These types of team implements for digging potatoes were the first big innovation in horse powered potato harvesting in the mid-19th century. Prior to the horse drawn digger the limitation on how many potatoes a farmer could plant was how many the farm crew could dig by hand. The basic design of these early diggers works so well that new models of this type of digger are once again being manufactured by contemporary horse drawn equipment suppliers.

McCormick Deering (eventually International Harvestor) made what many believe to be one of the outstanding potato digger models. This post features the text and illustrations from the original manufacturer’s setup and operation literature, handed to the new owners upon purchase. This implement, pulled by two horses or a small suitable tractor, dug up the taters and conveyed them up an inclined, rattling chain which shook off most of the dirt and laid the crop on top of the ground for collection

A much improved walking potato digger is shown in Fig. 491. The shovel is a large rounded scoop which slides under the potatoes scooping the soil and the potatoes up onto the shaker grate at the rear. The grate is hinged at the front. A five-pointed wheel under the grate gives it an up-and-down motion which sifts the soil from the potatoes as they pass over the rods. A forecarriage to control the depth of the shovel is fastened to the front of the beam in front of the shovel.