The Sugar Mill Origins and Evolution Part 11: C. S. Bell’s “Climax” Mill

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Introduction   

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is a perennial grass of the family Poaceae. It is primarily cultivated for its juice, from which alcohol (through fermentation and distillation) and sugar (through dehydration and refining) can be obtained. Most of the world’s sugarcane is grown in subtropical and tropical areas.

It is commonly accepted today that sugarcane originated in Papua, New Guinea, where it was initially domesticated. The plant was then taken to other lands by traders, where its sweet virtues quickly made it a sought-after commodity.

It is also commonly accepted that around 10,000 years ago, the original inhabitants of Papua did not have tools to process the cane, meaning that they likely chewed it raw to extract the juice, which was consumed as- is (Noël Deerr, The History of Sugar: Volume One).

                   The Sugar Mill: Origins and Evolution

                       Part 11: C. S. Bell’s “Climax” Mill

Last month we re-visited the vertical roller mill, iron edition, courtesy of the Belknap Hardware Company from Louisville, Kentucky.  The three-roller configuration proved to be simple, efficient and easy to maintain and operate, so it should be no surprise that many other manufacturers attempted to make their own versions.

In this article we will explore a model known as the “Climax” Mill, but first we’ll talk a bit about the history of the company behind it.

The Bell Foundry was established by Mr. Charles Singleton Bell, from Cumberland, Maryland.  Coincidentally (or not), despite the “Bell” in the name being a reference to the founder’s family name, the company also became famous for producing bells and many other metal products.  In 1858, Mr. Bell purchased the Speedwell Foundry in Hillsboro, Ohio, and set out to produce cooking stoves, plows and other castings.

Following the introduction of sweet sorghum into the USA, farmers located in Northern climates that were too cold to grow sugarcane, focused instead on establishing a sorghum syrup industry.  They required efficient, strong and affordable mills that could grind either locally-grown sorghum or sugarcane that would be shipped to them from cane-growing regions.

The Climax Mill was available in five models/sizes, ranging from Model #0 to #4, based on the desired output of cane juice per hour.  

According to the manufacturer, models #0 and #1 could be operated by one horse and were capable of producing 40 and 60 gallons of cane juice per hour, respectively.  Models #2, #3 and #4 all required two horses and could produce 80, 100 and 120 gallons of cane juice per hour.  The prices of the mills at the time were (USD): $30, $40, $60, $80 and $100.  Shown on the opposite page is Model #2.  

On the left is a testimonial published by The Wisconsin Farmer, on January of 1863, promoting the virtues of this mill.  Below is a photo of Mr. Ignatius Lee, a local Presbyterian minister, blessing the bells produced by C.S. Bell for the Navy during World War II.

                                           Sugar Mill Spotlight

The sugar mill, once part of the Cruger-dePeyster Plantation, was built in the early 19th century. This 17-acre historic site contains the ruins of the Coquina Sugar Factory that was raided during a war between the Seminole Indians and the United States.  It is located in New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida.

Join us again next month, as we continue to explore this fascinating topic!