Locking Pin?

[ModernMiner]

I found this today at the old farm property that I've found some CW era relics.
Some sort of large metal locking type pin. Very neat piece. The ring on it can be lifted up (with a bit of force), and when pushed down it snaps into a locked position. The ring & pin are both made of a metal that a magnet will stick to. The head of the pin is stamped with what looks to me as possibly "Made In England" ? I know it says "MADE" and "In", but the last word is hard to tell.
Any idea what it was used for, and what era it was from?
PBK, where are you?
Thanks,
MM

 

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[texaspapa111]

It is indeed a locking pin. It is used to complete the task of attaching three-point hitch equiptment to the rear of a tractor. In use today.

 

[Comanche Todd]

here's one I found recently

they told me it was a hitch pin

 

[Montana Jim]

It is indeed a locking pin. It is used to complete the task of attaching three-point hitch equiptment to the rear of a tractor. In use today.

yup!

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Now, don't despair just yet.

Here's one I bought last fall. Made in India. If you find farm equipment not made in India or China it's rare (anymore, at least). The pin like that holds the drawbar onto a 3-point hitch, so it is 1920ish or more recent. Furgeson invented the system in Ireland and eventually it became the basis for the Ford "N" series success.

Yours may be either fairly old (note on the modern version the ring is offset. It snaps open and closed hard to lock it around the shaft the pin hole is in). It could also be a Chinese stab at the word "ENGLAND". We just got a box of flat black painted parts that are labeled "FLACT BLACK".

There is a big market for original tractor parts. Tractors are very collectable at the moment. Mine's a 1956 Ford 640.