Technology and Transformation: The Diffusion of the Roller Mill in the British Flour Milling Industry, 1870-1907

Technology and Culture

Volumn 37, Issue 1, 1996, Pages 36-68

  Tann, Jennifer ^a   Jones, R Glyn ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0030555277     PISSN: 0040165X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/3107201     Document Type: Article

References (152)

1. Miller, January 1884, p. 817. William Dunham, a mill furnisher (i.e., a machinery supplier), began to publish the Miller in London in 1875. His intention was to provide a vehicle for communicating technical information. In his first editorial Dunham stated that there had hitherto been no journal "exclusively devoted to millers" (Miller, March 1875, p. 2). By the end of 1875 there were nearly 2,000 subscribers and the magazine had doubled in size. Dunham transferred his financial interest to the British Trade Journal in 1894 and died in the same year. Most of the articles in the Miller are unattributed, and a major source for this article is engineers' advertisements. Therefore, the citations that follow will give month, year, and page numbers only.
2. Miller, January 1884, p. 817. William Dunham, a mill furnisher (i.e., a machinery supplier), began to publish the Miller in London in 1875. His intention was to provide a vehicle for communicating technical information. In his first editorial Dunham stated that there had hitherto been no journal "exclusively devoted to millers" (Miller, March 1875, p. 2). By the end of 1875 there were nearly 2,000 subscribers and the magazine had doubled in size. Dunham transferred his financial interest to the British Trade Journal in 1894 and died in the same year. Most of the articles in the Miller are unattributed, and a major source for this article is engineers' advertisements. Therefore, the citations that follow will give month, year, and page numbers only.
3. Miller, January 1884, p. 821.
4. Miller, October 1880, p. 580.
5. See, e.g., John Shaw, Water Power in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1984); Wilfred Foreman, Oxfordshire Mills (Chichester, 1983); Martin Brunnarius, The Windmills of Sussex (Chichester, 1979); and the numerous articles by Rex Wailes in Transactions of the Newcomen Society. For a history of corn milling from 1750 to 1850, see Jennifer Tann, "Corn Milling," in The Agrarian History of England and Wales, vol. 6, 1750-1850, ed. G. E. Mingay (Cambridge, 1989), pp. 397-415.
6. See, e.g., John Shaw, Water Power in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1984); Wilfred Foreman, Oxfordshire Mills (Chichester, 1983); Martin Brunnarius, The Windmills of Sussex (Chichester, 1979); and the numerous articles by Rex Wailes in Transactions of the Newcomen Society. For a history of corn milling from 1750 to 1850, see Jennifer Tann, "Corn Milling," in The Agrarian History of England and Wales, vol. 6, 1750-1850, ed. G. E. Mingay (Cambridge, 1989), pp. 397-415.
7. See, e.g., John Shaw, Water Power in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1984); Wilfred Foreman, Oxfordshire Mills (Chichester, 1983); Martin Brunnarius, The Windmills of Sussex (Chichester, 1979); and the numerous articles by Rex Wailes in Transactions of the Newcomen Society. For a history of corn milling from 1750 to 1850, see Jennifer Tann, "Corn Milling," in The Agrarian History of England and Wales, vol. 6, 1750-1850, ed. G. E. Mingay (Cambridge, 1989), pp. 397-415.
8. See, e.g., John Shaw, Water Power in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1984); Wilfred Foreman, Oxfordshire Mills (Chichester, 1983); Martin Brunnarius, The Windmills of Sussex (Chichester, 1979); and the numerous articles by Rex Wailes in Transactions of the Newcomen Society. For a history of corn milling from 1750 to 1850, see Jennifer Tann, "Corn Milling," in The Agrarian History of England and Wales, vol. 6, 1750-1850, ed. G. E. Mingay (Cambridge, 1989), pp. 397-415.
9. See, e.g., John Shaw, Water Power in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1984); Wilfred Foreman, Oxfordshire Mills (Chichester, 1983); Martin Brunnarius, The Windmills of Sussex (Chichester, 1979); and the numerous articles by Rex Wailes in Transactions of the Newcomen Society. For a history of corn milling from 1750 to 1850, see Jennifer Tann, "Corn Milling," in The Agrarian History of England and Wales, vol. 6, 1750-1850, ed. G. E. Mingay (Cambridge, 1989), pp. 397-415.
10. Nineteenth-century milling receives little attention in C. Singer et al., eds., A History of Technology (Oxford, 1958), or Ian McNeil et al., eds., An Encyclopaedia, of the History of Technology (London, 1990). Ashworth speaks of "a great transformation in the 1880s"; see William Ashworth, An Economic History of England (London, 1960), p. 83. Musson refers to "a revolutionary change"; see A. E. Musson, The Growth of British Industry (London, 1978), p. 234. Floud and McClosky are silent on the subject; see Roderick Floud and Donald McClosky, The Economic History of Britain, vol. 2, 1860 to the 1970s (London, 1981).
11. Nineteenth-century milling receives little attention in C. Singer et al., eds., A History of Technology (Oxford, 1958), or Ian McNeil et al., eds., An Encyclopaedia, of the History of Technology (London, 1990). Ashworth speaks of "a great transformation in the 1880s"; see William Ashworth, An Economic History of England (London, 1960), p. 83. Musson refers to "a revolutionary change"; see A. E. Musson, The Growth of British Industry (London, 1978), p. 234. Floud and McClosky are silent on the subject; see Roderick Floud and Donald McClosky, The Economic History of Britain, vol. 2, 1860 to the 1970s (London, 1981).
12. Nineteenth-century milling receives little attention in C. Singer et al., eds., A History of Technology (Oxford, 1958), or Ian McNeil et al., eds., An Encyclopaedia, of the History of Technology (London, 1990). Ashworth speaks of "a great transformation in the 1880s"; see William Ashworth, An Economic History of England (London, 1960), p. 83. Musson refers to "a revolutionary change"; see A. E. Musson, The Growth of British Industry (London, 1978), p. 234. Floud and McClosky are silent on the subject; see Roderick Floud and Donald McClosky, The Economic History of Britain, vol. 2, 1860 to the 1970s (London, 1981).
13. Nineteenth-century milling receives little attention in C. Singer et al., eds., A History of Technology (Oxford, 1958), or Ian McNeil et al., eds., An Encyclopaedia, of the History of Technology (London, 1990). Ashworth speaks of "a great transformation in the 1880s"; see William Ashworth, An Economic History of England (London, 1960), p. 83. Musson refers to "a revolutionary change"; see A. E. Musson, The Growth of British Industry (London, 1978), p. 234. Floud and McClosky are silent on the subject; see Roderick Floud and Donald McClosky, The Economic History of Britain, vol. 2, 1860 to the 1970s (London, 1981).
14. Nineteenth-century milling receives little attention in C. Singer et al., eds., A History of Technology (Oxford, 1958), or Ian McNeil et al., eds., An Encyclopaedia, of the History of Technology (London, 1990). Ashworth speaks of "a great transformation in the 1880s"; see William Ashworth, An Economic History of England (London, 1960), p. 83. Musson refers to "a revolutionary change"; see A. E. Musson, The Growth of British Industry (London, 1978), p. 234. Floud and McClosky are silent on the subject; see Roderick Floud and Donald McClosky, The Economic History of Britain, vol. 2, 1860 to the 1970s (London, 1981).
15. Richard L. Hills, Power from Wind: A History of Windmill Technology (Cambridge, 1994), pp. 217-18.
16. Rhys Jenkins, "Roller Mills: A Historical Sketch," Miller, July 1887, pp. 200-205, reprinted in Newcomen Society, The Collected Papers of Rhys Jenkins (Cambridge, 1936), pp. 204-13.
17. Rhys Jenkins, "Roller Mills: A Historical Sketch," Miller, July 1887, pp. 200-205, reprinted in Newcomen Society, The Collected Papers of Rhys Jenkins (Cambridge, 1936), pp. 204-13.
18. J. H. Clapham, An Economic History of Modern Britain (Cambridge, 1932), p. 89.
19. P. A. Kozmin, Flour Milling (London, 1917), pp. 27-29, 38, 489-90. This was known as mouture économique, in contrast to mouture rustique (low-grinding).
20. Friedrich Kick, Flour Manufacture: A Treatise on Milling Science and Practice, 2d ed. and trans. H. H. P. Powles (London, 1888), pp. 211-12.
21. Miller, October 1887, p. 357.
22. Miller, October 1878, pp. 489-90.
23. Miller, September 1878, pp. 418-21.
24. Miller, July 1887, p. 225.
25. Gig mills were employed in raising the nap on broadcloth. The mills consisted of rolls set with teasels which rotated over the surface of the cloth. The earliest known reference is to a gig mill at Castle Combe, Wiltshire; see E. M. Cams-Wilson, "Evidences of Industrial Growth on Some Fifteenth-Century Manors," Economic History Review, 2d ser., 12 (1959): 201. Gig mills became common in Gloucestershire in the 18th century. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, they were the focus of machinery riots in Wiltshire and Somerset, but not in Gloucestershire. Jennifer Tann, Gloucestershire Woollen Mills (Newton Abbot, 1967); J. de L. Mann, The Cloth Industry of the West of England from 1640 to 1880 (Oxford, 1971).
26. Gig mills were employed in raising the nap on broadcloth. The mills consisted of rolls set with teasels which rotated over the surface of the cloth. The earliest known reference is to a gig mill at Castle Combe, Wiltshire; see E. M. Cams-Wilson, "Evidences of Industrial Growth on Some Fifteenth-Century Manors," Economic History Review, 2d ser., 12 (1959): 201. Gig mills became common in Gloucestershire in the 18th century. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, they were the focus of machinery riots in Wiltshire and Somerset, but not in Gloucestershire. Jennifer Tann, Gloucestershire Woollen Mills (Newton Abbot, 1967); J. de L. Mann, The Cloth Industry of the West of England from 1640 to 1880 (Oxford, 1971).
27. Gig mills were employed in raising the nap on broadcloth. The mills consisted of rolls set with teasels which rotated over the surface of the cloth. The earliest known reference is to a gig mill at Castle Combe, Wiltshire; see E. M. Cams-Wilson, "Evidences of Industrial Growth on Some Fifteenth-Century Manors," Economic History Review, 2d ser., 12 (1959): 201. Gig mills became common in Gloucestershire in the 18th century. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, they were the focus of machinery riots in Wiltshire and Somerset, but not in Gloucestershire. Jennifer Tann, Gloucestershire Woollen Mills (Newton Abbot, 1967); J. de L. Mann, The Cloth Industry of the West of England from 1640 to 1880 (Oxford, 1971).
28. Jenkins (n. 7 above), pp. 204-13; H. R. Schubert, History of the British Iron and Steel Industry from c. 450 B.C. to A.D. 1775 (London, 1957), pp. 308-9; John Daniels and Christian Daniels, "The Origins of the Sugarcane Roller Mill," Technology and Culture 29 (1988): 493-535.
29. Jenkins (n. 7 above), pp. 204-13; H. R. Schubert, History of the British Iron and Steel Industry from c. 450 B.C. to A.D. 1775 (London, 1957), pp. 308-9; John Daniels and Christian Daniels, "The Origins of the Sugarcane Roller Mill," Technology and Culture 29 (1988): 493-535.
30. Jenkins, pp. 204-13.
31. After it had been hulled, the wheat was separated from the husk by the action of brushes and afterward "submitted to the action of a novel construction of crushing roller mill, whereby a large portion of it will be reduced to semolina fit for the market." Miller, December 1889, pp. 502-3.
32. Discussion on corn milling machinery, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers 70 (1882): 240.
33. Promising initial results led to the owners obtaining exclusive rights to Buchholz's machinery within a radius of seven miles from Liverpool, but it was claimed that, despite some technical success, the investment was never recouped. R. Bennett and J. Elton, History of Corn Milling (London, 1990), pp. 304-6.
34. Miller, January 1884, p. 819; discussion following paper by W. Proctor Baker, "On the Process of Decorticating Grain and Making Semolina and Flour by Means of Fluted Metal Rollers," Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1872): 238.
35. Miller, January 1884, p. 819; discussion following paper by W. Proctor Baker, "On the Process of Decorticating Grain and Making Semolina and Flour by Means of Fluted Metal Rollers," Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1872): 238.
36. G. Little, "Modern Milling - Its Birth and Development," Engineer 64 (July 1887): 41; evidence of high royalties is for Liverpool only. Stannard, who had substituted Buchholz machinery for nearly all his previous system, "substantially returned to the old system."
37. This is the view of W. Proctor Baker, of W. Baker & Sons, and endorsed by Gilbert Little, manager to J. Harrison Carter; Engineer 64 (July 1887): 42.
38. This discussion follows the paper by H. Simon, "On the Latest Developments of Roller Flour Milling," Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1889): 175. Also see the Miller, April 1882, pp. 119-20; H. Marston, The Development of the Modern British Roller Mill (London, 1931), pp. 10-11.
39. This discussion follows the paper by H. Simon, "On the Latest Developments of Roller Flour Milling," Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1889): 175. Also see the Miller, April 1882, pp. 119-20; H. Marston, The Development of the Modern British Roller Mill (London, 1931), pp. 10-11.
40. This discussion follows the paper by H. Simon, "On the Latest Developments of Roller Flour Milling," Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (1889): 175. Also see the Miller, April 1882, pp. 119-20; H. Marston, The Development of the Modern British Roller Mill (London, 1931), pp. 10-11.
41. Miller, January 1879, pp. 708, 711.
42. Through T. N. Palmer; Miller, January 1879, pp. 708, 711.
43. Miller, July 1876, p. 172.
44. Miller, May 1877, pp. 95-97.
45. Miller, February 1878, p. 586.
46. Miller, February 1879, p. 762. In December 1878 Wegmann claimed that there were approximately 580 of his machines in use in Britain; Miller, January 1879, p. 711.
47. Miller, February 1879, p. 762. In December 1878 Wegmann claimed that there were approximately 580 of his machines in use in Britain; Miller, January 1879, p. 711.
48. Miller, February 1881, p. 849; Kick (n. 10 above), p. 49.
49. Kick, pp. 147-49.
50. Miller, July 1879, p. 371.
51. Miller, May 1878, p. 139.
52. Miller, May 1880, p. 181.
53. Miller, January 1879, p. 719. By 1881 Buchholz had installed plant in mills at Boroughbridge, Chester, Boston, Grimsby, Leeds, Wakefield, and Glasgow; Miller, January 1882, p. 837.
54. Miller, January 1879, p. 719. By 1881 Buchholz had installed plant in mills at Boroughbridge, Chester, Boston, Grimsby, Leeds, Wakefield, and Glasgow; Miller, January 1882, p. 837.
55. Miller, January 1884, p. 838.
56. He was based in Manchester; Miller, June 1901, p. 209.
57. Miller, June 1901, p. 210; and May 1881, p. 179.
58. Miller, June 1901, p. 210; and May 1881, p. 179.
59. Miller, May 1897, p. 193; December 1876, p. 404; and April 1883, p. 96.
60. Miller, May 1897, p. 193; December 1876, p. 404; and April 1883, p. 96.
61. Miller, May 1897, p. 193; December 1876, p. 404; and April 1883, p. 96.
62. Miller, March 1886, p. xix.
63. Miller, July 1885, p. 442.
64. Miller, June 1887, pp. 136-38.
65. Miller, April 1883, p. 96.
66. Miller, August 1899, pp. 376-77.
67. The Daverio machine was shown at the Royal Agricultural Society's July 1879 meeting; Miller, July 1879, p. 357. A small roller mill plant was illustrated in a supplement to the Miller, April 1879. See also H. Simon, On Roller Flour Milling (Manchester, 1886), p. 6.
68. The Daverio machine was shown at the Royal Agricultural Society's July 1879 meeting; Miller, July 1879, p. 357. A small roller mill plant was illustrated in a supplement to the Miller, April 1879. See also H. Simon, On Roller Flour Milling (Manchester, 1886), p. 6.
69. The Daverio machine was shown at the Royal Agricultural Society's July 1879 meeting; Miller, July 1879, p. 357. A small roller mill plant was illustrated in a supplement to the Miller, April 1879. See also H. Simon, On Roller Flour Milling (Manchester, 1886), p. 6.
