Plows and bullet casing

[JT]

In recent weeks I found three plows two marked Syracuse and one marked Vulcan 9. I would like to try to determine how old they are but have not found much on the Internet. Can anyone point me to a good source?

I also pulled a rim-fired casing out of the ground, It is marked US (I am assuming for US Cartridge) in small letters. Is there any website that might help me date the casing?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Nemo]

Try Curtis Steibhauer's Site. It's the best on the Net. You are right "US" headstamps are usually United States Cartridge Company.

Hope this helps
Dave Poche

 

[Carolina Phil]

Your post sparked my interest because I too have found several plows in the past, but I can't make out any writing on them. The Encyclopedia of American Farm Implements & Antiques by Charles H. Wendel is fairly informative and has a lot of drawings. It can be viewed partially on Google Books.

From what I can gather, the Syracuse plows are of the Syracuse Chilled Plow Company of Syracuse, New York, which was in existence from 1879 until 1911, when they were bought out by the John Deere Company. Keep in mind though that when a company is bought out by another, the new owners could keep producing products under the original name, but I have no information that is the case.

The Vulcan plow is of the Vulcan Plow Company of Evansville, Indiana, which was in existence from 1898 until 1930, when they changed their name to Farm Tools, Incorporated.

The United States Cartridge Company was in existence from the mid or late 1860's until the mid or late 1930's.

Nice finds and happy hunting.

 

[JT]

Thank you, all.