What kind of medieval machine is this? In Denmark

Baron Alcyoneus · Post by **Baron Alcyoneus** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:20 pm

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos- ... 4975_n.jpg

Can anyone identify the purpose of this medieval machine? The photograph has been sent to me by my good friends at the Middelaldercentret (Medieval Centre) in Denmark. It comes with the exciting news that they will be opening a ‘Medieval Technology Park’ at the centre on July 1st this year. This is just one of the many wonderful machines that they are building for the park. Such machines appear in several medieval manuscripts/war books. This one is destined for a section of the park called ‘Evolutionary Wild-Shots’. Can anyone discern its intended use?

It has been suggested that it is for harvesting olives.

http://c1.oliveoiltim.es/wp-content/upl ... ester2.jpg

Ernst · Post by **Ernst** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:58 pm

If it appears in a war-book, or siege manual, why would they think it's a harvester?

thunderwinde · Post by **thunderwinde** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:14 pm

Ernst wrote:If it appears in a war-book, or siege manual, why would they think it's a harvester?

I don't think he meant this machine specifically comes from a war-book, though.

Are there any other photos of the machine? Maybe a side-view?

Baron Alcyoneus · Post by **Baron Alcyoneus** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:40 pm

Trying to find the place I found this:

http://www.middelaldercentret.dk/film/k ... orside.mov Nice little film!

http://www.middelaldercentret.dk/engelsk/welcome.html

Chris Gilman · Post by **Chris Gilman** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:17 pm

It is clearly a mobile, animated billboard!

igelkott · Post by **igelkott** » Fri Jan 25, 2013 11:22 pm

It's obviously one of the first air conditioned vehicles. The fellow pushes it around and the fans on the sides keep him cool while traveling.

Matthew Amt · Post by **Matthew Amt** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 9:37 am

Ornithopter, duh! Hmm, or maybe a spanking machine...

Jeff J · Post by **Jeff J** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:05 am

Dikfer.

Mac · Post by **Mac** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:34 pm

That won't work, Jeff. I googled it.

Mac

Blaine de Navarre · Post by **Blaine de Navarre** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:27 pm

My best guess is just the guts of some sort of windmill with its convenient lower gears being temporarily re-purposed for transporting it into position.

Jeff J · Post by **Jeff J** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:27 pm

Mac wrote:That won't work, Jeff. I googled it.

Mac

Curse yer high-fallutin' technologies!

Marshal · Post by **Marshal** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:48 pm

Matthew Amt wrote:Ornithopter, duh! Hmm, or maybe a spanking machine...

Does it come equipped with a grail-shaped beacon?

mastadonn · Post by **mastadonn** » Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:59 pm

One would think that unless the gearing is 1:1, the relative gear ratios would give a clue as to whether the paddle wheels are the drive mechanism or are driven by some other motive force.

Hugh Prescott · Post by **Hugh Prescott** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:13 pm

Just sent the links to a Danish genealogical forum I belong to.

Will post any comments I get back.

I am thinking part of a wind or water powered grain mill. Possabibly drive system and fans to clean the grain before milling.

Scott Martin · Post by **Scott Martin** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:59 am

Baron Alcyoneus wrote:It has been suggested that it is for harvesting olives.

Harvesting olives in Denmark? I'd lean toward the portable mill hypothesis

Scott Martin

juan · Post by **juan** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 12:55 am

Or a thresher?

Tostig · Post by **Tostig** » Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:13 am

If you pulled it by rope instead of standing in it and pushing; 'could be a moving archers target?

Hugh Prescott · Post by **Hugh Prescott** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 7:28 pm

No response from the Danish forum

Sorry

white mountain armoury · Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:25 am

Ernst wrote:If it appears in a war-book, or siege manual, why would they think it's a harvester?

The Bellifortis is a war machine manual, but has non military items in it as well.
It is an odd looking machine for sure.

Beeman · Post by **Beeman** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:34 pm

Its the first vehicle with air conditioning as standard equipment.

EnglishSteel · Post by **EnglishSteel** » Sun Feb 24, 2013 4:00 pm

According to Mike Loades, its a wind powered wagon.

CTrumbore · Post by **CTrumbore** » Sun Feb 24, 2013 4:11 pm

EnglishSteel wrote:According to Mike Loades, its a wind powered wagon.

Or an attempt at one.. it's RIDICULOUSLY over engineered, if that's what it's supposed to be.

you could park a mack truck on top of that thing..

What kind of medieval machine is this? In Denmark

What kind of medieval machine is this? In Denmark

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