What is this mysterious chopping mechanism actually for?
January 11, 2010 8:27 AM
On behalf of my brother; can you help identify this vaguely alarming rusty thing? Pictures: The whole thing / the mechanism. It's about four feet in length and comprised of two arms connected to a sort of guillotine.
Guesses on our end so far include "branch-chopper" and "livestock castrator".
Guesses on our end so far include "branch-chopper" and "livestock castrator".
I'm guessing it's something to do with farming/butcher equipment. If you go on the jarvis site for meat packing, there are similar things.
(SFW but not for the sensitive)
posted by stormpooper at 8:38 AM on January 11, 2010
(SFW but not for the sensitive)
posted by stormpooper at 8:38 AM on January 11, 2010
I think it may be a cattle de-horner. Take this with a grain of salt, since I've never seen one in person.
Saws, obstetrical wire and keystone dehorners are used on older cattle with larger horns. Keystones come in several sizes and are operated with two handles that, when opened, move a blade downward against a stationary plate or blade similar to the action of a guillotine. These methods create the greatest amount of bleeding and require more care after the procedure. It is also important to remember that the skin at the base of the horn should be removed to prevent re-growth.
On preview, others have beat me.
posted by no1hatchling at 8:42 AM on January 11, 2010
Saws, obstetrical wire and keystone dehorners are used on older cattle with larger horns. Keystones come in several sizes and are operated with two handles that, when opened, move a blade downward against a stationary plate or blade similar to the action of a guillotine. These methods create the greatest amount of bleeding and require more care after the procedure. It is also important to remember that the skin at the base of the horn should be removed to prevent re-growth.
On preview, others have beat me.
posted by no1hatchling at 8:42 AM on January 11, 2010
"Jarvis now has robots for the kill floor!" Thanks a lot, stormpooper.
Prob cow dehorner, but perhaps an obsolete farrier's tool? Horseshoe-er, that is. They clip the edge of the hoof like we clip toenails, nowadays with these, but I can imagine your thing doing something similar.
posted by scratch at 10:11 AM on January 11, 2010
Prob cow dehorner, but perhaps an obsolete farrier's tool? Horseshoe-er, that is. They clip the edge of the hoof like we clip toenails, nowadays with these, but I can imagine your thing doing something similar.
posted by scratch at 10:11 AM on January 11, 2010
Thanks, all! The de-horner seems like the best explanation. The blade's a little dissimilar but the mechanism is almost exactly the same. Next step is to try and rent this thing out to a horror film production...
(that "robots for the kill floor" line walks a fine line between hilarious and alarming, doesn't it)
posted by Monster_Zero at 11:21 AM on January 11, 2010
(that "robots for the kill floor" line walks a fine line between hilarious and alarming, doesn't it)
posted by Monster_Zero at 11:21 AM on January 11, 2010
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posted by JujuB at 8:36 AM on January 11, 2010