Potato Harvesting Scoop
Object/Artifact
One wood and iron potato shovel. The handle is a single piece of wood that has been squared off. The end of the handle has been split and a piece of wood inserted at the end, creating a triangular grip area. The handle curves where it meets the iron blade, which is a series of bent wires that go through the wooden handle and curve around to be affixed to the straight iron band across the end. There are remains of a long paper label across the front of the handle, although much is worn away.
2006.003.1
Like its name suggests, the potato harvesting scoop, or potato shovel, gently lifts potatoes out of the ground. Unlike digging potatoes up with a regular shovel which pulls the dirt up with it, the soil goes through the bars of the scoop causing less damage to the potatoes.
Genesee Country Village and Museum
1890 - 1920
Potato shovel
43 in
12 in
4 in
Wood
Iron
Paper