Early in the 20th century hay was not baled. It was cut, left to cure, and then piled into large piles by a hay buck. The loose hay was transported to the barn via wagon. The harpoon hung by a rope from a pulley in the peak of the barn. The harpoon was dropped into a load of hay waiting outside the barn. It would grab loose hay and then be pulled up by the pulley system. The levers on the forks would be tripped and the hay released into the barn loft.