Site to See

Individuals with an interest in farm implements of days gone by can access hand-drawings as well as educational and amusing information on the subject on the aptly titled www.americanartifacts.com Web site.

Items featured in the Antique Farm Equipment section include corn shellers, farm tools, hand cow milkers, Babcock centrifuges, mower and reaper knife sharpeners and American grain cradles. There?s even a subcategory titled Dog and Horse Treadmills, which includes information on how dogs, goats and sheep were used on smaller treadmills to operate light machinery such as butter churns, grind stones and cream separators.

(Interesting side note: A few of the dog treadmills that surpassed their time are today popular attractions at engine and farm shows. It is reported that modern-day dogs that step up to the task of ?running? the mills like it, ?much as a hamster in an exercise wheel.?) Just a few of the many photographs featured in this section include Pitts? 1834 Endless chain and cogband, Davenport?s treadmill of 1835, Potter?s 1871 treadmill and Traxler?s 1878 dog power. Also accessible from the home page are subcategories featuring information, drawings and photographs of a 19th Century context on medical quackery, microscopes and surveying instruments.

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