70. For example, in mills at Manchester, Croydon, Tadcaster, and Carlow (Ireland); H. Simon, "Modern Flour Milling in England," Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers 70 (1882): 191-233.
71. Ibid., pp. 220-31.
72. Simon, On Roller Flour Milling, p. 7.
73. Miller, October 1883, suppl.
74. Miller, January 1887, suppl.
75. Miller, January 1890, suppl.
76. Miller, January 1892, suppl.
77. Engineer, April 1887, p. 317.
78. Ibid.
79. Miller, July 1887, p. 225; October 1886, p. 536; and June 1887, pp. 135-36.
80. Miller, July 1887, p. 225; October 1886, p. 536; and June 1887, pp. 135-36.
81. Miller, July 1887, p. 225; October 1886, p. 536; and June 1887, pp. 135-36.
82. Miller, November 1884, suppl.
83. Miller, May 1906, p. 159; and January 1878, pp. 562-63.
84. Miller, May 1906, p. 159; and January 1878, pp. 562-63.
85. Miller, June 1886, p. 130.
86. Miller January 1884, pp. 817-22.
87. Miller, June 1885, suppl.
88. Ibid.
89. Engineer, November 18, 1887, p. 404.
90. Miller, March 1885, suppl.
91. For example, Rochdale District Co-operative Corn Mill and the new Dunston on Tyne mill built in 1891; Miller, May 1891, pp. 91-93.
92. Co-operative Wholesale Society Annual (1898): 39.
93. Milling, June 1897, p. 455.
94. Miller, March 1875, pp. 11, 15; and September 1885, p. 1018.
95. Miller, March 1875, pp. 11, 15; and September 1885, p. 1018.
96. Miller, November 1885, pp. 660-62.
97. Miller, November 1880, p. 648.
98. Miller, March 1886, p. xiv.
99. Miller, May 1881, p. 166.
100. Miller, February 1884, p. 933.
101. Kick (n. 10 above), p. 106.
102. Robert B. Gordon, "Who Turned the Mechanical Ideal into Mechanical Reality?" Technology and Culture 29 (1988): 744-78.
103. Miller, July 1879, pp. 370-72.
104. Miller, December 1880, pp. 709-14.
105. Simon, "Modern Flour Milling" (n. 47 above), pp. 213-14.
106. Miller, July 1879, pp. 370-72; and January 1880, pp. 829-32.
107. Miller, July 1879, pp. 370-72; and January 1880, pp. 829-32.
108. Miller, July 1886, pp. 185-88.
109. Miller, September 1880, pp. 509-10; and December 1880, p. 718.
110. Miller, September 1880, pp. 509-10; and December 1880, p. 718.
111. Kick (n. 10 above), pp. 266-75.
112. Miller, January 1884, pp. 817-22.
113. Miller, July 1887, pp. 195-98.
114. Simon, On Roller Flour Milling (n. 46 above), p. 5.
115. Miller, January 1881, p. 794.
116. Miller, April 1882, pp. 116-20; and July 1882, pp. 358, 404.
117. Miller, April 1882, pp. 116-20; and July 1882, pp. 358, 404.
118. Miller, March 1883, p. 31.
119. Miller, November 1884, pp. 693-95; December 1884, pp. 808-10; and January 1885, pp. 879-82.
120. Miller, November 1884, pp. 693-95; December 1884, pp. 808-10; and January 1885, pp. 879-82.
121. Miller, November 1884, pp. 693-95; December 1884, pp. 808-10; and January 1885, pp. 879-82.
122. Miller, October 1880, p. 582; and December 1880, p. 720.
123. Miller, October 1880, p. 582; and December 1880, p. 720.
124. Miller, January 1881, pp. 788-90. Editorials on the subject of "bread reform" were carried in the Miller in November 1880, pp. 656-57; August 1881, p. 452; September 1881, p. 595; and November 1881, pp. 680-81.
125. Miller, January 1881, pp. 788-90. Editorials on the subject of "bread reform" were carried in the Miller in November 1880, pp. 656-57; August 1881, p. 452; September 1881, p. 595; and November 1881, pp. 680-81.
