Fanning Mill, circa 1830

01

Artifact Overview

Fanning mills, one of the earliest farm machines, mechanized the winnowing process which separates the grain from the lighter chaff and straw with a breeze created by the wind or flapping a bedsheet. A hand-cranked fan blows the grain and chaff across vibrating screens. The heavier grain kernels fall through the screens, and the chaff and straw is blown out.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Fanning mill

Date Made

circa 1830

Creators

Creator Notes

Patented design by Lemuel Peck of Brookfield, Connecticut

Location

at Greenfield Village in Soybean Lab Agricultural Gallery

Object ID

00.414.3

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Wood (Plant material)

Dimensions

Height: 48 in
Width: 32.75 in
Length: 40 in