Vintage empire milking pump

[Mountain_a]

Hi all
Found this empire pump online for sale but I can’t find a model anywhere on it. Anyone have any info on a pump like this? Only running a single surge milker on my gurnseys

 

[Mark-Ia]

An Empire milking pump is a vintage vacuum pump manufactured by the historical Empire Milking Machine Company (later based in West Chester, Pennsylvania). These antique pumps were commonly paired with farm engines, such as 2 1/2 hp hit-and-miss gas engines, to provide the steady vacuum pressure needed for early mechanical dairy milking systems. [1, 2, 3]

History and Use

• • Made by the Empire Cream Separator Co. / Empire Milking Machine Co. in the early-to-mid 20th century.
  • Driven by belt pulleys connected to small gas engines or electric motors on historic family farms.
  • Highly sought after today by antique farm engine collectors and restorers.

 

[valleview]

Those small pumps on wheels were frequently used by the registered cattle breeders who took show strings to various fairs and shows. Today the big cattle shows like the state fairs and the World Dairy Expo have permanent small milking parlors for the show cows, but small shows might still use these portable pumps. I think they can still be purchased for use by folks who have just a few cows.
Years ago, i had an Allis Chalmers WD that had a petcock on the engine. it would provide enough vacuum to run an old Surge milker during a power outage. It was a very slow way to milk 40 cows.
Welcome to YT- its nice to see someone who still milks Guernseys. They are wonderful butter cows!

 

[showcrop]

Those small pumps on wheels were frequently used by the registered cattle breeders who took show strings to various fairs and shows. Today the big cattle shows like the state fairs and the World Dairy Expo have permanent small milking parlors for the show cows, but small shows might still use these portable pumps. I think they can still be purchased for use by folks who have just a few cows.
Years ago, i had an Allis Chalmers WD that had a petcock on the engine. it would provide enough vacuum to run an old Surge milker during a power outage. It was a very slow way to milk 40 cows.
Welcome to YT- its nice to see someone who still milks Guernseys. They are wonderful butter cows!

This reminds me of an episode at one of the larger fairs here some thirty five years ago. They had a nice milking parlor for the exhibitors, where the public could file through alongside it to watch. One evening when walking back to our camper, I happened to walk by and there was a meeting of the dairy exhibitors and 2-3 fair directors and the paid GM. The exhibitors were upset about the fair having ended payment to them for their milk. The fair had increasing costs just as the exhibitors did, and the fair continued to keep the money.

 

[John in MD]

Hi all
Found this empire pump online for sale but I can’t find a model anywhere on it. Anyone have any info on a pump like this? Only running a single surge milker on my gurnseys
View attachment 162536

I'm not sure which one is older, I found mine in an old 12 cow stanchion barn and made mine mobile. My wife calls it dairy farmer engineering.