I have been looking for over 15 years for an antique cider mill that I could restore. These things are either complete basket cases or fully restored. Last year about this time I found a complete basket case and got it for cheap.
This is a Keystone Manufacturing "The Champion" cider mill. Made in Sterling, Illinois. Patented date 1874. It was a mess and had no woodwork with it. You can see here how rusted it was.
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After a good, long soaking in rust remover, the parts came out bright and shiny. Then I hit them with primer and gloss black paint.
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I was able to find an old advertisement drawing from which I created the plans for the woodwork.
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I used white oak throughout with traditional mortise and tenon, and dovetail joinery.
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The iron part were complete, but one piece needed to be remade. The chopping wheel inside the hopper was just too far gone, so my buddy machined and welded up a new one out of stainless steel.
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Here are a few detail pics from around the press...
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The first apples will go through it this weekend! 8) 8)It's going head-to-head with my original, homebuilt press. I'm pretty sure this one will drop a smackdown on my other one, though. :D
Oh, and I asked my son to sketch a drawing for a t-shirt to celebrate the occasion...
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/12750/DA0242D8-15A8-4661-8914-9F57F2CC7233.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1636596713)
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Awesome
Don't use it in your kitchen (don't ask me how I know)...
👍
That's an awesome job, congratulations on the restore. Now for some good old fashioned cider, hard cider. :D
Very cool for sure 👍👍
A very nice job you did!!
That shirt looks good too.
That's top notch there!
I put the one at the farm museum away this week after their annual apple butter making and cider squeeze. It could use your frame building skills, it's getting tired. That is a nice restoration, good to see one put back in working condition.
Here's a walk around video if you want a closer look...
https://youtu.be/9knNYy2-PXg (https://youtu.be/9knNYy2-PXg)
@DonP
What kind of event do they have at the museum? I wouldn't mind hearing about it.
What kind of press is it?
Awesome restoration! You did a great job and will no doubt have lots of fun pressing apples.
It might be on their facebook, Matthews Living History Farm Museum, it would be 2 or 3 events back. They did that along with a quilt show and fiber arts, broom making, etc. I'll try to get some pics of theirs. There's a retired gentleman that's been coming around visiting, I think if we keep him in wood and costs he might go through the old equipment a project at a time.
There was a house we reroofed last year, it's an old century farm, there were 2 cider mills under the porch. They still get used by the grandkids occasionally. Uhh yeah, i asked :D
We gave this new mill a workout this weekend. Ended up with 22 gallons of cider.
Making apple cider with Keystone Champion - YouTube (https://youtu.be/r9-KxhgfON4)
Interestingly, this mill didn't produce as much cider per bushel as my homemade mill. The pumice it makes is courser, so not as much juice could be squeezed. The homemade mill grinds the apple into a finer pumice allowing for better extraction.
The Keystone mill, is, however, easier to operate for longer periods. It has much more torque and with its 2-stage apple processing (chopping then grinding), getting through the apples quick.
It was lots of fun, though, to see and hear the gears doing their thing. The sound has a nice rhythm to it.
That is a great restoration!
Thanks for sharing.
I've wondered how well a meat grinder would work for making cider..
I bet a grinder then thru a juicer would do the trick.
Beautiful work
Fantastic job and another treasure from the past saved from destruction.