Waterwheel Powers Threshing Machine
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Some FARM SHOW readers may be able to say they’ve tossed grain bundles into a threshing machine powered by a steam engine, but it’s doubtful they’ve seen one that’s powered by a paddlewheel. That’s what Minnesotan Cliff Johnson saw while traveling near Sarbi in the Maramures region of Romania in 2021.
“We were touring along the fast-running Cosau river in northern Romania when our guide pointed out a large waterwheel that’s been working for nearly 500 years,” Johnson says. “It was churning away at a good clip, powering an array of “brilliant equipment” the guide noted, including a threshing machine, flour mill, power saw, fulling mill, whirlpool and distillery.”
Horse-drawn wagons hauled grain shocks to the thresher from area farms. Stalks and chaff from the thresher are stored as feed and bedding for nearby livestock.” Tourist signs posted at the site indicated the machine was manufactured in Budapest, Romania, and was operated steadily “a century or two ago” for up to three months a year.
Johnson says the river currently powers a set of giant millstones for grinding corn and wheat. In Romania, ground corn is made into polenta, a side dish that’s often consumed three times a day. “We were told that the best polenta is made from flour ground at this river mill!”
Another unusual device was a whirlpool, made of wood planks fabricated into a cone shape and fastened together with wattle. Village residents bring their carpets and rugs to the river and toss them into the whirlpool, where they’re spun and battered by the roiling water until they’re clean. They’re retrieved from the whirlpool by long hoe handles, then laid on beams to dry.
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Waterwheel Powers Threshing Machine COMBINES Miscellaneous Some FARM SHOW readers may be able to say they’ve tossed grain bundles into a threshing machine powered by a steam engine but it’s doubtful they’ve seen one that’s powered by a paddlewheel That’s what Minnesotan Cliff Johnson saw while traveling near Sarbi in the Maramures region of Romania in 2021 “We were touring along the fast-running Cosau river in northern Romania when our guide pointed out a large waterwheel that’s been working for nearly 500 years ” Johnson says “It was churning away at a good clip powering an array of “brilliant equipment” the guide noted including a threshing machine flour mill power saw fulling mill whirlpool and distillery ” Horse-drawn wagons hauled grain shocks to the thresher from area farms Stalks and chaff from the thresher are stored as feed and bedding for nearby livestock ” Tourist signs posted at the site indicated the machine was manufactured in Budapest Romania and was operated steadily “a century or two ago” for up to three months a year Johnson says the river currently powers a set of giant millstones for grinding corn and wheat In Romania ground corn is made into polenta a side dish that’s often consumed three times a day “We were told that the best polenta is made from flour ground at this river mill!” Another unusual device was a whirlpool made of wood planks fabricated into a cone shape and fastened together with wattle Village residents bring their carpets and rugs to the river and toss them into the whirlpool where they’re spun and battered by the roiling water until they’re clean They’re retrieved from the whirlpool by long hoe handles then laid on beams to dry
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