Hi everyone
You may remember that I did a complete restoration of a 1900 Hocking Valley cornsheller last year. That was a very interesting and challenging project and I enjoyed bringing back a little bit of history with the restoration. I did a video of the operation of the corn sheller and have received lots of comments from folks asking about the project. I recently received an e-mail from a gentleman in Mississippi who is interested in having me restore his cornsheller.
This is a Hocking Valley Improved 2-hole sheller made in the 1930’s. A little different but basically the same as far as the mechanics . Back in the 1930’s this unit sold for $59 and weighs 270 lbs. I asked the client for a little history about the cornsheller so here is the story:

Mike My daddy retired in 1996 and proceeded to purchase his dream retirement property in south Mississippi. The land he purchased had three old barns on it. The prior owner had cleaned out all the items that he wanted and told my daddy he could have anything left. As you can imagine, there was a lot of junk. In the cleaning out process, some old antique tools were found along with the cornsheller. Daddy quickly put it to good use. He grew corn and would have me and my small children come over to help him turn the crank and do the shelling. We would catch the corn in a 48 quart cooler and then take it to the grist mill for grinding. He was known to give out bags of fresh ground cornmeal for Christmas every year. Store bought cornmeal just doesn’t compare to the fresh ground taste of the grist mill cornmeal.

My daddy died in 2004. I drove the hour drive from my home to the old barn about a year later to try to find the old cornsheller. The trees and underbrush were so thick I could not get my truck close enough to load it. A few months ago, my brother called and said they were clear cutting trees near the old barn. I remembered the old sheller. I went to the old barn to see if the sheller was still there. After seven years of it sitting in the old barn, it was a sad sight to see. Part of the barn roof had fallen in on the sheller. I loaded the remains of the sheller in my truck and drove the one hour journey back home. The memories of my daddy and me and my now grown children swirled through my head. I felt bad that I had forgotten about the sheller and thus let it get in such bad shape.

Mike, you know the rest of the story. I found Woodworking Plus on the internet. I look forward to being the granddaddy that shells corn with his grandchildren. Who knows, you might even get a bag of fresh ground cornmeal from south Mississippi one day.

Thanks
Robert

So he loaded it up on a pallet and sent it to me .
Here are a couple of pics of My Newest Challenge

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Mike
'why buy it if you can build it'
www.midlothianwoodworks.com

What a cool story Mike. Looks like you got a real project on your hands with this one. Boy it will be nice to see the restoration. I remember the other one you did and it looked awesome. Take lots of pictures and please post them as you go.

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John Moody
John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Looks like a real challenge! I remember the other one you did so you have a good idea of whats needed!

I (we) look forward to following this restoration.

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Harry Brink
Bulldog Woodworking
Montana

Mike, that is an awesome story and a great piece of American History that you are helping to preserve. And the fact that this gentleman is going to use it as well, keeping this machine alive and functional is just totally cool. I remember your first restore and I loved it. You mentioned you had a video of the restore, did you publish it? If you did I'd like to feature it here on our forum if you'd do us the honors.

I will await with great anticipation your progress reports on this. Feel free to blog about it as well with our easy blog software on our site.

Since you have done a restoration on one before, do you remember the placements of the parts and gears? Do you have an old manual reprint of this machine showing the breakdown?

Thanks again for the great story and thanks again for sharing.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Thanks guys

To John Morris--The video that I made was not about the actual restoration  but more on the operation of the corn sheller.The corn sheller that I am working on now is actually in worst shape than the first one that I did. I don't have any manuals or other information to go by. I have done lots of research  on the cornshellers( very little available on this particular model) so basically all I have to go by is getting measurements from the pieces that were sent to me. This unit is more complex than the first one and tolerances are very close but for me that is the challenge. I will be posting some more pics soon.

Here is a link to my video---

► 4:39► 4:39

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Mike
'why buy it if you can build it'
www.midlothianwoodworks.com

What a great story.  That isn't just a corn sheller, that's part of his family history.  Looking forward to seeing the finished product.  

SQ

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Happiness is wood chips flying!