There are many dirty and heavy labour jobs in the elevator- none worse than cleaning out the boot.The dreaded job in the grain elevator was cleaning out the boot. It is a common bond with elevator agents and their families.
After the farmers’ truck load of grain was weighed on the truck scale, the grain was dumped through metal grates into the pit. The pit was hoppered so the grain would slide toward the leg. The wooden leg was a leather conveyor belt with tin cups, housed in a wooded structure, which took the grain to the top of the elevator where it was disbursed into the proper bin. The boot was at the bottom of the leg, the lowest point in the elevator and the base of the converyor belt where the grain enetered the leg. Bearings were located here. There was always heavy chaff and dust build up which could not be allowed to get so deep as to cover the bearings as it would pose a fire risk.
Access to the pit was gained though a trap door on the main floor beside the leg. This door had leather for the hinges and handle. A ladder descended into a dark, shaft to the dust filled pit about 15 feet below. A trouble lamp was lowered in and the agent would climb down the ladder. A helper would lower a five gallon pail into the pit to scoop up the dust and load the pail. The pail would be raised by the rope, and this was repeated until clean. Cleaning the boot alone meant many trips up the ladder. The fine dust was overwhelming. Many agents didn’t use masks or goggles in the early years.
After the farmers’ truck load of grain was weighed on the truck scale, the grain was dumped through metal grates into the pit. The pit was hoppered so the grain would slide toward the leg. The wooden leg was a leather conveyor belt with tin cups, housed in a wooded structure, which took the grain to the top of the elevator where it was disbursed into the proper bin. The boot was at the bottom of the leg, the lowest point in the elevator and the base of the converyor belt where the grain enetered the leg. Bearings were located here. There was always heavy chaff and dust build up which could not be allowed to get so deep as to cover the bearings as it would pose a fire risk.
Access to the pit was gained though a trap door on the main floor beside the leg. This door had leather for the hinges and handle. A ladder descended into a dark, shaft to the dust filled pit about 15 feet below. A trouble lamp was lowered in and the agent would climb down the ladder. A helper would lower a five gallon pail into the pit to scoop up the dust and load the pail. The pail would be raised by the rope, and this was repeated until clean. Cleaning the boot alone meant many trips up the ladder. The fine dust was overwhelming. Many agents didn’t use masks or goggles in the early years.
Picture is of the bottom of the boot.
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| "Boot Door" with leather strap |
