McCORMICK-DEERING IHC P121 SICKLE BAR SHARPENER

Went to a flea market the other day on recommendation of a friend. That's something I seldom allow myself to do these days (being fully awash amongst my own version of one already <groan>) but there were reportedly a few (more) cheap ceramic insulators to be had (plus a *way* overpriced traffic signal?) there, so off I went. The insulators came home with me of course, the signal can stay sitting right there (as I've already got more than one much better, none of which cost me nearly 1.2K, maybe even not all together?) and a couple other things came home too as is usually the case whenever I go to flea markets...<sigh>

This was the thing that I spotted early in sitting on the floor, and was enamored with immediately even without having the **slightest** clue what it was. What's not to love about a rusty little contraption of gears and wheels with a big crank lever, that actually all moved around together when I first looked at it and touched it - but I put it back down and kept on looking around, not yet having come across the things I'd went there to look at in the first place. Found those eventually along with only a couple more to follow me home -- this ended up being one because it seemed both cheap and fun enough. ;-) :-)

I'd noticed the "McCORMICK" part of its name and knew that there was probably a "-DEERING" to go with it on there too (a common enough old manufacturer of all kinds of farm and agricultural machinery) but didn't see the "P121" on its handle until I got it home. Happily that name and number popped right up from the internets tubes to now know exactly what it is, and that it has a few little bits broken off, an apparently common repair, and a missing (or worn away entirely) grinding stone. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

What I'm not completely sure of is its exact age, what variety of sickle/scythe/mower/cutter it would be used to sharpen, and how one would use it to do that...? ;-) ;-)

But I also really don't care that much either -- I *am* rather certain that I don't have nor will be all that likely to ever have one of whatever machines those are -- this machine is fun enough already just like it is, and will make a wonderful addition to my rust garden...? <LOL>