Hocking Valley Corn Sheller-A fun restoration

[Mike Mathieu]

Here is a restoration of a circa 1900 Hocking Valley corn sheller that I was commissioned to do.
When I first took on this project I had my doubts whether or not I could get it to work. After doing a bit of research and finding some good photos of the original corn sheller it was obvious to me that this was going to be a fun little project which would test many of my skills. The only thing that my client wanted was for me to make it functional but I did talk him into letting me do the original paint job as I thought would really add a lot to the over-all looks of the project. These are a couple of pics of what I had to work with. Most of the original wood was either rotted away or was missing completely and what was left is full of post beetles, but I did have enough to get most of my measurements.


http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww126/wdkits1/HockingValleycornsheller003.jpg

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww126/wdkits1/HockingValleycornsheller004.jpg

I began by building the frame using the same mortise and tenon joinery as the original paying attention to every detail knowing that tolerances were very tight on the original.

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww126/wdkits1/hockingvalleywip011.jpg

Dry fit frame

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww126/wdkits1/hockingvalleywip020.jpg

Because all of the parts for the sides were a full 1”thick I bought a nice piece of 5/4 poplar that I used to get all the pieces to complete the rest of the woodwork.

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww126/wdkits1/hockingvalleywip004.jpg

I ordered square headed nuts and bolts like the original and even had to order the flat head slotted wood screws.
Between the original pieces that I had and some photos that I found I had enough information to do the paint job.

Photo of an original Hocking Valley Corn Sheller

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/ss229/midpw/Hocking%20Valley%20Sheller/cf52_3.jpg

So Here is my version of a restored ” Improved Hocking Valley” corn sheller. I haven’t tried an ear of corn in it yet. but the mechanicals seem to work pretty good.

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww126/wdkits1/hockingvalleywip013-1.jpg

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww126/wdkits1/hockingvalleywip014-1.jpg

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww126/wdkits1/hockingvalleywip018-1.jpg

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww126/wdkits1/hockingvalleywip017-1.jpg

This was a fun project and I will soon be posting a link to a video showing the operation of the "Improved Hocking Valley" corn sheller

[Jeff Monson]

Thats way cool Mike, I'd like to see it in action!! Really nice job on the resto. also!!

[John Timberlake]

Great job of restoration/reconstruction. My Grandfather had one very similar when I was a kid. We used to shell the corn to feed his chickens.

[Jim Rimmer]

Wow, that is a great restoration.