Object number
87/31
Creator
Description
This is a large, double press used in the cheese making section of the Department of Food Science at the University of Reading, Berkshire. It was subsequently replaced by a horizontal cheese press made by technicians within the department. This cheese press has a wooden base and legs and an iron frame with two screw presses. The base, presses and top bars are painted white, the legs are painted blue and the metal uprights are painted black. It is inscribed, 'CARSON WARMINSTER 37'. The press was manufactured by Carson & Toone, in Warminster, Wiltshire.
Physical description
1 cheese press: metal (iron); wood; good condition
Label Text
Cheese press. The University's Department of Food and Science used this press for cheese making, before it was replaced by a horizontal press made by the Department's technicians. Although pressing cheese squeezes the last of the whey from the curds, it does not necessarily determine the cheese's hardness. This is affected more by the temperature of the curds mixture as well as the size of the curds. The pressing process ensures the curds stay 'knitted' together, and gives the cheese shape. Until the Industrial Revolution, cheese pressing was typically undertaken on a household scale.
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: PRESS // Accession number: 87/31 // Classification: PROCESSING Milk cheese // Negative number: // Acquisition method: GIFT // Acquired from, date: Dept. of Food Science [Dairying Section] University of Reading July 1987 // Store: CAMP // Condition: good // Recorder, date: JMB 9.9.87 // Description: Large double cheese press. It has a wooden base and legs and iron frame with two screw presses. The base, presses and top bars are painted white. The legs are painted blue. The metal uprights are painted black. // Inscription: CARSON WARMINSTER 37 // Dimensions: Height: 180cm Width: 167cm. // Associated information: This press came from the cheese making section of the Dept. of Food Science at the University where it has been replaced by a horizontal cheese press made by technicians in the department. // References: CARSON & TOONE, WARMINSTER, WILTS. // [one leaflet in Archives] ['others in Dr. Ward's room.' pencil]'
Production place
Warminster
Object name
Material
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_16183.tif - High resolution image
