Help-what ANTIQUE still, steamer, frige? we found in the icehouse (Raymond: house, refrigerator)

[Moxie]

While cleaning out the ice house on our property we found something. Wish I could post a picture but I don't have the capability on this computer.
It stands about 4 feet tall is made of metal, is round, has a lid, a spigot and funnel thing on the outside, coils inside a big pot. There is a second chamber below with wire shelf.
We got very little info off of the lid. I've tried to look for a patent but haven't had any luck.
It has the following words that are still legible: steam, food, refrigerator and some kind of 4 step process.
It also has the original patent date of Aug 8, 1905 and subsequent dates of Sept 11, 1906, Nov 6, 1906 and the last date of June 23, 1908.
At first we thought it might be a still but since it mentions ice, refrigerator, steam and food we aren't sure.

[forest beekeeper]

"4 feet tall, metal, round, a lid, a spigot, a funnel, coils inside a big pot, a second chamber, patented. Ice, food, steam, food, refrigerator and some kind of 4 step process."

Cool, it should be fun finding out what it is!

We have a few books from the 1800's that describe how to make things. Which was how we got interested in making vinegar.

Stilling may be one part of what it does. Stilling was a common part of making many things. [including vinegar].

Including that it was being used inside of an ice house, is a clue.

[RANGER.101ST]

it sounds like a condenser of some sort.

[Boomerang]

Do you have a local historical society or grange? They sometimes have people who are knowledgeable about such stuff.

I wouldn't expect to find a commercially-produced still.......however, I'm not saying it's a bad idea

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Do you have a local historical society or grange? They sometimes have people who are knowledgeable about such stuff.

I wouldn't expect to find a commercially-produced still.......however, I'm not saying it's a bad idea

There are commercially produced stills. I have been pricing a few models.

Before prohibition in the US, they were far more common than today.

Even today there are other English speaking nations where stilling is not as restricted as it is here in the US.

I have been in conversation [on another forum] with a gentleman in California, who had been stilling for many years as a hobbyist, who just in the past year got his BATF license, and has opened a store-front operation.

[Moxie]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

"4 feet tall, metal, round, a lid, a spigot, a funnel, coils inside a big pot, a second chamber, patented. Ice, food, steam, food, refrigerator and some kind of 4 step process."

Cool, it should be fun finding out what it is!

We have a few books from the 1800's that describe how to make things. Which was how we got interested in making vinegar.

Stilling may be one part of what it does. Stilling was a common part of making many things. [including vinegar].

Including that it was being used inside of an ice house, is a clue.

The ice house is where old stuff that didn't get used any more went. It may have been used in there. It's been in there since we bought the property 36 yrs ago. Along with a 1927 Perfection stove. I just found that out today. That at least had a name on it I could research. The ice house is falling down a hill and it's hard to get the door open but my able bodied hubby lugged the thing out so we could look it over.

I have never seen a historical society or grange in Raymond. We were missing our dear old friend Ernie Knight who was born around 1905, and passed away a couple of years ago. My 11 yr old said upon finding the "still",
"I wish Ernie were still here, he knew everything!"

Wish I could figure out how to send a picture from my cell phone to email. Maybe I could post it that way.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Moxie

The ice house is where old stuff that didn't get used any more went. It may have been used in there. It's been in there since we bought the property 36 yrs ago. Along with a 1927 Perfection stove. I just found that out today. That at least had a name on it I could research. The ice house is falling down a hill and it's hard to get the door open but my able bodied hubby lugged the thing out so we could look it over.

I have never seen a historical society or grange in Raymond. We were missing our dear old friend Ernie Knight who was born around 1905, and passed away a couple of years ago. My 11 yr old said upon finding the "still",
"I wish Ernie were still here, he knew everything!"

Wish I could figure out how to send a picture from my cell phone to email. Maybe I could post it that way.

me too... if you can figure out how to email a photo from your phone, you can always send it to me and I can post in an instant for you!

[Nor'Eastah]

Originally Posted by Moxie

While cleaning out the ice house on our property we found something.

Hmmmm...could it be used as a mouse-proof metal container?

[Moxie]

Originally Posted by Nor'Eastah

Hmmmm...could it be used as a mouse-proof metal container?

I had thought the same thing!

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

There are commercially produced stills. I have been pricing a few models.

Ah! A hobby for my retirement! (as if...)
:sounds of ice cubes rattling in the glass: