Can anyone identify this vintage wooden crank box?

by Snance

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Answered

The item is solid wood, standing aprx. 26" high x 16" wide, no exterior holes or outlets, side crank handle turns four wooden paddles inside with various size holes on the paddles. The bottom of the box is rounded. Item was given to me by a friend who collected antiques but they have no idea what this was. Would love to find out if anyone has any ideas or can identify? Thank you.

can anyone identify this vintage wooden crank box

217 answers

Tsomm3 on Oct 13, 2016
It is a butter churn. A very primitive one.

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- Dbi8278524 on Oct 13, 2016
  I agree, a very old butter churn.
  
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- Phil a on Oct 13, 2016
  I tend to agree. Here are some pics of old hand cranked butter churns. https://www.google.com/search?q=early%20woode... Phil
  
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Net5230036 on Oct 13, 2016
I think it's an old butter churn

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Ray6172861 on Oct 13, 2016
I think also a butter churn or for to make cheese ...

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- Latefall on Oct 15, 2016
  I was thinking maybe cheese because of the holes, but had not seen one like that.
  
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Rosa Young on Oct 13, 2016
Washing machine?

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Lyn10709253 on Oct 13, 2016
I agree. Butter churn.

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Barry Landmon on Oct 13, 2016
I think a large sized butter churn

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Ans10803042 on Oct 13, 2016
I vote for the washer. That would be a lot of butter.

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- Dinah Lookabill Geiger on Oct 13, 2016
  That is what I thought...pretty big for a churn. But there is no hole to let the water out if it's a washer. Hmmm
  
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- Dawn Wells Clough on Sep 10, 2023
  
  It is definitely a butter churn, I have one almost exactly like it. You found them on larger dairy farms where they sold Milk and Butter for a living. Everyone in the family worked with the dairy products. It was very profitable back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
  
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Har12230720 on Oct 13, 2016
Washer, churns were not made of wood. It would take a lot of cream to fill it

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- Mts7827799 on Oct 13, 2016
  I disagree. I have one myself and mine is definitely a butter churn. Keep in mind that cream is heavy and with constant use, the wood would swell. Keep in mind that when these were used, they were used often.
  
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- Sue Kiene on Oct 14, 2016
  I disagree also. I have one as well and it was worth over $500 back in the early 90's. Mine has a rounded bottom
  
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- Latefall on Oct 15, 2016
  Google churns. Almost all made of wood except for the kind that were paddles inside of jars for smaller amounts.
  
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Kathy Bellmon Robinson on Oct 13, 2016
It's a corn sheller or shucker

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Clova Vaughan on Oct 13, 2016
butter churns are usually not wooden.... this appears to be an early clothes washer since the height of beaters will allow for water and cloth movement..my guess only

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- Sue Kiene on Oct 14, 2016
  What do you think they were made of. Wood was the most common resource everywhere. I have a wooden butter churn. It has a rounded bottom and legs. It does have an outlet though.
  
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- Mary Mosher on Oct 16, 2016
  Sorry to disagree, Clova, but nearly ALL churns were wooden - take a peek at churns on Google. I have a small round upright one, which is most definitely wooden too.
  
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Gerry Sahlin on Oct 13, 2016
Do not know.

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- Em on Aug 16, 2023
  
  Then why would you write that you don't know?????
  
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Sal12161582 on Oct 13, 2016
Early butter churns were wooden

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Bwf7968571 on Oct 13, 2016
I saw a display of many old style clothes washers in Covington, Vt and this looks like one I saw there.

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Mts7827799 on Oct 13, 2016
Could either be a washing machine or a butter churn. I have a similar one and thru research, found out that mine is a butter churn but there were different designs. Having no outlet holes would leave me to believe that it is a churn, but my churn is not square and has a round bottom.

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Bwf7968571 on Oct 13, 2016
OMG, I totally misspoke. I guess I am not awake yet. The display I saw in Covington, Vt at the HOLY COW was a room full of Butter Churns of all types, and there were churns that looked like this. Sorry

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- Sue Kiene on Oct 14, 2016
  Get some more coffee. LOL Have a wonderful day!
  
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Mellie Ange on Oct 13, 2016
Manual washing machine

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Leah on Oct 13, 2016
Butter churn. The dome lid is missing.

