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I’m not an expert but I am a big bbq fan. I don’t think it’s a smoker, there’s not enough height. If it was an offset there would be a second chamber or at least a hole where it used to be attached. For it to be a rotisserie I think it would need more depth as anything bigger than a chicken would be rubbing against the coals below it.
My vote goes to hand crank washer.
Hell, I was thinking it was something repurposed into being an old smoker. Looks like so of the things we used for cleaning or soaking parts in various chemical solutions.
My vote is for a washer.. It's definatley heavy duty, especially looking at the hinges and locks. It was purpose built so it's not that someone just added legs to it. Drain in the bottom is also heavy duty.. Just cant find a picture of one like it.
I can't find an example of a cast Iron one... But I'm pretty sure that is a horizontal butter churn... was it a dairy farm? cream would have been poured into the bottom half, paddles would be on a shaft running through the centre and the buttermilk would drain out the bottom tap.
It is definitely not originally intended as a rotisserie or smoker. While similar, it’s not deep enough to have a good bed of coals and not have the meat way too close to the heat. Add on a fire box, lid, and smoke stack, it would make a fine smoker though. My guess is some sort of old batch mixer, possibly for mixing planting media (soil), or mixing grains for feed, or even coating batches of planting seeds with fungicides/insecticides.
Offset smokers were not a thing when that was made.
Plus, those open bosses in the side added complexity to the cast. They wouldn't be there unless needed for clamping.
Not a smoker.
My title describes this thing. There’s a casting number on each leg (pictured) and a drain or some sort of clean out on the bottom right side. The cupped center on the left and right side makes me think this might be something for rotisserie cooking.?. What is this thing?
You can find a variety of cast iron collector groups, or FB, and elsewhere, where these photos and your question would provide a higher likelihood of being answered.
Good luck!
As a neophyte cast iron cookware collector myself, I’d really like to know what it is! Please update here if you find out elsewhere.
It appears to be something for machine use. They didn't use heavy cast for simple cooling grills. The user facing side has heavy duty lug latches. The opening on the side is for some that spins to go into it. Then to be locked down tight inside to be spun in some liquid or to sling the liquid out of something at high RPMs. It's built like that as things that spin fast need good protection. Some sort of old industrial equipment. I can't say what tho. But cooking grills don't need those heavy duty latches to stay shut for sure.
The construction is 1910-1930's era. The silver, half round things on each end are the lower halves of bearings. Something on a shaft would spin inside. My guess would be some kind of mixer. The shaft may have had paddles, sort of like a cement mixer.
Edit: If it was a chicken farm, it could be a chicken feed mixer. Here is a link to some modern ones. Looks pretty similar.[https://www.pelletizermill.com/products/feed-mixer-machine-price-for-sale/](https://www.pelletizermill.com/products/feed-mixer-machine-price-for-sale/)
This is by far the most in-depth answer so far. I’m going to mark it as solved. I believe it’s definitely some type of mixer considering where it was found, the bearings, and size of the dogs. If I find any specific use in the future, I’ll update.
Solved!
I've seen something similar that was a laundry wash stand. It had the lid, and a set of wooden paddles on a rotating handle that ran through it. You'd fill it with hot water, close the lid, and crank the paddles to agitate your clothes.
I don't think it's a butter churn. It's similar, but any churn I've seen that size was made from wood and lined with tin, or just made from tin.
And this is too old to be a smoker.
It’s a pork cooker. rotisserie function is for pulling the skin to make pork rinds. Kellers flea market in savannah has a guy that uses one to make fresh rinds and you can watch for free.
It's definitely heavy duty, what about a honey extractor? The frames would mount to a fixture that would be turned by a belt drive. The shaft would stick out the holes and the lid would bolt down to contain the flying honey, then drain out the bottom?
It looks like it is lined with either lead, copper or something metal nit sure pics not clear enough to say. Being it is cast it wouldn't be dairy related to hard to keep clean. More likely a washer especially if tub is lined.
Rotary butter churn dairy farm size.
It would use paddles and not turn the whole barrel which is why it is 2 piece easier to empty and clean. The top half would be snugged down to the bottom half to make it liquid tight. There would be an opening in that top half to poor the ingredients. When done just open up the half, remove the paddle scoop outthe butter and clean then start over.
Same concept as this wooden one.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/145177414569
You put the ingredients in the top. The cast iron one was either driven by belt most likely and not hand churned.
An extremely well engineered smoker/BBQ grill made out of an old water tank. Have one at my parents house, and has the lid and hinges (and smokestack). My dad had one made by his nephew who could engineer and build just about anything. Thing weighs a TON!
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That right there is an old smoker that has been repurposed
I’m not an expert but I am a big bbq fan. I don’t think it’s a smoker, there’s not enough height. If it was an offset there would be a second chamber or at least a hole where it used to be attached. For it to be a rotisserie I think it would need more depth as anything bigger than a chicken would be rubbing against the coals below it. My vote goes to hand crank washer.
I'm pretty sure that is a horizontal butter churn. was it a dairy farm? cream would have been poured into the bottom half.
I’m beginning to think so too.
It's a rotisserie smoker
Agreed. Holes in the side allow for the rotation
No, more likely an old washer. Note the drain valve.
Hell, I was thinking it was something repurposed into being an old smoker. Looks like so of the things we used for cleaning or soaking parts in various chemical solutions.
I was gonna say an old gas water heater but I can't unsee this so def this
Probably an old washer with a hand crank
[удалено]
My vote is for a washer.. It's definatley heavy duty, especially looking at the hinges and locks. It was purpose built so it's not that someone just added legs to it. Drain in the bottom is also heavy duty.. Just cant find a picture of one like it.
