Salesman sample? Sorghum or Sugar Cane Press, Extractor

[KC]

My cousin is asking assistance with this item.  "Hey! Could you please see what you can find out about this. We were told when Dave bought it that it was a salesman sample of a sorghum or sugarcane press but we can't find anything about it. Could you see what your antique friends think. Thanks Cuz!

Dimensions are:  10 1/4 in. long, 5 1/8 in. wide, 5 3/4 in. high. No maker markings."

My thoughts (KC):  It could be a sugar cane extractor!  I think it could be used as
1)a tobacco leaf press! The wooden designs on side are unique (in shapes of knife/machete and cane knife/?tool?).  Made me think more for use with tobacco!
2)a primitive pasta press!
Any ideas for use and value?

[KC]

Picture of bottom

[KC]

Some possibilities I found searching around:

Primitive Pasta Roller?!  https://www.ebay.com/itm/263767715934

Primitive tobacco leaf roller (not fond of date they quote)  https://www.trocadero.com/stores/whatpdx/items/1356658/Antique-Japanese-Hand-made-wood-Tobacco-leaf-Press-Meiji-Dynasty

[mart]

Its not a cane or sorghum press,, For that you need a power source,,horse or mule !!  I would go with tobacco press !!

[cogar]

Squeezing the juice out of “sugar” cane is akin to squeezing the juice out of “cider” apples, …… ya need a lot of squeezing pressure, ……. like so:

[KC]

I thought the same cogar.  But have been pondering the "funnel" type area to direct the liquid?  (Guess it could also direct the leaves or pasta.)  However...some more primitive and manual:



This sideways manual wooden cane mill

https://theshapeofmilk.wordpress.com/2011/03/

and another manual

[cogar]

KC, the 2 pictures you posted of “manual cane mills” ……. really tickled my “funnybone” …… and I don’t even have a funnybone”. 

Now I wasa wundering, …… just how many of the “below pictured” stalks of sugar cane do you pose they could “squeeze” the juice out of “per hour” with one of those manual presses?

[KC]

Not much!  I know!  Definitely not designed for mass production as is but was sold as a salesman sample - thus a much larger was to be made like it which would also be lacking in production but still very usable for more of very low volume and/or individual/family/small group usage.

But the question posed isn't how much quantity it produced but what it was made for/function and value as a salesman sample.

[cogar]

KC, I really don’t think any of the items pictured in Reply #1 or Reply #5 are capable of being used to extract the juice/sap out if sugar cane. For comparison, a sugar cane stalk is harder/firmer than a corn stalk ……. and the cane stalk has to literally be crushed and then pressed to extract the juice.

And like Mart said, I was about to also tell you I don’t have a clue what the item in Reply #1 is, and then an idea, and went looking for a “tobacco leaf press” and one of the designs on the side is surely this, an antique tobacco axe, to wit:



https://www.etsy.com/listing/537751322/antique-tobacco-axe-primitive-harvesting

[mart]

In looking at the space between the rollers and I know it was adjustable !!  If they had many purple hands as I ave had,,  I would vote early pea sheller !!  Could be used for other seeds as well !!

[KC]

cogar, I have been leaning towards tobacco as well. 

Mart, I bet it could be used like a sheller, just doesn't make sense to have the "cutting pieces" displayed for a sheller.

Thank you both for your assistance!  Appreciate any/all help!

[mart]

I am sure it had multiple uses !! Back then everyone saved seed for next years crop !!

[KC]

Agree with that Mart!  So many things had to be multi-purpose!

[mart]

Remember the old washing machines KC !!  If it was a little larger could even be used for that along with the rub board of course !!     Good old  days ??  Not in my opinion !!  I had to shake the clothes out and hang them on the line,,then ( yuck ) Iron them !!  I was in heaven with the permanent press !!

[cogar]

Remember the old washing machines KC !!

Did you use your "old" washing machine for ....... churning butter?