Non Electric Hand Crank Mill Collection

I’ve been collecting mills for some time. I have mostly grain mills but a few others as well like my 1800’s apple mill cider press. Enjoy

Great! I've been thinking of getting something like this for a long time. How much work is it to grind about 5 lb of flour? (So I can think how much it would add to breadmaking work).
For grinding wheat for breadmaking, can you explain what are some of the pros and cons of different types of mills?

When shopping for antique mills and I stress antique because back when most of these mills were made was when much of what was manufactured back in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s was made heavy and with quality. Many newer mills especially those made in China aren’t made with near as quality metallurgy. So the grinding parts wear down faster. I cannot tell you how long it takes to grind 5 lbs because it depends on the mill and how fine you want the final flour to be. It can be a work out though. I have seen some attach a pulley and belt to power a mill with a bicycle and other means. There are many videos on YouTube. The guy in this video is well known to folks in the preparedness community. The mill he’s using is a non China made quality mill, but they cost around $500 last time I checked. I go to a lot of antique malls here at home and when traveling. I’ve never paid more than $100 for any of the Mills I pictured in this thread. If a mill is rusty, don’t worry, just talk them down in price. You do the work to clean them up. It can be a fun and rewarding project.

The one in that second picture, is that a grain mill with the burrs held horizontally? How big is it? Does it mill flour fine enough to use as regular flour?

I've tried a few grain mills, and the Wonder Junior I have works well. But it always annoys me that there's about 1/4-1/3 of a cup of grain that just spins around the auger without feeding through. I keep thinking that a grinder with horizontal burrs might prevent that, but I've never seen one outside of a documentary.

Ellendra Nauriel wrote:The one in that second picture, is that a grain mill with the burrs held horizontally? How big is it? Does it mill flour fine enough to use as regular flour?

I've tried a few grain mills, and the Wonder Junior I have works well. But it always annoys me that there's about 1/4-1/3 of a cup of grain that just spins around the auger without feeding through. I keep thinking that a grinder with horizontal burrs might prevent that, but I've never seen one outside of a documentary.

The mill in the second picture is actually a coffee roaster made for a cast iron wood cookstove

I just rescued one from the metal pile at the transfer station last weekend! (picture six, center of the table, silver colored one) It is missing the hopper, however.
Now that I know what it looks like, there's a better chance I may find it when I go back tomorrow...

Kenneth Elwell wrote:I just rescued one from the metal pile at the transfer station last weekend! (picture six, center of the table, silver colored one) It is missing the hopper, however.
Now that I know what it looks like, there's a better chance I may find it when I go back tomorrow...

That one is a Weston from Kitchen and Company. I think it was something like $45 maybe. And I purchased that when I first started getting into this. And, I do believe that one was made in China. But great score! Congratulations you’re on your way to becoming a homesteading Miller!