Today's mystery tool thread

[Steve Maskery]

Clearing out my mum's shed I came across these. I have no idea what they are for and I don't remember them from childhood. I think that it is more likely to be gardening related than woodwork.

Any bright ideas welcome.

 

[Roxie]

They are dandelion root pullers used on lawns.

John

 

[Steve Maskery]

Really? There is a special tool for dandelions? Or are you pulling my leg?
If you are serious, do I assume that the bumpy bit acts as a fulcrum?

 

[Roxie]

You have got it one. Dig the fork into the dandelion and lever up and out.

John

 

[bugbear]

They are dandelion root pullers used on lawns.

John

And thistles!

BugBear

 

[NazNomad]

Really? There is a special tool for dandelions? Or are you pulling my leg?

He's not kidding, that's exactly what it is.

 

[bugbear]

None of these names sounded right. A bit of googling and memory wracking led to "Daisy Grubber" being the commonest name, and victorian "daisy grubber" as a GIS gives excellent results.

BugBear

 

[Steve Maskery]

Excellent, thank you all.

 

[Rorschach]

You get more stout versions as well without the lever bit, I prefer them myself as they are less likely to bend and you can use with or without a bit of broom handle as a lever.

 

[powertools]

If you have got thistles in your lawn you need to mow it more often.
Those tools are used to remove all types of weeds from from a lawn.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Besides lifting weeds, they're handy for stabbing slugs too!

 

[nabs]

my mum (Londoner, originally) used to call them 'Daisy grubbers' too - I had one in my allotment days and they are very useful.