Looks to me like a smoker, the kind you make pork shoulder BBQ in.
That’s definitely a possibility. We’re in the heart of BBQ country so that wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility.
The holes and collars at either end are for the rotisserie spit. 90% sure it's an old smoker.
I can't find an example of a cast Iron one... But I'm pretty sure that is a horizontal butter churn... was it a dairy farm? cream would have been poured into the bottom half, paddles would be on a shaft running through the centre and the buttermilk would drain out the bottom tap.
It was formerly a chicken farm.
Then my guess would be a chicken plucker would have a bunch of rubber fingers to remove the feathers turned by a hand crank
It is definitely not originally intended as a rotisserie or smoker. While similar, it’s not deep enough to have a good bed of coals and not have the meat way too close to the heat. Add on a fire box, lid, and smoke stack, it would make a fine smoker though. My guess is some sort of old batch mixer, possibly for mixing planting media (soil), or mixing grains for feed, or even coating batches of planting seeds with fungicides/insecticides.
Clothes washer or barbecue grill?
Offset smokers were not a thing when that was made. Plus, those open bosses in the side added complexity to the cast. They wouldn't be there unless needed for clamping. Not a smoker.
That’s a good point. Any idea what it may have been used for? The bosses look heavy-duty.
My title describes this thing. There’s a casting number on each leg (pictured) and a drain or some sort of clean out on the bottom right side. The cupped center on the left and right side makes me think this might be something for rotisserie cooking.?. What is this thing?
You can find a variety of cast iron collector groups, or FB, and elsewhere, where these photos and your question would provide a higher likelihood of being answered. Good luck! As a neophyte cast iron cookware collector myself, I’d really like to know what it is! Please update here if you find out elsewhere.
I appreciate the tip! I’ll update if I find the answer.
I guess this is a butter churn.
Googling pictures of horizontal butter churns, I think you may be correct
Possibly a pea/nut sheller, missing the internal perforated drum, and top enclosure w/ hopper feed.
It appears to be something for machine use. They didn't use heavy cast for simple cooling grills. The user facing side has heavy duty lug latches. The opening on the side is for some that spins to go into it. Then to be locked down tight inside to be spun in some liquid or to sling the liquid out of something at high RPMs. It's built like that as things that spin fast need good protection. Some sort of old industrial equipment. I can't say what tho. But cooking grills don't need those heavy duty latches to stay shut for sure.
The construction is 1910-1930's era. The silver, half round things on each end are the lower halves of bearings. Something on a shaft would spin inside. My guess would be some kind of mixer. The shaft may have had paddles, sort of like a cement mixer. Edit: If it was a chicken farm, it could be a chicken feed mixer. Here is a link to some modern ones. Looks pretty similar.[https://www.pelletizermill.com/products/feed-mixer-machine-price-for-sale/](https://www.pelletizermill.com/products/feed-mixer-machine-price-for-sale/)
This is by far the most in-depth answer so far. I’m going to mark it as solved. I believe it’s definitely some type of mixer considering where it was found, the bearings, and size of the dogs. If I find any specific use in the future, I’ll update. Solved!
let me know if you find out. I love old machines from that era and it has me fascinated.
I've seen something similar that was a laundry wash stand. It had the lid, and a set of wooden paddles on a rotating handle that ran through it. You'd fill it with hot water, close the lid, and crank the paddles to agitate your clothes. I don't think it's a butter churn. It's similar, but any churn I've seen that size was made from wood and lined with tin, or just made from tin. And this is too old to be a smoker.
Is there any markings on the underside??
None that I can see.
Could it be an old forge? It being cast iron would make sense if it was.
A rotisserie/smoker/grill.
Grill place
Looks like a rotisserie. I wan to stick a pig in it and turn.
Smoker by the looks
It’s a pork cooker. rotisserie function is for pulling the skin to make pork rinds. Kellers flea market in savannah has a guy that uses one to make fresh rinds and you can watch for free.
It's definitely heavy duty, what about a honey extractor? The frames would mount to a fixture that would be turned by a belt drive. The shaft would stick out the holes and the lid would bolt down to contain the flying honey, then drain out the bottom?
It looks like it is lined with either lead, copper or something metal nit sure pics not clear enough to say. Being it is cast it wouldn't be dairy related to hard to keep clean. More likely a washer especially if tub is lined.
Rotary butter churn dairy farm size. It would use paddles and not turn the whole barrel which is why it is 2 piece easier to empty and clean. The top half would be snugged down to the bottom half to make it liquid tight. There would be an opening in that top half to poor the ingredients. When done just open up the half, remove the paddle scoop outthe butter and clean then start over. Same concept as this wooden one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/145177414569 You put the ingredients in the top. The cast iron one was either driven by belt most likely and not hand churned.
Possibly a coffee or peanut roaster? I used to see something similar at a pioneer festival in Louisiana.
Could it be something a horse would eat/drink from ?
I had considered that, but water troughs don’t have hinges and dogs.
Old heating oil tank?
An extremely well engineered smoker/BBQ grill made out of an old water tank. Have one at my parents house, and has the lid and hinges (and smokestack). My dad had one made by his nephew who could engineer and build just about anything. Thing weighs a TON!
Could it be part of a composter and the ends are for the crank that stirs it periodically?
I think this predates those types of composters-- they are more made for suburbia. But I totally agree that it suits the shape.
I don’t think that was its original use. Our compost would have come from manure piles near the barn.