Object number
2006/3
Creator
Description
This is a three legged, metal milking stool made by Gascoignes of Reading, which manufactured dairying equipment. It is painted yellow and has 'Gascoignes' printed in black across the seat. The donor worked at Gascoignes 1956-1992.
Physical description
Three-legged stool; all metal; painted yellow (paint flaking); manufacturer’s name spray-stencilled across top of seat in black – ‘GASCOIGNES’. Large grey cross pained on underside of seat.
Label Text
Milking stool. Until the end of the 19th century, milking stools were an essential piece of kit for a dairy farmer, as they would spare the farmer's knees when squeezing milk from a cow's udder. Humans began drinking cow's milk around 8000 years ago, despite the fact that all adults were lactose intolerant at the time. It was likely first tried by people who would have otherwise starved. Over the years, genetic mutations resulted in the ability to digest milk. However, the process did not have time to fully complete, as many people are still at least partially lactose intolerant today.
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – Archive material was deposited at the same time as the milking stool, see TR DX1598.
Production place
Reading
Object name
Material
Associated subject
