McCormick Sickle Sharpener

Rod in MN · Jan 7, 2010

Hi. Guy's I'm restoring a sickle sharpener and has green paint on it even under the crank. I have another one is black and seen some that are Red. Where the early ones green .
Thank You Rod

Maine Fordson · Jan 7, 2010

Rod --

I re-did a McCormick sickle sharpener last year, and can confirm that underneath the grease and grime it was originally a dark green (Forest green/Kelly green? Not sure what the proper nomenclature is for the color, but it's dark green).

I also have an identical (or nearly-identical) sharpener marked "International" that has its original red paint.

I have heard that there are at least a couple dozen variations of this type of sickle sharpener, i.e., some are labeled McCormick, others Deering, McCormick-Deering, International, International Harvester, etc.

Probably has something to do with the fact that, even after merging in 1905, McCormick and Deering continued to market separate product lines until around 1930.

Bottom line: Go with the dark green as the "correct" color for that tool.

That's my 2¢ worth, anyway.

-- Maine Fordson

McCormick Sickle Sharpener

Rod in MN

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Maine Fordson

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