A short history of Bateman Manufacturing Company
Just to demonstrate how confusing it can be to reconstruct history, there are two different versions of how Stephen Bateman ended up in Grenloch, New Jersey.
Where exactly did the word ‘tractor’ come from?
In his comprehensive book about building Hart-Parr and Oliver tractors at Charles City, Iowa, John D. Culbertson wrote the following under the heading "1906":...
Is it a nut, or is it a burr?
Sam Moore investigates potential reasons people may have once heard old-timers refer to the nuts that were used with bolts as burrs.
The 1800s progression of mechanical sewing
Until the 19th century all clothes, hats, shoes, harness and ships sails were sewed by hand.
Looking back on how it all got started
Sam Moore pens his last column, looking back on the very first Rusty Iron column he ever wrote in 1992.
Earliest steam engines used to pump water
Learn more about the Newcomen engines, called "Fire Engines," which were used to pump water from British mines.
Texas shivaree brings many twists and turns
(Thankfully) my wife and I never had the pleasure of a shivaree as newlyweds
Horse drawn plows: Just a matter of preference
Someone recently asked me why some horse drawn plows throw the furrow to the left, while others (most in fact) throw them to the...
The Neys have it: Hay tools invented in Canton
There were two different Ney companies in Canton in the late 1800s and early 1900s, both making hay tools such as barn hay forks, carriers and track.
Who invented the motorcycle? Well, let’s see…
After supper on a recent hot Saturday night, I was sitting on my front porch nursing a cold glass of Pinot Grigio and watching...
