By Free Republic | Created at 2024-10-30 20:28:21 | Updated at 2024-11-06 10:17:50
6 days ago
Maryland historical society seeks to identify mystery machine
UPI ^ | October 30, 2024 | Ben Hooper
Posted on 10/30/2024 12:52:22 PM PDT by Red Badger
The Dorchester County Historical Society is trying to identify a mystery machine that has been in storage since the 1990s and includes components believed to be about 100 years old. Photo courtesy of the Dorchester County Historical Society/Facebook
==================================================================
Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Historians in Maryland are seeking the public's help to identify a mysterious machine donated to a museum in the 1990s.
The Dorchester County Historical Society posted photos to social media showing a machine composed of a flat ceramic counter top and two spinning objects that resemble rolling pins.
The contraption was donated to the historical society's Neild Museum in the 1990s and has been in storage since.
"Can you identify this machine? It has a new motor but everything else is around 100 years old. What local industry would have used it?" the Facebook post said.
Zoe Phillips, executive director of the historical society, said one theory being pursued by historians is the possibility that the machine was intended to make beaten biscuits, which were once popular in Maryland and were known for their dense texture.
She said it may have been intended to simplify the dough-making process, which traditionally involved using an ax to beat the dough on a stump to remove air pockets.
"We potentially think it was a Maryland beaten biscuit maker," Phillips told WBOC-TV. "Created by a man who was trying to help his aunt with the business, and the belief is that this would've helped beat the air out of the dough as the biscuits were being created."
Other possibilities suggested in the comments of the Facebook post include a meat tenderizer and a leather-working tool.
TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: dorchestercounty; godsgravesglyphs; maryland
Dear FRiends, Our FReepathon Status:
For the time being, we will not be able to accept credit card donations, but our PayPal system still works, and of course mail-in donations still work fine.
By the way, it seems you don't need to have a PayPal account to use this feature. You can also donate by debit or credit card on the PayPal page.
Click here to donate by PayPal or credit/debit card
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you all very much, and God Bless you.
Jim and Chris
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-38 next last
ANYBODY RECOGNIZE THIS MACHINE?........................
1 posted on 10/30/2024 12:52:22 PM PDT by Red Badger
To: SunkenCiv
2 posted on 10/30/2024 12:52:42 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
To: 04-Bravo; 1FASTGLOCK45; 1stFreedom; 2ndDivisionVet; 2sheds; 60Gunner; 6AL-4V; A.A. Cunningham; ...
ANY IDEAS?..................
3 posted on 10/30/2024 12:54:36 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
To: Red Badger
It’s a DID ...
That’s a Democrat Improvement Device.
Set the two rollers counter-rotating, and feed democrats through the gap. They’ll come out the other side much improved.
4 posted on 10/30/2024 12:55:56 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
To: Red Badger
So “no”, I really have no idea what it is.
Note to historical society people: INTERVIEW YOUR DONORS. Record everything they know about the stuff they’re donating.
5 posted on 10/30/2024 12:56:57 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
To: NorthMountain
Something tells me this has something to do with PASTA of some kind................
6 posted on 10/30/2024 12:57:30 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
To: Red Badger; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...
7 posted on 10/30/2024 12:58:00 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Putin should skip ahead to where he kills himself in the bunker.)
To: Red Badger
Back in my late 90s public television days, we had a show called “What In The World Is It?” Aka WITWIT where people would bring the most oddball antique mystery items to get identified.
The experts were really good and that would be a prime item to have had on there.
8 posted on 10/30/2024 12:58:00 PM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure..)
To: Red Badger
Meat tenderizer?
Actually looks like something to put holes or dents in metal sheets.
9 posted on 10/30/2024 12:58:10 PM PDT by bk1000 (Banned from Breitbart)
To: Red Badger
Why would you want to beat the air out of an innocent biscuit? All that would do is make it taste like cardboard.
10 posted on 10/30/2024 12:58:29 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
To: Red Badger
I was thinking it might have something to do with laundry.
11 posted on 10/30/2024 12:58:34 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
To: NorthMountain
It was donated nearly 40 years ago, so they may have told the curator at that time but has since died................
12 posted on 10/30/2024 12:58:53 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
To: Dr. Sivana
I’ve never even heard of that kind of biscuit.............
13 posted on 10/30/2024 12:59:31 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
To: Red Badger
"What the hell is that?"
14 posted on 10/30/2024 1:00:00 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
To: Red Badger
Looks like an early piece of chiaropractic equipment to me.
(Ow.)
To: Red Badger
That’s why you write it down. With a pen. On paper. Then attach a paper copy of the notes to the object.
16 posted on 10/30/2024 1:00:25 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
To: wally_bert
There was a game show in the late 70’s called “The Liars Club” that was similar to that show....................
17 posted on 10/30/2024 1:00:56 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
To: Red Badger
Looks like an early piece of chiaropractic equipment to me.
(Ow.)
Related to the Wouff Hong.
To: Red Badger
To: bk1000
Actually looks like something to put holes or dents in metal sheets.
Dents, the protrusions are too rounded to punch holes. I was thinking similarly, like a pegboard maker.
20 posted on 10/30/2024 1:02:22 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-38 next last
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson
