2018/17/1-4

This is an egg incubator from Curfew. The incubator was used by the donor to hatch chicken eggs. The machine's electric coils warms the air that is drawn from the holes in the base and passes by the water tray. The eggs must be turned manually. The transparent plastic top enables the viewer to see the eggs during incubation. It was made in c.1960 and used for many years. The incubator (1) has a rectangular cream coloured textile cover (2) made by the donor's wife. The machine has two thermometers (3 & 4): one that came with the incubator and a newer one to double check the temperature.

1 incubator, 1 cover, 2 thermometers: wood, paint, plastic, textile, metal

Museum Object Entry Form – ‘Museum Name: Museum of English Rural Life // Received from: Mike Hatcher // Address: // Tel No: // Owner (if different): // Address: // Tel No: // Description of Object/Collection: 1 x Curfew incubator (with original thermometer // 1 x egg tester // 1 x thermometer (used later to double check) + 1 x homemade incubator cover recycled from curtain or cushion fabric and made by wife of donor (dropped off at later date). // Reason for Entry: Donation // Additional Agreement (Donations/Sales Only): Owner // Museum Signatory: Oliver Douglas 5/1/2018 // Return of Object to Owner:‘, MERL miscellaneous note - 'Notes from meeting Mike Hatcher on 5 January 2018 by Madeleine Ding // Egg hatching machine // The incubator is an early machine as it still has patent’s pending. It was built c.1960. Mike bought the incubator about 30 years ago. The previous female owner took it back to the original firm for servicing. It was used by Mike for 10-15 years but he replaced it with a machine with mechanical egg turning. With this machine you would need to manually turn the eggs at least twice a day, ideally three times a day. // An advert for it appears in the 1969 Poultry Club Yearbook. // To make it work, take plastic lid off, plug it in and it warms up. The max temperature can be controlled with the dial. As they heat up the wafers expand with ether to activate a lever to turn off the heating. Place water in the metal tray on the bottom. There is a lever for closing off the holes at the bottom that let in air. As you get closer to hatching the air needs to be more moisture so close off all holes except one. // The thermometer is original to the incubator. The height of the thermometer is approximately the middle of the egg with a mark for the optimal temperature of 103. The second thermometer was used to double check the temperature. // Incubator lids were previously metal or solid and the invention of a clear plastic top meant you could see what was happening. This type of machine was used in schools to see the eggs hatching.'

Chertsey

1960 - 1960

Incubator, Cover, Thermometer

Wood, Paint, Plastic, Metal, Fibre, Glass

, Painted, Stitched