Valdis Pyatt and his Spring Tooth Hoe
Photograph of Valdis Pyatt posed in a photography studio, demonstrating the Pyatt Spring Tooth Hoe and Cultivator [2022.042.0009]
Mr. Valdis Pyatt was born in Shannon County, Missouri in 1872. In 1899, he came to Montana and settled in Choteau. He was skilled in several things: carpentry, construction, and farming. He had a passion for inventing and used his knowledge to create many items, 4 of which he patented. His most successful invention was the Pyatt Spring Tooth Hoe and Cultivator in 1932.
Advertisement, “Step Right Up to Your Garden,” frontside [2022.042.0012]
Advertisement, “Step Right Up to Your Garden,” backside [2022.042.0012]
Clipping from the Bellingham Herald, Tuesday, May 20, 1941
Schematic of the Pyatt Spring Tooth Hoe from patent
Patent Cover [2022.042.0010]
The following is the description from the patent:
“A garden implement comprising an elongated, arcuate metallic blade of spring material, terminating, at one end, in a point, the longitudinal marginal portions of said blade being sharpened to provide cutting edges from the point to the other end thereof, a shank formed integrally with the other end of the blade and extending from said blade at an angle relative thereto, and a reinforcing rib formed integrally with the outer face or convex side of the blade and merging, at one end, with the shank, said rib progressively decreasing in size toward its other end and merging with the blade at said other end, said blade gradually increasing in width from the pointed end to the shank end and the inner face of the blade being plain and the rib being rounded and a handle mounted on the shank.”
Pyatt Spring Tooth Hoe [2022.042.2]
Pyatt Spring Tooth Hoes lined up, [right to left, 2022.042.2, 2022.042.3, 2022.042.4]
Valdis Pyatt passed away in 1952 but was able to do what every inventor hopes; his name attached to something he created that outlived him. His story and invention will live on even a bit longer, now that his collection resides with us at The History Museum.
Great Falls Tribune clipping, Sunday April 25, 1952