This seed fiddle was made in the nineteenth century and used well into the twentieth century. It operated like drawing a bow accross a violin. The fiddle was attached to a grain box (sometimes extended by a bag, as shown here). The drawing of the handle turned a star-shaped wheel which threw out seed in a regular pattern. The rate of seeds thrown could be adjusted by a lever.

This method of sowing was not faster than manual techniques but it made scattering an even distribution of seed much easier.