baler twine - does anyone know why it gets called Micheal?

[Scrow]

asking on behalf of an elderly friend who writes about the history of all kinds of rope

He was asked this recently and didn't know the answer, and is now extremely keen to find out if anyone knows where it might of come from or even if anyone has any theories.

Not sure if it's a regional thing or more widespread either.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Named for Michael Gove?

" may be crappy, but it's all I got "



We have always called it "Howie" after the Howard bales it came from, eg "will need about 3 feet of Howie, 4 staples, and a hammer"

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Never heard it called Michael before.

Bale band, farmers friend, Farmers latch and twine, but never Michael.

 

[simmy_bull]

Charlie band round here.

Possibly different names due to different local sellers?

 

[Scrow]

I can't be certain it's actually 'micheal' I suppose it could be 'Mikal' or something, but that's certainly how some of the (much) older generations of farmers round here name it.

 

[Scrow]

Interesting about the different names... I wonder if that's it and it's regional?

 

[Barleycorn]

You sure you don't mean Sisal, the old binder twine before plastic?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Rhyming slang for farmers friend?
Michael, sisal, sounds legit

 

[thesilentone]

You will find reference, but not reason here: https://www.lakelanddialectsociety.co.uk/glossary

 

[Farfrae]

Nothing useful to add other than there is a song about it sung by a guy called Michael.

The sentiments expressed in the song are probably worth a few minutes of your time BTW.

 

[Exfarmer]

Its all string to me.

 

[Grassman]

I can't be certain it's actually 'micheal' I suppose it could be 'Mikal' or something, but that's certainly how some of the (much) older generations of farmers round here name it.

I would guess it's based on Sisal as also @Barleycorn says.

 

[Farmer Roy]

err, as a planting contractor, the only name I have for baling twine ( when I drive over it, gets wrapped around presswheels, gauge whhels or opener discs, chews out bearing seals etc ) is unprintable & would probably get me banned from here for repeating it

awful awful bloody stuff, the work of the devil & his minions

 

[thesilentone]

I wonder if the fight against plastic will include plastic baler twine ? Maybe Sisel is to return ?

 

[Coximus]

The orange god or "orange" or twiz here

 

[Northeastfarmer]

We call it “Charlie band”

 

[AftonShepherd]

Its all string to me.

But what length is a piece of it?

 

[had e nuff]

+1 for Charlie band. Father recons its because the 1st firm to sell it in this area was Chas Turner. He could be making it up though.

 

[TripleSix]

Charlie band round here.

Possibly different names due to different local sellers?

I've heard it called Billy Band too

 

[SRRC]

It's rhyming slang........"Michael Hestletwine".