American Seeding Machine Co. Grain Drill

So I just picked up this old grain drill today. It's an American Seeding Machine Co. Farmer's Favorite No. 5 (at least I think that's what's painted on it). It's really not in too bad of shape, considering it's age. I'm guessing it was made sometime in the first decade of the 20th century. Call me crazy, but I plan to fix a few things and use it. Couple problems however; it is missing "seed actuators" (round discs in hopper, with finger-like points), and 2 of the lower gears which turn these. There's also so many levers, I'm not sure what all of them do. Take a look at the photo's and let me know what you think. Could definitely use those missing parts and a manual if anyone has them! I think Oliver Superior drills might have interchangeable parts.


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drill10 by JVid, on Flickr;
drill11 by JVid, on Flickr;
drill13 by JVid, on Flickr
drill2 by JVid, on Flickr

Here's some more photo's of it. Some of the adjusters I can figure out, but If someone could explain them it would be helpful. Thanks.


drill7 by JVid, on Flickr;
drill6 by JVid, on Flickr;
drill5 by JVid, on Flickr;
drill4 by JVid, on Flickr;
drill14 by JVid, on Flickr

One is to set the pounds of seed per acre. Another is for pounds of fertilizer and the little one with the pointer looks like it might be some sort of acre counter. I would paint the thing back to original colors and park it in the front yard. There is an old one sitting in my back yard made of wood but it is a little outdated for any sort of planting.

Yes,American Seeding was one of the companies that became the Oliver Farm Equipment Company in 1929. I don't think those really has a fingered seed wheel in them like you think they were. Are you thinking something that slides back and forth sideways to adjust the seeding rate like the newer Deeres and IHs have? Those were just a fixed disc,I'm trying to think what they are shaped like. A clay pigeon for target practice maybe. You set the rate by changing the speed with the gears.

Their in the second photo down and are disc shaped with several teeth. They look like they actuate a small lever, perhaps to drop the seed(??)

The small meter is an acreage calculator. I'll tell you they put a lot of thought and engineering into these old things. I love the variable speed gears and how they work!

While I'm sure it would look real nice painted up and sitting in the yard, I'm kind of against that sort of thing. If it can be made to work with a little effort why not use it? I do wish it had the later metal wheels, which would hold up a lot better.

From the end of it I see it says fertilizer,so it has 3 boxes,correct? The small one is for clover seed,alfalfa,that kind of thing. One of the big ones is fertilizer,the other big one is seed,such as wheat,oats,rye,etc. Those flat spyder shaped gears that lay flat in the box are for fertilizer. Even if you do put it to work,I don't know of anybody who runs fertilizer through a grain drill anymore anyway. That's always spread bulk. Follow the linkage down from that guage that says something like "pecks of seed" and it should lead you to the adjustable gears. If it's like the early Olivers,it's a big vertical gear under the box,on the axle,with a whole bunch of knobs on the side with another small gear running up against it.

I have a McCormick Deering of about the same vintage. I use it every year for around 2 1/2 to 3 acres per year. And yes, I use horse to pull it. I took linseed oil and a paintbrush to mine after cleaning it real well. You would be surprised at how much color that will bring out.

Your drill has 3 boxes, the small one on the front that is mounted seperate is for grass seeds and the fertilizer and grain seed are in the one big devided box with the grain being in the front box and the fertilizer with what you are thinking is for sowing the seed are actually called fertilizer feed wheels. I do have some of those parts in a drill I do not know if I am going to fix up or not but do know of then in a scrap yard that if I decide to fix it up I will likely get that drill. The lever on the left end of the box is what sets the fertilizer rate on yours. I have a slightly older version that I am going to fix up, Have several Amish waiting for it when I get it done but is having to wait a while due to a heart attack and 5 bypasses. Mine has the same wood wheel (omly one left) that is in better shape than yours. Some of your controls are more like the newer from the 40's model 26 Oliver. Mine has on the cast ends, Superior Double Force feed Grain Drill MF'D BY American Seeding Machine Co. Superior Division Springfield O. U.S.A. on both ends and right end has Superior Force Feed Grain and Fertilizer Drill With Variable Speed. The earliest pat date on mine is Nov. 27, 82 and last date is June 27, 99 or 112 year ago. The Oliver museum does have the manuals for the No. 26 drill. The oldest and newest I have here are very simular but there are differences. The seed controls and settings I would say would be the same as in the books for the Oliver No. 26 drill. I am dealing in them with the Amish and delievered 2 of the steel wheel model 26 13-7 drills and have a low rubber of same size that I do not yet know if will go for parts or rebuilding and then this one that is old enough that it does not carry the Oliver name. Thought last winter I would get a parts only drill and it went for $150, $50 more than I though it was worth.

Thanks for the info. What do you think I should do to get the seed mechanism back in order? Not sure if it will just work as-is or I should oil 'em up a bit or not.

Looks like someone used this one for a parts donator. Still looks good, If you do use it as a lawn ornament as suggested by someone, be sure to put something under the wheels to keep them out of the soil. I have seen too many pieces of equipment left sitting on the ground with wheels rusted to the point of being absolutely useless.

Trust me, it will not be a ornament as long as I own it. Hopefully the next post will be a freshly planted field this Fall.

Well, I have run into a snag. All the grain "feeding wheels" are froze up. They don't look too rusty, but they won't budge. Anyone have experience freeing these up? I've been just spraying them with penetrating oil and tapping 'em. No luck yet.

I have just aquired a parts manual manual for the Oliver Superior No. 26 drill that I think would be a lot of the same parts that yours takes and I may be able to come up with some of those missing parts for you but you have never said what part of the countey you are in. I am in Ohio.

(quoted from post at 14:11:54 08/07/11) I have just aquired a parts manual manual for the Oliver Superior No. 26 drill that I think would be a lot of the same parts that yours takes and I may be able to come up with some of those missing parts for you but you have never said what part of the countey you are in. I am in Ohio.

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I'm in Upstate, NY. I'd love a copy if you could send one by email or a photocopy. I'd send you a private message with my email address but that feature seems permanently out of order on this site. Occasionally it will work through classic view, but not today.

Have no way to scan and email, would take forever to do as well as book is about 80 pages and I do have an operators manual as well. Would have to take to local copy place to get a cost for that then stop at post office with weight and zip to get a shipping cost. Reason you could not get an email thru to me is it was not opened, farther back it was but not in this post. will open it now. I am in northwest Ohio. Lester Helmlinger, Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895 [email protected]