This artifact is a milk strainer, separator or “cream harvester”. The device’s function is to take raw milk and separate its cream and skimmed milk content. The device operates by intensifying the gravitational spin via centrifugal force. Using crank implements to magnify the human input and a sturdy bowl to stand high continuous high speed rotations. Like many labour saving devices the design was meant to enable women and children to contribute. The supply can was placed no-higher than waist height and the crank shaft aligned in a similarly equitable manner.
This separator was created as part of the Dairymaid brand by the International Harvester Company of America, based out of Chicago. The Dairymaid separator used disks inserted within the bowl to increase capacity and compartmentalize dirt before the separated products entered the central chamber. The separator was also meant to be long-lasting. The gears were designed to be dust and milk proof, as well as easily accessible for cleaning. These models were published around 1910 as the dairy industry continued to evolve and grow.
In the time before industrial milk production and separations milk strainers and cream separators were essential equipment for dairy farmers.Farmers could send just the cream to outside creameries, saving both themselves and the creamery owners time and expense compared to whole milk. Additionally the skim milk separated out was of value as animal feed, giving it purpose even prior to the arrival of commercialized liquid milk. The ability to get the most efficient yields out of home-made dairy was of landmark importance to the development of the dairy industry.