Tread Power, circa 1890
THF97049 / Tread Power, circa 1890
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Artifact Overview
As farmers mechanized barn and farmyard work, they began to use stationary power sources. Some invested in animal treadmills, which used the same "endless belt" concept as modern exercise treadmills to convert animals' movement into power for a range of agricultural machinery. Dogs, goats, or sheep walked on the circular platform of this "turntable" version, patented in 1882, to power a butter churn.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Treadmill
Date Made
circa 1890
Creators
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Patented design by Hemphill Smith and manufactured by George Agar, Duncannon, Pennsylvania
Location
at Greenfield Village in Soybean Lab Agricultural Gallery
Object ID
00.120.15
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Charles T. Grilley
Material
Metal
Wood (Plant material)
Dimensions
Height: 42 in
Diameter: 72 in
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Related Content
SetFarm Animals at Work
- 19 Artifacts
Farming is strenuous, tedious, and repetitive, and chronic labor shortages intensify the demands of farm work. Throughout history, farmers have looked for ways to get the job done with less manpower. By the nineteenth century, animals working in many capacities provided most of the power on American farms.