Original email request from John
I have a single large wheel mill with “No. 3” as the only cast marking on the wheel itself. I was planning to take it apart and sandblast it, and I’m assuming the internal workings are relatively simple (no springs?). Someone painted it silver than blue. I have photos I can Email you. Thanks
Thanks for looking into that. I was planning to take it apart, sandblast it and get it back to working order. I’m assuming the internal workings are relatively simple (no springs, right?). It was my in my great grandfather’s general store in West Mineral, KS, so I plan to keep it.
And here is my response :
It is C.S. Bell Model 3. Model 1-3 look exactly the same, but the difference is the size. No 3 is the largest of the three. The wheel should be around 19 3/4″ and the mill should be around 18 1/2″ high.
Those mills were originally made for grains but served as excellent coffee grinders (later advertised as coffee grinder due to its popularity)
Tom Gresham says
It looks like my No. 2 mill from C. S. Bell. The lack of a name on it means it was sold through a catalog or even as someone else’s brand. Although, if sold as an item for someone else they usually carried the brand name of the purchaser. Think Sears and sawbuck.
John says
You are right. No 2 looks exactly the same except the size. No 2 come with 16″ height and about 16 1/2″ wheel.