Foot-Powered Milker Milked Two Cows At Once

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #1, Page #21

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William Mehring's foot treadle milker, patented in 1892, was among a handful of pulsating machines that eventually led to the development of automatic milkers.
  There was a fair amount of work powering the machine. A 19th Century circular explains the process.
  "The operator does his own pumping," Mehring wrote. "This machine is best adapted where grown persons do the milking. You set the pump along beside a cow, or rather in between two cows. After sitting on the seat you place your feet on the treadle, which works the pump. The treadle works similar to a seesaw. You now work the pump with your feet, and place the cups against the cow's teats. The cups will rapidly suck on. You can milk two cows simultaneously just as well as one cow at a time. After a few milkings the cows will stand just as well to be milked from the left side as from the right."
  Mehring touted the cleanliness of the milk, the speed and labor-saving nature of the machine as benefits, as well as cow comfort. The milkers were manufactured for about 20 years. Most were junked when electric milkers hit the market. So finding one in the 21st Century can be difficult.
  Robert Dunn looked for 10 years before he purchased one in March 2010 at an Amish farm auction. He had seen two before that ù one at a sale that went for $4,600 and another in an antique shop that wasn't for sale. They are rare, so prices start around $1,500 and some have reportedly sold for as high as $6,000.
  Dunn, a retired dairy and fruit farmer, has collected farm-related items since he got married 50 years ago.
  "I just like antiques and am crazy enough to run around looking for things from the 1800's," he says.
  Others appreciate them too. When Dunn took his new treasure to its first show, the All-Dairy Antiques and Collectibles Show in Harrisburg, Penn. (www.allamerican.state.pa.us), it attracted curious onlookers. A young boy in a nearby booth was fascinated by it and posed for a photo as he tried it out.
  Dunn notes that pedaling the milker does create suction, but the teat cups are brittle and he doesn't plan to actually milk a cow with it.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert Dunn, 63 Peach Dr., New Ringgold, Penn. 17960 (ph 570 386-4743).

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Foot-Powered Milker Milked Two Cows At Once AG WORLD Ag World William Mehring s foot treadle milker patented in 1892 was among a handful of pulsating machines that eventually led to the development of automatic milkers There was a fair amount of work powering the machine A 19th Century circular explains the process The operator does his own pumping Mehring wrote This machine is best adapted where grown persons do the milking You set the pump along beside a cow or rather in between two cows After sitting on the seat you place your feet on the treadle which works the pump The treadle works similar to a seesaw You now work the pump with your feet and place the cups against the cow s teats The cups will rapidly suck on You can milk two cows simultaneously just as well as one cow at a time After a few milkings the cows will stand just as well to be milked from the left side as from the right Mehring touted the cleanliness of the milk the speed and labor-saving nature of the machine as benefits as well as cow comfort The milkers were manufactured for about 20 years Most were junked when electric milkers hit the market So finding one in the 21st Century can be difficult Robert Dunn looked for 10 years before he purchased one in March 2010 at an Amish farm auction He had seen two before that ù one at a sale that went for $4 600 and another in an antique shop that wasn t for sale They are rare so prices start around $1 500 and some have reportedly sold for as high as $6 000 Dunn a retired dairy and fruit farmer has collected farm-related items since he got married 50 years ago I just like antiques and am crazy enough to run around looking for things from the 1800 s he says Others appreciate them too When Dunn took his new treasure to its first show the All-Dairy Antiques and Collectibles Show in Harrisburg Penn www allamerican state pa us it attracted curious onlookers A young boy in a nearby booth was fascinated by it and posed for a photo as he tried it out Dunn notes that pedaling the milker does create suction but the teat cups are brittle and he doesn t plan to actually milk a cow with it Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Robert Dunn 63 Peach Dr New Ringgold Penn 17960 ph 570 386-4743

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