“COMMONSENSE”

Te Ao Hou, Spring 1954, Page 53

“COMMONSENSE” C. N. deLautour of Gane Milking Machine Co. Ltd., writes as follows: In former issues of Te Ao Hou I have discussed various matters relating to my personal experiences with the development scheme and shown what a great part in this work the Gane milking machine has played. Have you ever stopped to think what your machine has to do, and what hardships the various parts of the machine, particularly the inflations and pulsators, have to suffer? Then study these figures which would equal one hours work; The inflation pulsates 2,700 times, the pulsator slides must therefore move 5,400 times, the rubber flaps in the releaser open and shut 2,700 times, the vacuum pump turns round 18,000 times. This happens morning and night for nearly 300 days every year. If the milking takes longer than an hour, the work is increased accordingly. Now that we have seen what hard work your machine has to do, and no other farm machine works as hard, we come to the matter I would like to talk about, and that is a few points on the care of your machine. Firstly, remember this, that there is more COMMONSENSE needed in the cowshed at milking time than anything else. Here are a few Dont's:— (1) Don't let children play in the engine rook; (2) Don't have dogs running round loose while milking; (3) Don't hit the cows with sticks; (4) Don't try to move belts when they are running; (5) Don't let the ladies with long hair and dresses go in amongst moving belts; this is how accidents happen. Now enough of Don'ts. I now suggest a few things to DO. Firstly assemble your machine ready for work, make sure all the joints are tight, and the rings sealing. Oil the vacuum pump with the correct oil recommended by the maker of the pump. Start up your plant and when you are sure the plant has no leaks in it — the vacuum reading in the guage will be slow coming up if there are — run some warm water through each set of cups and release it into the vat and on to the floor. This stops the milk sticking to the metal parts of the plant and so enables the washing up after milking to be done efficiently. Now the cows can be put in and milked. To get good milking (that is assuming your plant is efficient) you must not waste any time on the job, as soon as you see a cow is milked put her out and start another one. The quicker you get them in and out the better the results. Roll your cigarettes before you start; if you stop to make “smokes” while the cows are milking you will get behind with your job, and the cows will too. Your washing up methods should be as recommended by the Dairy instructor, his method is the best. A few points to watch on your machine to keep it operating well, are:— (1) Keep belts tight; (2) Keep your inflations tight and renew regularly; (3) Oil vacuum pump regularly; (4) Put just a smear of oil on pulsator slides once a month (they need very little). (5) Keep rubberware scrubbed outside; (6) Check oil in gear box every month; (7) Read plant instruction sheet from time to time to refresh your memory. Now that we know a little bit more about what a milking machine has to do, it will be clear to you that it is necessary to put good materials into your machine to make it last and that is why Gane machines last the longest. The best materials are put into them, and we actually know of one still working after 37 years. Gane machines have been sold for 49 years — there are more Ganes than any other make working, so if you want the best machine always ask for “GANE”. Gane Milking Machine Co. Ltd., Auckland, Hamilton, Whangarei & Palmerston North Agents in every town