This is likely a De Laval Cream Separator common in most farms in the area, circa 1920s. The De Laval was widely available through local merchants and by catalog ordering.
The Cream Separator
A common household appliance used by dairy farmers. Prior to the development of the cream separator, separating cream from milk was done by placing milk in shallow pans and allowing the cream to rise to the top. The cream was skimmed off and processed and the skimmed milk was fed to hogs, dogs and calves. The cream was transported in cream cans to the local creamery to be turned into butter.
The milk was poured into the large bowl at the top. It drained through another section where it passed over a float and there the separation begins. The handle on the side is continuously cranked, which causes the separation of the fat particles from the milk. The fat rises to the top and pours out the top spout while the milk comes out the bottom.
transcribed from sign
Sign about the Golden's Creamery:
GOLDEN'S CREAMERY
On July 25, 1922 the Columbia Valley Co-Operative Creamery was opened man-ufacturing butter. This creamery is was located across from the main doors of the Town I Jail, back near the river. Cream was picked up daily from the local farms. Some as far away as Harrogate. Butter that was produced in Golden was sold across the province and could be found in stores and restaurants in Vancouver. Axel Hanson was the butter maker for the creamery until it closed in 1959.
In 1951, the Dominion Dairy was opened here in Golden near where the Red Diamond Restaurant is today. Cream, butter, ice cream and buttermilk were avail-able from this store. As business increased larger premises were needed and a new dairy was built in the industrial area below 14th Street South. The new dairy opened in 1965.
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