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Greg on Oct 13, 2016
definitely a butter churn without the lid

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Porland1624 on Oct 13, 2016
Manual washing machine from the era of the 1920

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Jka10139579 on Oct 13, 2016
Washing machine

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Njlou on Oct 13, 2016
I would guess that is a farm size butter churn.

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Karen Pullen on Oct 13, 2016
Butter churn.

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Mary Lou Morin on Oct 13, 2016
Saw a similar looking thing several years ago ... it was used for processing cornmeal from dried cobs.

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J. on Oct 13, 2016
Corn shucker

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Sarah on Oct 13, 2016
butter churn. See link http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/371264933844-0-...

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Sharon Novotni on Oct 13, 2016
don't think it's a corn chucker if you look on line those were very narrow...this box is not

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Spankymcstupid on Oct 13, 2016
It's an old clothes washer

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Chu10688527 on Oct 13, 2016
Early washing mackine?

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Roberta Kantola on Oct 13, 2016
washingh machinw

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Antk556 on Oct 13, 2016
pea sheller

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Dianne Bullard Veach on Oct 13, 2016
Washing machine

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Joyce Boshell on Oct 13, 2016
Butter churn?

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Helen Sanderson on Oct 13, 2016
I believe it is an early butter churn

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Eileen Blaney on Oct 13, 2016
butter churn

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Suzanne Lee on Oct 13, 2016
Me too. Butter churn.

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- Holyname Neal on Oct 13, 2016
  I agree.
  
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Toe7478550 on Oct 13, 2016
Apple press

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Leslie on Oct 13, 2016
Early washing machine.

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Dwi5997718 on Oct 13, 2016
Butter churn. Or--- it knocks the kernels off dry corn

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Raymond Le Forestier on Oct 13, 2016
Ancient washing machine

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Art12853003 on Oct 13, 2016
I remember school janitors using this type of item with very large, thick floor mops. Turning the crank (outside) to squeeze the thick mop. Obviously before plastic! About 1940-1950's.

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Annette on Oct 13, 2016
Make cheese?

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Lynn Zdanko on Oct 13, 2016
I think it is dough box for kneading bread and then letting it rise.

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Gin on Oct 13, 2016
Ice cream maker

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Ruth Coates on Oct 13, 2016
Looks like an old mixer for a bakery, but how do you get it out sounds like a janitor bucket something is missing though like a handle or wheels on legs

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Skrizzo on Oct 13, 2016
Maybe a butter churn.

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Larry Mueller on Oct 13, 2016
It is for butter and cheese

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Sharon payne on Oct 13, 2016
I think it is an old washing machine

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Mar on Oct 13, 2016
I looked on Google looks like an antique box style butter churn. There should be a top to it though. Nice piece!

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Allor on Oct 13, 2016
butter churn, missing the top, the paddles most likely will pop out.

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Marianne on Oct 13, 2016
Lookslike a churn

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Frank Maniaci on Oct 13, 2016
I think this was used to crush apples in cider production

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Carolann on Oct 13, 2016
I think at one time there were small corn huskers made somewhat like these. That would be the corn that was used to feel animals.

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Lolo on Oct 13, 2016
used to make string cheese

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Lgr9562247 on Oct 13, 2016
Antique Blanchard Butter Churn Wooden Square

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Pat on Oct 13, 2016
In Pennsylvania they were used as butter churne. Also called rotary churns

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Marilyn Weaver on Oct 13, 2016
To churn butter

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Sue Ross Boyce Wood on Oct 13, 2016
washing machine

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Hou11750004 on Oct 13, 2016
Butter churn, but I think Lgrant_canada nailed it perfectly!

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Rosanne on Oct 13, 2016
butter or cheese churn

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Mar7806443 on Oct 13, 2016
🕹🎥💾

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Mar7806443 on Oct 13, 2016
Washer.

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Deanna Nassar on Oct 13, 2016
Butter churn is the last thing I would have thought of until I saw pictures on line.

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Susan on Oct 13, 2016
Graph one . Old record player 1920's maybe

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Cathy Bailey on Oct 13, 2016
butter churn, just bought one at an auction for 150.00

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- Cathy Bailey on Oct 13, 2016
  Just wanted to say hello to another Cathy Bailey, I'm from Riverside, CA
  
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Carol Rath on Oct 13, 2016
Think that it's an ice cream maker

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Mar9665452 on Oct 13, 2016
Butter churn, my Mom had one.

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Frances on Oct 13, 2016
Dough box. Mix your dough for loaves of bread.

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Susan on Oct 13, 2016
Milk/cream seperator.

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Dick Link on Oct 13, 2016
Looks like a butter churn

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Linda on Oct 13, 2016
Dough Box

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- Lawrence W Dubreuil on Oct 13, 2016
  none of the Dough Boxes I have looked at have a metal crank
  
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Laura Kackman on Oct 13, 2016
I think it's a washing machine used to clean delicates that you could control the paddles as not to ruin the clothes. I also like the dough kneading idea!!

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- Laura Kackman on Oct 15, 2016
  I didn't mean to unsubscribe to this post. I accidentally tapped unsubscribe!! I hope that this gets me back in the loop!!
  
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Mar12497272 on Oct 13, 2016
Yes it's a butter churn

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Colleen Patrick Rucker on Oct 13, 2016
It looks like a butter churn to me

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Audrey on Oct 14, 2016
I thought it was an old phonograph( record player) but after seeing the inside I must agree with the other response. It does look like it was meant to wash something.

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Rose Jones on Oct 14, 2016
Whatever it is, don't refinish it or paint it. Leave it as it is. It's beautiful!

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A on Oct 14, 2016
I think it's a washing machine also.

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Paula on Oct 14, 2016
I believe it is a butter churn

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Jic9816115 on Oct 14, 2016
Looks like a butter churn https://www.google.ca/search?q=old+butter+chu...

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Mary Mosher on Oct 14, 2016
My vote is with the butter churn.

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Tim on Oct 14, 2016
This indeed a butter churn , My family ran a dairy farm when I was growing up , We had to have the butter churned ib time for the pick up by train to go into town . This was very handy in making hand churned butter .

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Lin6350453 on Oct 14, 2016
Makes cheese

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Sms11690512 on Oct 14, 2016
Dough maker

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MikeM on Oct 14, 2016
Early clothes washing tub?

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Judie Deane on Oct 14, 2016
Butter Churn

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Steven Jurenes on Oct 14, 2016
I have seen one before. It is a butter churn.

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RedDog on Oct 14, 2016
Butter churn

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Cap11427417 on Oct 14, 2016
Butter churn

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Mark Kendel on Oct 14, 2016
Washer.

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Margy on Oct 14, 2016
It is definitely an early clothes washer though the top is missing ...I have one and the paddles are exactly the same

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Alice Owens on Oct 14, 2016
I believe it is a cream separator

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Laurie A Gagnon on Oct 14, 2016
Could be use for breaking down flax to make rope or linen

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Latefall on Oct 14, 2016
Pretty sure it's a butter churn. Used to be a family activity with everyone taking a turn. Washers had a plug/hole to let the water out.

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Holly shaffer on Oct 14, 2016
Looks like a washing machine

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Paula Glover on Oct 14, 2016
It is called a daisy churn and it is for making butter. Rare find even if the top is missing.

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Heather Summers on Oct 14, 2016
I agree ith Alice. Either a Cream Separator or Butter Churn. Definately NOT a clothes washer. For one, there is not enough room to put the clothes in and the paddles are too big. It is definately a Cream Seperator or Butter Churn. Most likely th Seperator because of the quantity and size of the holes in the paddles. Also, judgng by the 2nd photo, it would appear that the side panel either slides up or moves in some way (?). If so, this would allow the cream to be poured into a bucket or basin for collection. Hope this helps.

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Jacques on Oct 14, 2016
Could be a butter or ice cream maker

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Sue Braun on Oct 14, 2016
Looks like an old record player. My Grandma had one.

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- Rose on Oct 14, 2016
  woudnt be much left of record if you tried this!!!
  
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Sally Leigh Janunas on Oct 14, 2016
separates corn from husk

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Tracee on Oct 14, 2016
It's a butter churn.

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Wranglerold on Oct 14, 2016
No butter or ice cream gonna hold up in there. Take that to your feed store in the area an ask them, that looks like something they used to rashen out feed to cattle in the 1940-1950s, .

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Lawrie Roo on Oct 14, 2016
An old washing machine

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Vic9261701 on Oct 14, 2016
looks like a washing machine to me.

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Wranglerold on Oct 14, 2016
Ok, sorry for jumping to conclusions,just took your picture to feed store an gentlemen their said one of two thing. The other person was right to, a old butter churn or a old corn sheller,he said it was hard to tell with out the top, but one of those two.

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Karen Ellison on Oct 14, 2016
With the rounded bottom and holes in the paddles one would pour in cream that was high in butterfat crank till the the whey (waterey liquid) would seperate from the solids then strain leaving butter to be placed into molds or containers

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Karen on Oct 14, 2016
It is a large butter churn used to make large amounts of butter. Many large dairy farms used them.

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Cga10282806 on Oct 14, 2016
Butterchurn

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Pam Olson on Oct 14, 2016
Hi y'all. This is not a corn sheller. My grandma had one and we used it to shell popcorn. They looked just like the photo above on the outside - wooden box with a crank. BUT - the shellers had a heavy round metal disk inside with sharp metal cones on it - definitely not wooden paddles. I think we can rule that out - so that leaves butter churn or washer. See the link here for a vintage churn. Cut/paste the URL. Looks very similar: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Butter-Churn/...

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Anne Torrance Bachmann on Oct 14, 2016
Butter churn missing the top

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Sjs7795846 on Oct 14, 2016
Apple cider crank

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Ag Castor on Oct 14, 2016
It's a churn, I think. See if the wood feels a little greasy from the butterfat.

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Donna on Oct 14, 2016
I'm pretty sure this is a farm unit used to sort or process some sort of produce (separate hulls or husks or pods from the 'fruit') It is not a butter churn.

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Lin11299034 on Oct 14, 2016
Old washing tub. Crank turns agitators

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- Tanya on Oct 14, 2016
  I agree with you. Metal wasn't always readily available to make the tub so wood was used.
  
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Sarah Brule Kujawa on Oct 14, 2016
Looks like a butter churn to me

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Eileen B. on Oct 14, 2016
I think it is a wash tub

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Barri Kelly on Oct 14, 2016
Could this be a corn sheller?

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Berma Holub on Oct 14, 2016
I go with wash tub.

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Tamara on Oct 14, 2016
Dish washer

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DiannaLynne on Oct 14, 2016
butter churn

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Kathi S on Oct 14, 2016
Yes, it is a butter churn, industrial type.

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George Warner on Oct 14, 2016
DiannaLynne is correct… ;-)

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George Warner on Oct 14, 2016
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/da...

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Katy Madsen on Oct 14, 2016
It's for washing clothes

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Rud9605245 on Oct 14, 2016
The wooden item is a butter churn.churn

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Jameece on Oct 14, 2016
Definitely butter churn. Google butter churn and look at the images. Then google corn sheller. Totally different.

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Ruth Sharon Mc Govern on Oct 14, 2016
Butter churn

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Cha6045978 on Oct 14, 2016
It looks like a flour bin back in the day when they bought large quanties of flour. Turn the paddle and the flour would come out.

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Peggy Chauvet on Oct 14, 2016
It's a butter churn.

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Lemons on Oct 14, 2016
Butter churn.... I have used one like that growing up on a dairy farm.....

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Sheila Cooke on Oct 14, 2016
It's a butter churn. We moved onto a Ranch in the '60's. It had been a very large working ranch at the turn of the Century and a lot of the 'tools' they used back then were still there. One of the items was a butter churn that held 45 gallons of cream. It was shaped similar to yours and the paddles inside looked exactly the same as yours.

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Drp6149 on Oct 14, 2016
It looks like a large butter churn -- most smaller churns held up to about a gallon of milk -- but some of the larger ones used for making butter to sell would hold several gallons of milk.

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Deanna on Oct 14, 2016
Butter churn

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Rhonda moen on Oct 14, 2016
I disagree, I grew up on a Wi dairy farm. its a manual wahing machine

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Gra11196640 on Oct 14, 2016
I think it is a washing machine also...

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Peter on Oct 14, 2016
I agree with it being a washing machine. We'll take a good look at it it would be a heck of a job getting the butter out of it if it was a butter churn. Plus I remember years ago washing clothes in one like it. It was hard work but it washed the clothes very well

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Denise Hanoski on Oct 14, 2016
Yep, it is a washing machine.

