Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/696

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��Popular Science Monthly

��Three Tools in One

A RECENT invention is a spade which can be turned into a post- hole digger, ditching-tool, or even weed-cutter. The tool consists merely of a straight wooden handle, a ferrule, and steel blade like that of an ordinary spade with more

����This spade can be used for start- ing a hole and alsoforremoving the dirt. At an acute angle it is an excellent ditching-tool; at an obtuse angle, a weed - cutting device. Above, the spade as a post-hole digger. Below, asa right- angled hoe

��There is often need for a hoe of this size, and it is always a convenience

spade It may be used to start a hole; at right angles for lifting out dirt, or scraping It back; at a small angle it makes an excellent ditching-tool ; and at an obtuse angle, with Its sharp edge It makes the best of weed-cutting devices. The adjustable device Is simple, con- sisting merely of a case-hardened eye at the upper end of the blade, and having three flat surfaces for the pressure of a spring, placed in the ferrule and pressing upon the eye. At the upper end of the spring the ferrule is pierced by a set- screw which gives tension, thus holding the blade in any one of four positions.

���rounding sides, but equipped with a spe- cial device by means of which the blade can be brought at right angles to the handle, or at an}^ angle desired. As a

���The spade is here shown at its regular work

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