threshing mill; travelling
Maker
Chrichton, James
Production date
1948
Description
Large threshing mill, also known as a box mill or travelling mill, by James Crichton, Turiff, Aberdeenshire. It has a red frame with varnished wood panelling.
The mill was acquired in 1979 from Bonnybridge, where it had sat in a yard for almost ten years. The woodwork had severely deteriorated and therefore the whole mill has been rebuilt from scratch. All the mechanical parts are original but all the woodwork has been renewed.
It was built in 1948 and shown at the Highland Show, Stirling that year. It was purchased by the Central Garage Airth and worked in and around the district including the Kincardine area. There were two mills operated by the Central Garage, the other one being of a similar type but one year older. The "Thrashing Mill", cost £1,100 when new and was eventually retired with the advent of combined harvesting machines. It was sold.
These mills were the precursor to the combine harvester; grain had to be brought to it for threshing. Bundles of the cut crop were fed through the chute at the top of the mill and were processed by the internal machinery, chaff being blown out through the funnel located on the right hand side of the front on the mill, and the grain deposited in bags attached to nozzles at the rear of the mill. The straw was baled by the special device which hangs over the front end of the mill. This straw trusser at the front end was a later addition to the original machine. Part of the function of the device was to bind the bundles of straw with twine, which made them easier to handle and store. Cast in relief "James Crichton Maker Turriff N.B. No 1236B Ruston and Hornsby Ltd. Improved Straw Trusser Manufactured under Hornsby's Patents Grantham England".
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Object detail
Dimensions:0 - Whole:H 3m 53cm (H 11' 7")
Dimensions:0 - Whole:W 2m 56cm (W 8' 4 13/16")
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