Month: November 2016

Water Well Hand Pump

Water Well Hand Pumps, American made since 1886.  Heller Aller deep and shallow well water pumps. Force, pitcher, windmill, deep well pumps and parts.

The oldest and most reliable water well hand pump companies has survived centuries up against modern day electric water well pumps.

These quality water well hand pumps are still being used on ranches and remote off-grid locations across the US and around the World. Paired with an Aermoter windmill the 50L Double Acting Force Pump is still the standard for Western ranchers to keep fresh water available for remote pastures.

 

model-fig-t-hitzer-pump-5

Heller Aller Fig-T Brass Cylinder Pitcher Cistern Pump

The Brass Cylinder Fig T and the PHB force pump has been the standard for homesteads since they were first introduced in the 1800s.

Both the 50L double acting deep well and the PHB shallow well pitcher cistern pump allow water to be pumped uphill or up into an overhead water tank for a gravity flow water supply.

 

model-50-l

Heller Aller 50L Double Acting Force Pump

The 190-A is a set length pump designed for shallow wells and cisterns up to 20’.  They can be used in deeper wells by dropping the cylinder deeper and adding a foot valve.

The 192-A is a cousin to the 190-A specifically designed to be used with a windmill.

Widely used by the Amish communities which in fact rallied to have a company they worked for to purchase the Heller Aller company and molds to keep the pumps and pump parts available for future Amish generations.  These water well pumps remain as popular by non-Amish who are living off the grid or in remote locations for their only water source.

Heller Aller also offers an offset well cap for 6″ well casings so that a hand well pump can be added to an existing well with an operating submersible electric well pump for emergency backup use.

Don’t be fooled by the cheap imported water well pumps, they are made to be more ornamental yard décor instead of a serious main or backup source of a family’s water supply.

Cottage Craft Works an online old-fashioned general store not only features the complete new Heller Aller hand water well pumps they also carry all the repair parts to fit and rebuild old Heller Aller Pumps.  This is rather refreshing as other self-sufficient homestead suppliers only sell you the pumps and don’t seem to be at all interested in customer support or the parts leaving you high and dry when your pump leathers dry out.

Frustrated with having to replace frost proof yard water hydrants every few years? Cottage Craft Works also carries the Amish made 401 water hydrant.  This hydrant has a child and lady friendly operable stainless steel head and lever built to commercial standards.  The hydrant also incorporates a Stainless rod and can be even upgraded to a stainless pipe and foot valve for those areas that have acids in the soil that corrode and deteriorate traditional galvanized and brass valve components.

 

frost-proof-faucet-3

Amish Made 401 Hydrant

 

 

 

 

Made in America Stoneware Pottery

Made in America Stoneware Pottery. Select from mixing bowls, batter bowls, crocks, butter churns, water coolers, baking dishes, pitcher and bowl sets. personalized-crocks

Old fashioned made in America Stoneware Pottery is still being hand turned and hand painted. Stoneware pottery is dishwasher, oven safe, lead and cadmium free.

The old time blue stripe stoneware is the most popular items from Cottage Craft Works.com however, custom painted colors and personalization is available on all their stoneware pottery making this back-to-basics a popular site for gifts and future family heirlooms.

Cottage Craft Works carries the old-fashioned water coolers and water bottle dispensing crocks which people from all over the country enjoy knowing that it is made in USA without lead or cadmium, a huge concern with imported water drinking crocks.  Areas, where water restrictions and pollution is of concern, are turning back in time to these old-fashioned water crocks.

Cottage Craft Works reproduction stoneware butter churns are so authentic they are being used to recreate the past in living history museums and historical educational parks.

One of the most cherished cooking and baking kitchen wares in most every home at the turn of the century and before was the old fashioned blue stripe mixing bowls.  The 16” mixing bowl was well suited for a large family because it was perfect for mixing bread dough, mixing salads, and even the dressing for the Holidays.  Bowls were made in all sizes making them perfect for all kitchen task including baking in them. The bowls from Cottage Craft Works will take you down memory lane standing in Grandmas kitchen and licking the spoon from her mixing bowl.

Batter bowls were also a very popular baking bowl as they were large enough to make cake, pancake, and scramble egg mixes in the bowl and then easily lift with a large cup like handle and pour directly from the spout.  These old-fashioned reproduction batter bowls are still popular as wedding gifts for the bride who loves to cook from scratch.  Sizes are available in ¼ gallon, ½ gallons, and 1 gallon.

USA Pottery baking dishes are available in many different sizes from a traditional oval casserole dish to a covered New England style pot belly casserole dish.  A taller bean and stew pot are also available specifically designed to enhance steam cooking using less water.

Hard to find water and milk pitchers are also available in different styles and sizes.  The wash basin set is very popular for churches and religious cleansing ceremonies.

You will even find an old-fashioned stoneware bacon grease jar as well as other countertop spoon jars, spoon holders, and other vintage pottery kitchen wares.

Do expect to wait 3-4 weeks for custom and personalized items.  The small family owned shop in Texas that makes all the stoneware pottery for Cottage Craft Works still makes each piece by hand, so plan accordingly for gift ordering.

