the same handle that some man had worn down 80-ish years ago, and think about what he went through breaking some of the forested hills in SW Wisconsin.

Anyway, It's been sitting in a corner of our shed for 20 years now and I just thought about it the other day. I dug it out today - I was curious if someone might be able to figure out who made it and what era it's from? I've attached some pictures - the only stamping I could find was one that says "SB13" and the other says "JS". I've not torn it down at all - so maybe there is something else hidden somewhere too.

There is also some of the original paint on one of the bolts. It's green, but more emerald green than what I'd associate with Deere today. It sort of looks like some of the Oliver walking plows I've seen. It appears Oliver did make a 13 SB, but I've yet to find a picture.

Anyway, I'm thinking about making this a winter project of sorts and if I could figure out what it was - I'd try to clean it up a bit and possibly restore it. It was someone's pride and joy at one point, and I'd like to honor that memory - even though I don't have a clue who he was. But I don't want to screw it up if it is a rare plow, so I was hoping to see if there were any experts on here...

Thanks for any help!
12329.jpg
12330.jpg
 
Is it a cast iron plow with the shin and share in one piece attached with a square head Plow bolt? If so, it is a #13 Oliver and makes about a 9 inch furrow normally pulled with a smal to medium size team of two. The next size was the #19 and took a bigger team of two and sometimes 3 horses. My dad bought a new #13 before the war and after the war sold it to a returning vteran for the same price, I think it was $15 or $25.
 
The shin and share are one piece, but upon doing some googling I don't think it's set up how you are thinking about it. The bottom third of the plow is one piece, and the top 2/3 is another single piece. There really isn't a shin going up the front of the moldboard like you would see in many plows.

I found something for sale on ebay for an oliver plow that was a v-shaped shin/share with one square bolt hole. I don't have that - and I'm thinking that was what you were describing.

My moldboard also appears to be steel. I've cleaned that up now, and there are no identifying marks on it.

I guess the search continues.... I had no idea it was so hard to ID older plows, but after reading about how many companies made them and Google searching for this one I can now see what an issue it is. It's a bit sad that all that history has just faded into time.....

All I know now is that the beam/share/moldboard/frog are all painted in that emerald green color. I suspect my handles aren't origional, since they are two piece and I haven't seen that anywhere in my searching.
 
So, evidently my memory isn't as good as I thought. :oops: I got home and it does look like I may have exactly what you described. Square bolt hole and all.

I attached a pic of the share/shim and also of the back - which appears to have a B 16? marking on the back of it.

So, I'm now hoping it may be case closed after all? Oliver #13

If so, do you know what color the handles of these plows were originally? Thanks so much for your help!

12326.jpg
12327.jpg
12328.jpg
[/img]
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top