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Hallie A. Vardell on Oct 14, 2016
Washing machine

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Sue Braun on Oct 14, 2016
I agree. Many pieces like that came from farms and people would take the insides out and try to re purpose them. I'm not saying that is what it is. I just said it looked very much like one my Grandma had.

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Havanacandle on Oct 14, 2016
I had one that was smaller. It IS a washer. I know it as a "Mangler" since it just mangled and paddled the dirt out of clothes.

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Chris T Micallef on Oct 14, 2016
Washing machine or smashing grapes for wine...

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Jacqui on Oct 14, 2016
perhaps a very old butter churn

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Dick Link on Oct 14, 2016
how did they get the water out if it is a washer

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Judy on Oct 14, 2016
Growing up, we had an antique butter churn that was made of wood. Perhaps it was owned by a general store that would sell its butter.

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Jay Richards on Oct 14, 2016
I don't know but putting a glass top on it would make a great table and show piece. Jay

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Monique Clouatre on Oct 14, 2016
Dont Laugh at me. This was used to make ice cream.

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Brenda on Oct 14, 2016
I think it is a corn sheller.

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- Latefall on Oct 15, 2016
  The shellers I've seen have one end the corn goes in and another end that the cob comes out.
  
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Marty Stahl on Oct 14, 2016
Could it be a flour sifter???

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- Latefall on Oct 15, 2016
  Holes too big. They were usually built into a kitchen cupboard.
  
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Ssp10474766 on Oct 15, 2016
I grew up on a farm in Nebraska and we had an ice cream maker that looked exactly like this. Seems like a piece or two of the component is missing but it is an exact image of what I recall.

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- Latefall on Oct 15, 2016
  Where was the ice placed?
  
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- Mts7827799 on Oct 15, 2016
  I would ask the same question. Ice cream freezers were constructed differently and with a round shape.
  
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Scrapbooking Marilyn on Oct 15, 2016
I collect butter churns and this is an old butter churn minus the cover.

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Gma8064473 on Oct 15, 2016
It's an antique washing machine.

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Latefall on Oct 15, 2016
I know it seems big, but if you have 8 kids and bake everyday you probably go through a lot of butter. My mom said it was always on the table, and all kids had to take turns cranking. No tv. Lol

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Har12230720 on Oct 15, 2016
So I was wrong, it was just a guess.

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- Mts7827799 on Oct 15, 2016
  No problem.
  
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Ray6172861 on Oct 15, 2016
I think I've seen once something like that for the cheese when I was very young and it was a very old think used for more than hundred years ago ... and I'm leaving in Switzerland ... we have chocolate but also a lot of cheese 😊 For the bitter we have a round littel barrel with thre piece of wood inside and an other one outside to turn the cream to butter. Please excuse my english ... I usually speak french!

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Charlotte Adams on Oct 15, 2016
Antique washing machine seems plausible.

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Claire Shoemaker on Oct 15, 2016
Butter machine

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Patricia Morehouse Panko on Oct 15, 2016
My guess would be an antique washing machine.

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Lynn on Oct 15, 2016
I believe this is a paddle butter churn, also called a barrel or box churn. There should be a lid on it. The wooden paddles eventually became metal paddles. I think it was used in mid 1800's and forward, although I did read an article that stated this type of churn was use as early as 1750. The cream, etc. was poured in, the hand crank turned the paddles.......churning the butter.

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Dar12623646 on Oct 15, 2016
It was usedyo grind grains roughly then a smaller grinder to refine it more.

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BJ on Oct 15, 2016
Butter making machine. Look for similar on eBay.

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Bettygreer33 on Oct 15, 2016
It's a corn shelled

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- Donpaulin on Oct 15, 2016
  NOT a corn sheller!
  
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Cwh6899259 on Oct 15, 2016
Butter churn

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C Singfield on Oct 15, 2016
Washing machine?

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Jodi Rauth on Oct 15, 2016
I'm pretty sure its dried bean sheller

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Jodi Rauth on Oct 15, 2016
There's a much larger version of this in huntsville Alabama farmers market. You put the pods with beans in it and crank it and it beats the pods and dried beans drop to the bottom.

