Pendulum Churn: A Treadle Swings the Hung Churn, Arms From the Base Plunge the Dasher and a Twisted Strip Turns It

"From this description it will be seen that the mechanism for operating the churn gives to the parts a combined vibrating, reciprocating, and alternate rotary motion, which are obtained by simply moving the treadle L."

From pine lumber 60 x 50 mm make a base 1600 x 660 mm with four cross pieces, one under the pivot. Stand two standards 60 x 60 mm at the middle of the long sides, 1350 mm tall, joined at the top by a cross bar B'. Bore them 25 mm across 1300 mm above the floor for a 24 mm stainless pivot shaft, with the pulley J loose on its middle.

Hang two hardwood hangers 90 x 30 x 60 mm on the pivot shaft, 400 mm apart, and fix two 20 mm hardwood dowels upright under each, 60 mm apart centre to centre, reaching 1150 mm down to a hardwood bottom board 440 x 440 x 25 mm. Across the arms 400 mm below the pivot fix a hardwood bar H with a slot 28 x 7 mm in its middle. Screw a 20-litre bucket to the board and cut a 28 mm hole in its lid's centre.

Cut a hardwood cross head 28 x 40 mm, 504 long, notched at each end to run between a pair of arm rods, with a hardwood roller 36 mm across on a pin at each end. Bore its middle 21 mm. Cut a 20 mm stainless dash rod, cut a groove round it and hold it in the cross head with two key collars in the groove, so it turns; fix a hardwood dasher, two crossed boards 220 x 60 x 16 mm with four 20 mm holes, 410 mm below the cross head. Twist a stainless strip 25 x 3 mm, 300 long, a quarter turn every 90 mm in the vise, fix it to the rod's top and pass it up through bar H's slot. Cut two mild steel flat bar arms F with holes 640 mm apart; bolt one end of each to a bracket on the base under the pivot, 60 mm up, and the other to the cross head's end.

Hinge a hardwood treadle 600 x 240 x 25 mm to a block on the base beyond the churn. Tie a cord to each end of the cross head, bring both up to the pulley J, take them over it together and down to the treadle's far end.

Pour about 10 litres of heavy cream at about 15 °C, checked with the thermometer, into the bucket and put on its lid. Work the treadle with your foot in time with the swing, timing it, so the churn swings up to about 20 degrees each way. When the butter comes, stop the swing, unbolt the arms F from the cross head and lift the dash rod out, take out the butter, pour the buttermilk into a bowl, wash the butter in cold water until it runs clear, salt and weigh it.

**W. B. Gordinier** of Coudersport, Potter County, Pennsylvania, US 28,170, 8 May 1860, "Churn" (the drawing spells the name Gordnier). He claimed the swinging frame carrying the churn, with the arms F, spiral plate G, cord K, pulley J and treadle L. He does not explain how the arms make the dasher rise and fall; the working above is ours. Every size is ours.