Mystery Monday

What Is It?

Answer below.

What Is It?

This is a butter churn!

Cornish, Curtis & Greene Butter Churn  At first this antique churn's design looks like a crazy idea, but as soon as you start to spin it, you instantly realize that this fellow had come up with a winner. Because he hooked up his supports at opposing diagonal corners, this puppy revolves almost effortlessly because it is so out of balance.  I have had square churns that were just mounted on opposing parallel sides, and they were slow, off balance, and not at all interesting to see in operation.  This one on the other hand is super both in looks and action, and will be a highlight of the churn collection.  The stencil and writing that remain attest to this fact, and it has info on several of the side panels about all the awards it won at the state fairs and such.  I imagine that it won even more than these.  This is the smallest #1 size, and I would estimate it at about 5 or 6 gallons.