How to Identify a Butter Churn

Butter churns have been used for centuries to make butter by hand. Popularly pictured in many spots from the 1800's, butter churns are still used today both for practicality as well as for decoration. Identifying a butter churn isn't too difficult if you know what it is you're looking for, and if you can examine the simple machine.

• 1

  Identify the parts of a butter churn. There should be a container for the butter mix--typically a large, open container at the bottom of the churn, a mixing pole that goes up and down and is attached to a wide foot that churns the material, and a lid that stops the mixture from slopping over the sides. If all of these components are present, chances are you have a butter churn.

• 2

  Look for a product names or symbols on the butter churn. For instance, Dazey is a major brand name manufacturer of butter churns and the company's products are usually clearly marked on the butter churn's base or on the container for the butter mix.

• 3

  Identify the material and model number of the butter churn. For instance, butter churns can be made out of wood, glass, ceramic, stoneware or even metal. If the churn was commercially manufactured there will be markings that may not make sense to you, but they could be product or model numbers. If you find any such markings, you can then call the manufacturer and ask about them, or type them into an Internet search engine.