This is an example of a mechanical hammermill, designed to crush grain used for livestock feed into smaller pieces or powder for easier digestion. This particular model was produced by S. Vessot & Co. out of Joliette, Quebec, most likely between 1890 and 1913. It consists of a wooden box frame and a metal rotary drum attached to several striking rods. Having no power source of its own, it features a leather belt that could be affixed to an external motor.
The use of ground grain for animal feed is actually a relatively recent innovation, with the first recorded instance occurring no later than 1813. At first this was accomplished in traditional grist mills, which were most often used to grind grain for human consumption. The forerunner to the hammermill is believed to have been created in 1830, however the design used in the artifact featured here did not emerge until the last couple decades of that century. The hammermill feed grinder fell into disuse, however, following the invention of pelleted feed by Purina in the 1920s. Pelleting revolutionized the animal feed industry to the degree that by the 1930s, most mills had adopted this technology.