668 



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 



