DDIL thought of butter churn, but I never saw one that looked like that. I don't think it would have held enough cream. I remember helping my grandma make butter a couple times and they weren't crank types. Ice crusher was a thought too, but again, it doesn't seem like it would hold much ice. I still go with the meat grinder theory. Or the crank for moving files. DDIL says she is googling all your great thoughts and trying to expand on them. She says "Keep 'em coming!"