When we drove into the town one of the very first things we saw was a road sign leading to the mill, so we drove on in the direction it showed. When I first saw the building it was larger than I was expecting. There was a kind man who greeted us at the entrance and because we arrived before most of the other people, he gave us a tour of the mill. I should mention that all the people who work there are friendly, enthusiastic volunteers.
Firstly he told us about the history and the founders of the mill and that in 1920 it was opened and later refurbished. Then he showed us the flywheel and the belts running on the tracks. From where we stood only half of the flywheel was visible but still it was very large.
We had come on one of the steaming days so that we can see how it all works. For me that was one of the best and most interesting things I have ever seen. So you're probably wondering how does it get started up? Well, I'll tell you..... First the boilers have to be fired up to build up steam. Then they start up this small steam engine which moves the big flywheel into starting position, then one of the people who help there opened a valve. The flywheel started to turn and within about two minutes the wheel reaches top speed of 68 RPM.
These are some of the big engine's mechanisms:
This is one of the original cotton weaving machines and it still works.
Those small cards you see below control the words woven into the material.
The mill now uses sawed up wood pallets instead of coal. They can get the pallets free but coal is very expensive. The boilers they use are very big and has to keep the steam pressure up. It keeps about 3-4 men busy for the duration of running time.
If you ever get the chance to go there, Take it!!!!
THANK YOU FOR READING
I hope you enjoyed it !!!
Belatedly, well done Reinhart! Harry.
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