Fanning Mill, circa 1835
Add to SetSummary
For centuries, agricultural laborers used flails to remove kernels from grain heads and a winnowing basket and natural breeze to separate grain from chaff. A mechanic built this machine around 1835 to speed up the winnowing process. One person turned a crank to operate the fan and another poured grain through the chute. Heavy kernels fell through while bits of straw blew out.
For centuries, agricultural laborers used flails to remove kernels from grain heads and a winnowing basket and natural breeze to separate grain from chaff. A mechanic built this machine around 1835 to speed up the winnowing process. One person turned a crank to operate the fan and another poured grain through the chute. Heavy kernels fell through while bits of straw blew out.
Artifact
Fanning mill
Date Made
circa 1835
Place of Creation
On Exhibit
at Greenfield Village in Soybean Lab Agricultural Gallery
Object ID
31.315.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Dimensions
Height: 47 in
Width: 53 in
Length: 72 in
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