Not so many decades ago, this is the equipment used to milk the dairy cows. Twice a day (sometimes thrice) the farmer, and perhaps family members or a hired hand, would milk the cows and put the milk to cool before the truck from the dairy picked it up.
Milking by hand? Note the bucket and stool.
Milking by machine? Note the surcingle (belt) around the cow. The one is this display is not well adjusted. The handle of the unit is set on the metal portion of the surcingle and the inflations (rubber insets in metal) are slipped over the teats.
The cow is usually peaceful and calm, head in the stanchion and sometimes with a little hay to chew while the humans, or machine, takes her milk.
How long ago? This type of machine was used well into the 1960’s in the heart of daily country. Herds were smaller then, seldom more than 50. The change to milking parlors was underway.
One of the farmers in New Dreams, a sweet historical romance, wants to start a dairy. Step back into 1851 and join his cousin during her first year in America. Follow the link to more book information. https://amzn.to/3vWydWE
