machine similar to the Buckeye mower. The cutter bar
can be raised and lowered parallel to the ground for desired cutting
heights, and it can be lifted and fastened in an upright position for
transport to and from the field. Mowers cut more rapidly and lower than
did reapers, and thus they used a different gear ratio; however, farmers
sometimes used reapers for mowing. Gift of New York Historical
Association, Cooperstown, New York.

138. Spring-Tooth Hay Rake, late 19th century. USNM 213356; 1958. A
sulky rake with spring teeth designed to jump over obstructions in the
field. Gift of New York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.

139. "Railway Horse Power," about 1885. USNM 213356; 1958. A
horse-powered treadmill made chiefly of wood, with metal parts where the
wear would be greatest. It was used to produce power for belt-driven
equipment such as threshers or fanning mills. The machine is set in
motion by putting a horse in the pen and releasing the brake. The weight
of the horse causes the slats to move endlessly, which in turn rotates
the belting wheel. Two-horse treadmills also were used, but such
machines, although portable, worked less efficiently than the
sweep-power machines. This treadmill was made in Vermont. Gift of New
York Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York.

[Illustration: Figure 14.--Dog-powered churn, 1881. (Catalog No. 140.)]

140. Dog-Powered Churn, 1881. USNM 213356; 1958. H. M. Childs of Utica,
New York, patented this dog-powered churn in 1871, with improvements
patented in 1881. A dog, tied or strapped into the pen, ran forward and
so moved the slats of the treadmill which in turn rotated a flywheel.
Attached to the flywheel is a pitman rod which raises and lowers a churn
dasher. Devices of this sort had appeared earlier for use in the
farm-dairy industry. The change of direction effected by the pitman rod
caused some loss of energy; in any case, a revolving barrel-churn proved
more efficient in the long run. Gift of New York Historical Association,
Cooperstown, New York.

141. Winnowing Basket, about 1800. USNM 213356; 1958. The winnowing
basket was used to work off the chaff from the threshed grain. When the
grain was tossed into the air, the wind would blow away the chaff and
the grain would fall back into the basket. Sometimes the grain would be
poured from another basket into a winnowing basket, with the wind doing
the winnowing. Gift of New York Historical Association,