"Railway Horse Power," circa 1885

Object Details

Description: This treadmill powered belt-driven machines such as threshers and fanning mills. A horse would be put in the pen, and the animal's weight would make the track roll. The horse's motion and weight were both harnessed to drive the belting wheel. The angle of the track was adjusted based on the weight of the horse, and the amount of power needed.; Railway treadmills and two-horse portable treadmills (the latter less effective than the single-track machines) powered the popular Ground Hog Threshers. This "Railway Horse Power" was made in St. Johnsville, Vermont, and is constructed of metal-reinforced wood. Eleven feet long and four feet wide, it would have been used to power something small, perhaps a thresher or a circular saw.
Location: Currently not on view