The “Perfection” Fiddle Hand Seed Sower

The seed box is made of red-painted wood and has metal fixings. The bow is of wood with string and the distributor wheel is metal. The sack is hessian. This item was used to sow seed by hand, and was known as the fiddle. Printed instructions on using the sower are provided at the back of the machine. The side of the box has faint markings of the painted details of the maker understood to be as follows: THE ‘PERFECTION’ SEED SOWER MADE ONLY BY JAMES A GIBSON COMBER, N. IRELAND.

The bag would be filled with seed and the user would carry the sower by wearing the canvas shoulder strap. As he walked, the stick would be manoeuvred and this action would distribute the seed.

This was on display during the launch of our Heritage Food Project.