Four Oaks Sprayer
Four Oaks Sprayer
Name/Title
Four Oaks SprayerEntry/Object ID
2025.1.294Description
Sprayer for horticultural use, with container, pump and spraying pipe. The dial on the side registered the pressure up to 150lbs. Could be worn on the back, with attached hessian straps. The Four Oaks sprayer is a pneumatic sprayer with a capacity of 4 gallons. (A pneumatic sprayer uses a pressurised container. Liquid is held in an airtight container and air is pumped into the container pressurising the air above the liquid). This model c. 1923.Context
The Four Oaks company was established in 1895 in Sutton Coldfield. The patents applied for suggest that the company was producing Garden and other syringes from 1903 until 1986. In the early days of the company they made machines for lime-washing and then developed machines for disinfecting glasshouses, sheds and barns, alongside sprayers for fertilisers and pesticides. Sizes ranged from 200 gallon tanks on wheels to hand sprayers. Since Romans times force pumps were in use for both medical and horticultural purposes - for use with pesticides. In the early 17th century there is reference to an small pump being used to spray trees and fire pumps were in use. The technology for the fire pumps was probably the same for the trees and the term "Garden Engine ' was applied to any portable pump that could be used in a garden. Four Oaks used the term 'Garden Engine' up until 1937.Cataloged By
Felix LamCategory
Horticultural Sundries