For sale is an antique cast iron and wood BARN HAY CAGE PULLEY made by the F.E. Myers Company. The cast iron skeleton cage frame and wood pulley are in excellent condition. The maple wood wheel turns freely. The hay pulley overall measures about 11 1/2 inches long and 6 inches wide. The wheel itself measures about 6 inches diameter. The cast iron has embossed lettering to indicate the model numbers: “H221” and “H222”. Vintage barn pulleys with a model number starting with an H were produced by F.E. Myers Company. The pulley is believed to date to the 1920s. This collectible tool is perfect for your rustic décor or to move your hay bales. A cool steampunk themed collectible tool.
Pulleys make light work of heavy loads. A single pulley can cut the amount of force needed to lift an object in half. Pulleys were typically used to lift bales of hay into the lofts of barns. A double pulley provides twice the force of a single pulley.
The F.E. Myers and Brothers empire was built on foundation of quality, innovation, and community. Brothers Francis E. Myers and Philip A. Myers grew up on a farm just outside of Ashland within earshot of their neighbors, the Studebakers … yes, those Studebakers. That clan initially manufactured wagons, but left the area in the mid-1800s for South Bend, Ind., where they became automakers. The brothers were a complementary pair and worked well together. Francis E. Myers was a superior salesman, promoter and businessman. Philip, widely considered a mechanical genius, liked to design and invent. Eventually, two other Myers brothers (Alvah N. and G. Denton) joined the firm. In 1882, the Myers brothers exhibited their pumps at the Ohio State Fair, winning the highest award for the best pumps. Two years later, Philip won a patent for a hay carrier, which evolved into a lucrative line of Myers hay tools. In 1892 Myers produced 9,000 pulleys for its hay tool line. Ten years later, production of the same pulley topped the 260,000 mark. When F.E. Myers & Bro. incorporated in 1921, the company was valued at $6 million.
