Treat it with respect. Oil its gears. Wipe its hopper. And every spring, when you push that first row of corn into warm soil, you’ll understand why they built them to last a hundred years.
Introduction: The Machine That Sowed the Modern Small Farm In the pantheon of hand-powered farm equipment, few names command as much respect as the Planet Jr. line manufactured by the S.L. Allen & Company of Philadelphia, and later by Cole Manufacturing. Among their most versatile and enduring creations is the Planet Jr. No. 4 Seeder —often called the “push seeder” or “wheel hoe seeder.” Produced from the early 1900s through the mid-20th century, this machine bridged the gap between back-breaking hand sowing and expensive horse-drawn equipment. planet jr no 4 seeder manual
During WWII, the No. 4 was listed as “essential civilian equipment” and sold without ration stamps. Victory Gardens across America were sown with Planet Jr. seeders. Today, a functioning No. 4 is a direct connection to that era of resilience and self-reliance. Make copies for your records. Treat it with respect
For additional parts, visit the Planet Jr. Collectors Forum online. To share your restoration, tag #PlanetJrNo4 on social media. And every spring, when you push that first