Superior 12 Gallon Sanitary Churn...Very Rare!!!!

We have gathered information on this unusual churn, and understand very few (possibly a half dozen), of these churns were manufactured by the Superior Churn & Manufacturing Co., of Northville Michigan. The patent date on the churn is December 13, 1910. This particular churn was acquired from a museum in Oklahoma. It is barrel shaped stoneware, on an iron stand with wheels. The barrel portion is 17" in diameter., and stands 20" tall. It has some green discolorations on each side where the iron meets the stoneware. We feel upon close inspection that this is a chemical reaction over time of the iron in conjunction with the stoneware and milk. The stoneware barrel has two very old hairlines. One runs through the "12", and one curves about 12", from the lip of the barrel to near the left back side., otherwise it is in good condition. The lid is purpled glass ½" thick and 11" in diameter. It is clamped down to the top of the barrel by a double iron crossbar and side clamp, which is part of the frame. There is one flat chip 1 ½" wide and 1" long on the underside of one edge of the lid. At the bottom of the barrel is a raised bung hole for drainage. The iron frame is 38 ½" tall, 25 ½" front to back, and 21 ½" wide. The iron frame is painted black, with red pin stripes on the sides, front, and top, and has a turned wooden handle painted red. The pin striping looks like it was done later. The two wheels are 6" diameter iron. The way the churn functions is: a latch on the side of the frame is unhooked, and when the red handle is pushed in a back and forth motion, the barrel revolves. The churn weighs 71. lbs., and boy, was that fun to weigh! One of the reasons that only a few were made may be that it is rather awkward and heavy ( Not much fun for the person in charge of churning!). It is, however, a very unique and interesting churn, and one your fellow collectors won't have!

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