Wow, some things have not advanced much in 50 years. We used something similar when I was a lad to transplant tobacco plants when one died or didn't get mechanically transplanted correctly. But it had a tube to hold water, which the Hatfield doesn't.

Not that many people have been there and done this, but our favorite method was to transplant "in season." A day or two after a rain (depending on how much rain fell) we would use an Army pick - a much smaller version of a pick-axe - to dig a slot in the soil and pull back the dirt. Slide the transplant in and press the soil down with one foot.

Mike

I saw one of those old metal tobacco planters on ebay and was impressed with it. I considered buying it but it was rusted out. I'm trying to find something to save my back. Last year I had to lie down and plant my seedlings. Very humiliating. luke

There are some videos on youtube. I have seen a few of them. This one is from Johnny's. From the other videos I've seen. Its important to kind of toss the plants down the tube to keep them from sticking on their way down.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hatfield transplanter