Object number
65/326/1
Creator
Description
Seed drill, used for sowing seeds. Made by Smyth & Sons Ltd., Peasenhall, Suffolk. From the Agricultural Machinery Department, Uni. of Reading.
This is a large seed drill, used for sowing seeds in bulk. This example was manufactured by Smyth & Sons Ltd., Peasenhall, Suffolk. It was acquired from the Agricultural Machinery Department at the University of Reading.
Physical description
1 seed drill: wood amd metal [iron]; good condition
Label Text
Seed drill. This seed drill was produced by James Smyth and Sons Ltd, a manufacturer of agricultural drills. It has works number 30107. Smyth was a wheelwright who was living in the village of Peasenhall, Suffolk in 1801. He noticed the potential of agricultural drills and formed a company which was fully focused on building them for dispatch around the country. Over the course of the 19th century their workshop evolved into a factory and they exported internationally across Europe and Africa. Having established themselves as a prominent manufacturer of agricultural machinery, the company was later acquired by Ransomes, Sims & Jeffries.
Archival history
MERL ‘Handwritten accession’ form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘DRILL // CULTIVATING–Seeding–drilling // Agricultural Machinery Dept. UoR // Description: Large drill with four coulters, two iron rimmed wooden wheels and wooden seed box, Painted blue and red. Inscription: Smyth + Sons Ltd. No 30107, Seed Drill Cup Delivery // Dimensions: Length 128 cm, Height 126.0 cm, Width 117.0 cm, Seed Box Width 74 cm, Wheels diameter 102 cm.’
Production place
Peasenhall
Object name
Material
Associated subject