126. Miller, January 1881, pp. 788-90. Editorials on the subject of "bread reform" were carried in the Miller in November 1880, pp. 656-57; August 1881, p. 452; September 1881, p. 595; and November 1881, pp. 680-81.
127. Miller, January 1881, pp. 788-90. Editorials on the subject of "bread reform" were carried in the Miller in November 1880, pp. 656-57; August 1881, p. 452; September 1881, p. 595; and November 1881, pp. 680-81.
128. Miller, January 1881, pp. 788-90. Editorials on the subject of "bread reform" were carried in the Miller in November 1880, pp. 656-57; August 1881, p. 452; September 1881, p. 595; and November 1881, pp. 680-81.
129. Miller, April 1885, p. 147.
130. National Association of British and Irish Millers (NABIM), 9th Annual Report (London, 1887), pp. 118-19.
131. The term is ambiguous but, in view of the numbers, can be taken to mean an entire roller process factory unit, in contrast to the figures claimed for "plant" by Simon, Carter, and others.
132. NABIM, pp. 112-19.
133. Which were 6.5 million sacks per year. Royal Commission on Supply of Food and Raw Material in Time of War, Report (London, 1905), 3:5, app. 1, table A1(1).
134. Converted into sacks per hour, Simon's annual capacity estimates for UK and overseas mills together equate to 1,426 and 1,629 respectively. Miller, January 1895, suppl.
135. One hundred and seventy Simon plants were installed in the United Kingdom by the end of 1887, and, in his 1893 list which provides the figures for capacity, Simon explicitly includes overseas plants, bringing the total to 184. Therefore, 170/184 has been used as the correction factor to account for any distortion caused by overseas plants in the calculation.
136. Milling feed and Fertiliser, special issue, 1978, p. 32; Miller, March 1890, p. 22; and July 1896, p. 344.
137. Milling feed and Fertiliser, special issue, 1978, p. 32; Miller, March 1890, p. 22; and July 1896, p. 344.
138. Milling feed and Fertiliser, special issue, 1978, p. 32; Miller, March 1890, p. 22; and July 1896, p. 344.
139. Joseph Rank Ltd., The Story of the House of Rank, 1875-1955 (Hull, 1955).
140. Miller, January 1896, p. 854; Home Office, Annual Rept Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops for 1896 (London, 1897), pp. 241-42.
141. Miller, January 1896, p. 854; Home Office, Annual Rept Chief Inspector of Factories and Workshops for 1896 (London, 1897), pp. 241-42.
142. Home Office, Final Report of the Census of Production of the United Kingdom, 1907 (London, 1912), pp. 447-51, 492.
143. Although the president of NABIM, who was consulted about the schedule of questions, stated that the census included "every mill in the United Kingdom down to the smallest country mill." Miller, July 1908, p. 290.
144. Home Office, Census of Production, pp. 450-51.
145. Miller, August 1907, pp. 367-70; Milling, July 1907, pp. 124-28.
146. Miller, August 1907, pp. 367-70; Milling, July 1907, pp. 124-28.
147. Royal Commission on Supply of Food and Raw Material in Time of War (n. 96 above).
148. P. J. Perry, ed., British Agriculture, 1875-1914 (London, 1973), p. xiv.
149. S. J. Mantel and G. Rosegger, "The Role of Third Parties in the Diffusion of Innovations: A Survey," in Innovation: Adaptation and Growth, ed. Roy Rothwell and John Bessant (Amsterdam, 1987).
150. Kick (n. 10 above); L. A. Gibson, Gradual Reduction Milling (Minneapolis, 1885); William Voller, Modern Flour Milling (Gloucester, 1889); and Kozmin (n. 9 above).
151. Kick (n. 10 above); L. A. Gibson, Gradual Reduction Milling (Minneapolis, 1885); William Voller, Modern Flour Milling (Gloucester, 1889); and Kozmin (n. 9 above).
152. Kick (n. 10 above); L. A. Gibson, Gradual Reduction Milling (Minneapolis, 1885); William Voller, Modern Flour Milling (Gloucester, 1889); and Kozmin (n. 9 above).