John Belvin tells me he often churned when a 'boy' at Syl Briens of Gurraun, with what he called a 'wag'. According to him here is how it was done. There was first at stout [?] of wood placed firmly. At a convenient height a triangle of wood was free to swing on an axle at [?]. At the point A the churn dash was connected with AB by a pin. Then at C was the handle at right angles and the plane of the triangle. All these points were set in such a way that to find the proper length of stroke to the dash the arm of the sperator should be fully extended. The person churning sat down at his work and could use both arms alternately. Then there was a later method by means of a lever [?], a wood tied to voluted string anchored in the dairy walls and connected at its other end to the dash by means of a pin something like A in the above sketch. The churner had only [?] down the dash the string giving the upward pull. There is a specimen of (1) still at Mrs. Simmotts Knocknasillogue and of (2) at Andrew Parker's of Ballmadnssogue.
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