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Carol Farrar on Oct 15, 2016
Butterchurn..top is missing

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Bettygreer33 on Oct 15, 2016
A corn sheller

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Egt12326531 on Oct 15, 2016
Probably a dry pea sheller.

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Bai11340945 on Oct 15, 2016
Butterchurn. The one my ma (grandma) used was a little bigger, had a lid.

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Pam Kettner on Oct 15, 2016
There is one at the Barberville Pioneer Settlement for the Creative Arts in Barberville Florida. Look their phone number up and ask them. I can't remember off hand.

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Lisa on Oct 15, 2016
I thought butter churn at first or a wheat separator no hole on the bottom. I'm thinking washing machine before the steel ones were made

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Ssp10474766 on Oct 16, 2016
I'm reading your responses and agree that I might be falsely remembering the shape of the ice cream maker. While I still think it is possible this square one is one we put in a large tub of ice and poured in our ingredients for ice cream and sat and hand turned for what seemed like hours as a child. The round shaped design certainly was popular and I do recall that as well. In that one there was a center tub where we poured in ingredients and the ice went in the outer walls and we hand turned that as well. I have no issue with being wrong if I am. Such is life.

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Karen Silman on Oct 16, 2016
Victrola but the upper par is missing?

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Patti Fries on Oct 16, 2016
I think either a butter churn or possibly and dough kneeder?

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Donna on Oct 16, 2016
I showed your photos to my mother who is 90 and grew up on a farm. She believes this is probably a corn husker for field corn. Field corn is a corn not meant for human consumption. It's used to feed cows and horses. The kernels are very hard. Typically you drop the ear a contraption and crank it, the beaters knock off the kernels. The kernels and the cob would fall into a basket kept underneath and the ears would be easy to pick out. My mother remembers turning the crank when she was very little.

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Patricia Wanat-Allard on Oct 16, 2016
Kneads dough for bread making

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- Latefall on Oct 17, 2016
  I thought butter churn, but kneading dough would make a lot of sense. Thanks. Never knew about those.
  
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GBK on Oct 16, 2016
This is a butter churn, definitely. I have one like it, it's circa 1900.

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- See 3 previous
- Snance on Oct 16, 2016
  Goodybhai - would you have photos of your butter churn that you might share? If that's what this is, I think I'm missing some parts i.e. lid and handle. I've researched everywhere I can think of to find another item like this, but have not found anything yet. Most of the butter churns I'm finding have completely different type paddles inside. Are your paddles removeable? Thank you.
  
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- GBK on Oct 17, 2016
  My churn is on loan right now at the local museum, so can't immediately get photos. But yes, you will need a lid and a wooden carved handle to slip into the crank. I think if you can get some vintage lumber, it wouldn't be too hard to make either one of those things. The lid fit just like a pot lid, with an interior rim for snugness, and an exterior lip to hold it on top. The wooden handle was just a shaped piece, like many other items of the era had. Give it a shot! :-)What have you got to lose! (yes, paddles can be removed for cleaning)
  
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- Alex on Oct 17, 2016
  I'm glad you were able to answer the question....I was thinking along the lines of monkey organ, or really old washing machine!!! Ha ha
  
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- GBK on Oct 17, 2016
  Lol, I would volunteer for laundry duty, but gentle cycle only!
  
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Carol Adams on Oct 16, 2016
Goodybhai is correct. It is a butter churn. We have one similar to it in a local musuem

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Pan7586766 on Oct 16, 2016
Butter churn

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Tina Graves on Oct 17, 2016
I learn new things on here all the time.

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Jsm on Oct 17, 2016
It's a butter churn for certain

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Ebr8582572 on Oct 18, 2016
butter churn

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Max12017382 on Oct 21, 2016
Butter or cheese maker

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Snance on Oct 21, 2016
I just wanted to thank everyone for chiming in on their ideas about what this antique box is. You've all given me several ideas to research. The consensus seems to be 50-50 on a butter churn or a washing machine. I liked the idea of a washing machine; the paddles seemed suited for it, but have to lean more toward the butter churn because there are no hole outlets at the bottom to remove wash water. However, if it is a butter churn, how did people remove the butter? I can see no way the blades are removable. What a chore to clean out! Some other ideas suggested were a Pea Sheller, Corn Husker, Cream Separator and a Dough Maker. I have been able to find nothing on the internet that looks anything like mine, but the closest is a buttern churn, so guess I'll go with that. Thank you Hometalk audience.

