Photos for PJH......Ferguson bell potato planter

You asked for Pics of the planter, I hope these help......The drop spout

Detail of the 'splitter' on the bottom of the spout. This is adjustable up and down for depth of planting.....

The operators pick the spuds out of here, none ever fall out of the bin/hopper

The bin is shaped to fit over the top link.....

The bin sits on ledges on top of the spouts and this one bracket and lynch pin secures it

The bin is easy to lift off.......

Showing the detail on the top of the spouts

The bell wheel. You will see it has'ridges' pressed out with one main ridge. these gaive you the distance apart to plant your seed. As you move the bell on the slide the clanger will ride over a different row of ridges, which are further apart, or closer together. Mine is set to plant 10" apart (an old bicycle bell would do?)

Detail of the 'clanger' originally it had a spring like on a clothes peg, but it snapped and this coil spring was fitted in the field 30 years ago and it still works!

The wheel is free to float up and down +or - 4"

The front of the ridgers bodies, with the duck-bill point

And rear view....

The fin sits slightly below the whole plough and keeps it running true in the ground......

That's about it!.............Sam

samn40
That is very similar to a "hiller" that I have, but yours appears to use something similar to a plow share to make the hill.
The bell sounds interesting. How does that operate? How do you adjust the seed spacing?
Thanks
Brian

Brian read my whole post. I had to keep editing as modern view only likes to load about 3-4 photos then goes real slow!............Sam

Cheers
That answers both my questions!
I guess I was too quick replying!
Mine is still buried under about 2 feet of snow!
Thanks
Brian

question: I plant my seed about 3" - 4" deep, then leave the ground flat. Later on, I cultivate and ridge up after the plants grow. Your planter ridges up at the start. Is this an advantage?

Sam, thank you for going to all of the trouble to disassemble your planter and photograph it for us, and thank you for the good explanation of the various parts. I think I can make a workable planter from your pictures and description. I'm using an old three-point cultivator frame for the "foundation", and it has a coulter wheel on the front to make it run true like your fin on the back. I'll post photos when I get it done.

Paul

A lot like a tobacco plant setter, but they have no hiller function.

Yes, If we get heavy prolonged rain, like we do sometimes, the water can drain away and not rot the spuds.