Surge Bucket Milker

The Surge bucket milker was invented by Herbert McCornack in 1922 and it went on the market to dairy farmers in 1923.  It used the Pine Tree pulsator, which was already patented by the Babson Brothers Company.  The milker was hung under the cow from a steel spring rod that was attached with a leather surcingle around the cow’s back. The hanging bucket and pulsator action imitated the tug and pull, up and down movements of the calf at feeding;  hence the name “Surge Milker”.  This milking machine was a big improvement over earlier machines in that it was easier to clean and sanitize and it milked the cows more efficiently, increasing the milk yield. There were several modifications to the lid and the body of the milker, and small changes to the pulsator over the seventy-six years that it was in production.  When pipeline systems became popular and more efficient in the 1960’s and 1970’s, sales of the Surge milker declined and production was stopped in 1999.  Although no longer manufactured, the Surge Bucket Milker is still used on some farms today.