This milker was designed by the Mehring Company. William Mehring’s major innovation was the inclusion of a foot treadle to power the milker. This type of design was first manufactured in 1890s and were commonly seen up until the 1920s. The treadle system made it instantly attractive. Larger commercial operations appreciated the increased efficiency and ability to milk two cows at once. Smaller mixed farms could take advantage of the low physicality by allowing women and children to milk.
The tubes of the milker received their suction from each press on the treadle. Each individual hose was also valve controlled so the milker could stop suction on particular udders without a need to disconnect any part of the apparatus. The Mehring Milker was also seen as very sanitary, milk went from cow, to tube, to bucket, without exposure to the air or errant dirt.