Early American Malt Shaker (RARE)

Rare - Early American hand-crank milk shaker 1890-1910

• dual aluminum mixing cups
• flywheel hand crank
• belt-driven oscillating shaker motion
• floor-standing, cast iron frame on Wood. 
• The paired aluminum cups are mounted on a reciprocating yoke designed to vibrate/shake, not spin.
• The lower eccentric pulley converts the flywheel rotation into oscillating motion.
• The long leather belt drive gives mechanical advantage so the operator could create rapid shaking with relatively smooth hand cranking.
• The heavy cast-iron base was necessary to absorb vibration during operation.

These were used before electric milkshake machines became common. The operator would place two drinks in the metal cups and crank the wheel, causing the cups to shake rapidly back and forth to mix milkshakes, malteds, egg creams, or fountain drinks. 

But later adaptations — especially after Prohibition and into the 1920s–1930s — were used in:

• bars,
• hotel lounges,
• clubs,
• and restaurants
  for mixing cocktails and specialty drinks.

Not too many have survived.

NFS