Antique Cast Iron Babcock Dairy Cream Test Centrifuge

Pricing & History

Sold for
Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
Sold Date
Source eBay

This is an Official cast iron Babcock Cream Test Seperator Centrifuge. It is in very good to excellllent condition. I have included a copy of the original ad for this device. It includes 10 plastic bottle vial inserts that may not be as old as the machine. Small hand-cranked tube centrifuges were commonly used on dairy farms in the early 20th century, while larger versions, powered by a steam turbine or belt drive, were used in commercial dairies. Although not yet generating the collector interest shown for the hand cranked cream separators (continuous flow centrifuges), early and rare tube centrifuges are actively sought. Babcock's test - Also known as: Babcock's test for milk is a test to determine the amount of butterfat in milk by centrifuging a mixture of equal parts of milk and sulphuric acid. Introduced in 1890, the test discouraged milk adulteration, stimulated improvement of dairy production, and aided in factory manufacture of cheese and butter. In 1890, S. M. Babcock wrote a paper detailing an economical and practical test to measure milk fat that could be run on the farm or in the lab. His method entailed mixing a small amount of milk with an equal amount of sulfuric acid and then centrifuging the mix in special glass vials with a thin graduated neck. The acid would digest everything but the fat. Since the fat was less dense it would rise to the neck of the vial and could be measured. Spinning the samples in a centrifuge would speed up the separation. This test became known as the Babcock Test. The Official Babcock Tester pictured above was used to spin the samples. Although this tester did not have a patent date on it, a patent was issued on April 21, 1903 for the drive mechanism on this style of tester. The patent was issued to Harvey Feldmeier of Little Falls, New York. Harvey Feldmeier had also been issued a patent on April 10, 1900 for a larger, cast iron milk tester. That one came in various sizes. We have seen an 8 and a 12 bottle model. Feldmeier assigned both of these patents to D. H. Burrel and Company, also in Little Falls, New York. In 1904 Cornish, Curtis and Green of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin sold four tube Babcock testers like one pictured above (including the vials and tools) for 5 dollars and a two tube model was 4 dollars. Sears, Roebuck and Company also sold them in their 1904 catalog priced at $4.90 for the four tube model and $3.90 for the two tube model.After the development of the Babcock test, cow testing associations were formed to aid dairymen in determining the butterfat production of their cows. Instead of a dairyman testing his own cows, an independent cow tester would come to the farm and measure and test the milk at regular intervals. Often feed consumption was also measured. The first cow testing association was formed in Michigan in 1906. Maine and New York followed a few years later and California formed its first cow testing association in 1909. In 1925 the rules under which the tests were conducted were standardized and in 1926 the cow testing associations became known as the Dairy Herd Improvement Association, which still functions today. Click and to see pictures of early cow testers.The Babcock test bottles pictured are still used today. The size of the bottle neck will vary depending on what is being tested. The two bottles shown are for testing milk or cream. The Babcock bottle on the left is for regular whole milk and has a narrower neck and is usually calibrated from 0 to 8% fat. The Babcock bottle on the right is for testing cream and the neck is relatively large and marked from 0 to 50% since cream has a high fat content. Babcock bottles for testing skim milk will have a double neck. Since skim milk is so low in fat content the measuring neck has to be very small in diameter. A second neck is needed to get the sample in the bottle to do the test. read more

Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members’ research needs.

Flag item for content or copyright

If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please contact us here to flag it for review.

If you are the originator/copyright holder of this photo/item and would prefer it be excluded from our community, contact us here for removal.