Cottage Craft Works at www.cottagecraftworks.com is a full line online old fashioned general store chocked full of quality practical wares and goods used during vintage off grid times.

usa-stoneware-water-coolerspitcher-bowl-blue-stripehand-turned-potterybutter-churn-dashercountry-blue-stripe-bowlsusa-water-bottle-dispensing-crockKombucha USA Stoneware Crockblue-stripe-bowl-setbatter-bowls-blue-stripesixteen-inch-bowl

 

Clothes Drying Racks, Clothes Lines, Dryers

USA made folding floor and wall drying racks. Amish heavy duty drying racks and clotheslines to air dry laundry items. Umbrella, accordion wall mounted rack

Indoor and outdoor laundry clothes drying racks can save dollars, reduce carbon footprint and assist those who want to reduce dependency on the grid.

The Amish still make and use a variety of drying racks and clotheslines to air dry daily items up to and including the weekly family laundry. Like most, they also struggle with small spaces and weather related elements that make outside drying impossible.

Cottage Craft Works .com has assembled various folding drying racks and outdoor clotheslines on their back-to-basics online store at www.cottagecraftworks.com

There you will find all types of USA made folding floor and wall drying racks used by the Amish. They also provide several outdoor drying solutions from portable clothes lines to fold down drying racks and pulley mounted clotheslines.

Accordion Wall Racks

The popular accordion wall mounted are very versatile taking up very little space when they are folded yet providing several feet of drying space when they are extended. Folding accordion wall racks work extremely well in laundry rooms, mud rooms, and garages. These racks come in finished oak or unfinished poplar wood based on budget and needs.

Folding Umbrella Wall Clothes Drying Racks

Cottage Craft Works offers an economy version and a heavy-duty umbrella folding clothes rack that fits neatly on a wall. They both expand out like a folding umbrella to extend wooden arms for hanging towels and other small garments. The heavy-duty rack provides up to 20’ of drying space and only takes up an 8” wide x 36” space on the wall when it is folded.

Folding Floor Clothes Drying Racks

A variety of sizes of the traditional floor folding drying racks is available. These are probably the most widely recognized drying racks ever made. They fold down for compact storage yet the larger sizes can provide up to 40’ of drying space. They are also handy for drying spices, flowers, and herbs.

Suspended Ceiling Clothes Dryer

vintage-british-clothes-drying-rack

A reproduction of a vintage clothes drying system that was made for small homes and apartments. Often hung from the kitchen ceilings as that is where most laundry was done in the olden days. These are still widely used in the UK and European homes where the living areas have very small square footage and every inch of space is at a premium.

The unit consists of two metal ends holding wooden drying slats. The unit hangs from the ceiling or overhead beam by rope and pulleys to be lowered for loading and unloading of clothing and linens. It pulls up next to the ceiling and out of the way to use the space for other activities until the items become dry. Makes good use of the warmer air that accumulates at ceiling height.

Pulley Mounted Clotheslines

If you have traveled through the Pennsylvania and Ohio Amish communities during weekdays, you can’t help but notice the bright color dresses and Amish traditional clothing blowing in the wind high up from a post or barn peak leading to the Amish house.

These labor-saving clothesline systems allow the Amish housewife and children to load up all the daily wash on to a clothes line standing just outside the laundry washroom door. This comes particularly handy when snow and ice or muddy conditions exist and the weekly laundry must be done.

This concept is not new or specific to the Amish way of life as pulley mounted clotheslines were used before dryers were invented in apartment buildings where clothes lines would span over city streets and alleyways.

The Amish pulley mounted clothes line systems from Cottage Craft Works come in two sizes based on the distance that you will be mounting the outbound pulley. The larger pulley system is designed to out up to 150’ while the smaller system is best suited for under 100’.

An optional elevator pole is available to be used at the base pulley to raise the line up to clear decks or curious kids and animals that might otherwise grab clean clothes off the line.

Portable Clothes Drying Lines

For those wanting more substantial outdoor clothes drying systems but don’t want the permanent post option Cottage Craft Works offers a portable outdoor clothes drying system that can be moved around the yard or in and out of a garage.

The unit consist of slide together square aluminum tubing that looks like a giant hammock frame. The lines stretch across the top using included line tightening devices to provide up to 72’ of drying lines in only a 12’ x 8’ space.

This system is perfect for summer camps, rental homes, vacation cottages or other locations where permanent clothes line post are just not an option.

Small Garment and Sock Drying Ring

This just might be one of the handiest drying systems you will ever own. It amazingly holds a lot of items. It consists of two aluminum rings equipped with clothespins hanging by chains from a single hook. It comes in handy for hanging socks, delicates, dish rags and other small clothing items. Perfect if you have a baby in the house to quickly wash out tops and bibs. It also works well for drying herbs and flowers.

Cottage Craft Works at www.cottagecraftworks.com is a full line online old fashioned general store chocked full of quality practical wares and goods used during vintage off grid times.

adustable-rack-detailfolding-wall-drying-rack-2clothesline-pulley-systemimg_3090-500-x-375drying-rack-wallpulley-operated-clothesline       sock-dry-ring