Name/Title
Cream SeparatorEntry/Object ID
2021.2.3.12Description
A cream separator like this was a vital part of a family farm. In order to process milk from their dairy cattle, farmers needed to efficiently isolate cream from milk so that the cream could be processed into butter, cheese, or ice cream. The milk would be consumed by the family or the excess used to feed animals. Room temperature raw milk would be poured into the container on top which would be hand-cranked into a spin. This circulation movement created enough centrifugal force to separate the less dense cream from the heavier milk, with each substance flowing out via separate tubes. Depending on the breed of cow, a farm family might collect between two and eight gallons of milk per day.
This De Laval hand-crank cream separator is complete with a metal container that would spin and create centrifugal force to separate liquids of different densities (milk and cream). There are two metal outlet pipes, one for cream and the other for skimmed milk. Containers could be placed on the adjustable platforms toward the bottom of the machine to catch the milk flowing out of the pipes.Location
Building
Antique Barn and Nature CenterOhio State Park
Barkcamp State Park