1 marked as helpful Reply
- Pat on Oct 23, 2016
  The one side panel slides up to drain off the whey. I do not remember how to remove the paddles.
  
  Helpful
Ebr8582572 on Oct 22, 2016
My only question is how did they remove the liquid when finished ? Surely they did not pick up this big heavy thing to pour it out. Is there no plug ??

Helpful Reply
Uti11715688 on Oct 22, 2016
washing machine

Helpful Reply
- Ruth Coates on Oct 22, 2016
  Now this could be run it through an old ringer have seen them. Then picking up a little at a time would work. Clothes I mean.
  
  Helpful
Max12017382 on Oct 23, 2016
Sooo what is this box? And it's function

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Mbe7760275 on Oct 25, 2016
I think it is an old washing machine. They had to start somewhere.

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Mario Brighenti on Oct 25, 2016
Definitely Butter Churn I had one 55 years ago

1 marked as helpful Reply
- Gwen Barham Loftus on Oct 26, 2016
  I think you are correct....an old butter churn.
  
  Helpful
Sue on Oct 28, 2016
It could be the cabinet from an old phonograph. I have one and it looks similar.

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Pammie on Oct 28, 2016
I saw something like it in an antique shop & the owner said it was a butter churn

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Linda on Oct 28, 2016
A butter churn

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Msm6892934 on Nov 01, 2016
Washing Machine

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Jan Roberts on Apr 05, 2017

How about this?

2 marked as helpful Reply
Jennifer on Apr 06, 2017

Some sort of corn shucker or bean sheller

Helpful Reply
Linda Toone on Aug 28, 2017

CORN SHELLER

1 marked as helpful Reply
- Laur on Jun 25, 2022
  
  Interesting!
  
  Helpful
Sus12205790 on Oct 26, 2017

Storage for the different size panels paddles to clean he old time carpet rugs

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Roberta Smith on Jan 24, 2019

A washer lol you’d maybe get a few socks in there going by the dementions. Definitely a churn for butter/cheese

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Pat Williams on Mar 03, 2019

Could be an ice cream churner.

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Christine Kerr on Jul 13, 2019

It looks like an old grain churner.

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Jean on Jul 17, 2019

looks like a very old corn sheller

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Marilyn on Aug 27, 2019

Phonograph

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Rlp33116000 on Sep 02, 2019

Butter churn

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Kathy Highstreet on Sep 10, 2019

butter churn, rounded so paddles stir all cream to butter

Helpful Reply
Sylvia on Sep 10, 2019

It might be a butter churn

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DebWor on Oct 12, 2019

Butter turn or a dough mixer LOL. Don't you love a mystery? Have you tried an antique dealer? I can't tell how big it is. Good luck. Let us know please.

1 marked as helpful Reply
PLC on Apr 13, 2020

Maybe an old washing machine? or old butter churn

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Susan Prendergast on Jul 07, 2020

I think bread dough mixer. Rounded bottom being my clue. Not a butter churn.

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Dave cozy on Oct 07, 2020

Seems like Washing machine for me

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Phyllis J Holman on Dec 01, 2020

I believe it could be an ice cream maker. That's my best guess.

1 marked as helpful Reply
Suzanne-Marie on Jan 24, 2021

May be a washing machine.

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Debra Reynolds on Apr 13, 2021

Looks like a flour sifter

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Agnes Chrzanowska on Aug 31, 2021

i would love to know more details too

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Pat60026371 on Mar 29, 2022

Google a picture of it inside and out and ask what it might be. Good luck.. They can probably tell you. It maybe a wine making piece.

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Laur on Jun 25, 2022

I vote for a washer also.. really neat either way!

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Ann|The Apple Street Cottage on Dec 31, 2022

Its a churn for making butter.

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Em on Aug 16, 2023

If it was a butter churn the inside would be stained with the oils from the butter. The oils would have absorbed into the wood.

Helpful Reply Flagged comment
Betsy on Sep 01, 2023

Hello Snance: Yup, I agree, it's a butter churn.

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Deb K on Sep 02, 2023

Hey Snance, I definitely believe it is a butter churn.

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Libbie B on Nov 29, 2023

It's fabulous and would make a great end table!

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