If you could transport a rancher in time from 1921 to 2021, there would certainly be a lot for them to marvel at – everything from new breeds of cattle that have added over 300 pounds of lean weight to using high-tech drones to check miles of fence lines. One thing over the past century that might be familiar? An automatic livestock waterer from Ritchie Industries.

1921 was a monumental year for the United States dairy industry. In addition to passing the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, Congress also established standards for food weight and measurement in the District of Columbia. According to the law, milk or cream products could only be sold in authorized units, which included the gallon, pint, and half-pint. The sale of ice cream in non-standard sizes was reportedly the largest criminal activity in Washington, D.C. from 1921 to 1963 according to the archives of the United States House of Representatives.