Print, Photographic
Black and white photographic print depicting Abbe mills at the Jeffery-Dewitt Plant.
Caption on reads: This picture shows a battery of 6' Abbe ball mills in department #1 used for final grinding of the previously weighed-out body mixture. The mills revolve at 17 RPM. Each mill holds approximately five tons of vitrified mill balls made from one of our regular production bodies. ( In August 1949, the date of this description, we were using mill balls made of our 3077 and 2677 compositions). For proper grinding, it is necessary for the balls to be within definite size limits. The grinding charge of the body materials is weighed out exactly and the water used with it to form the cream-like slip is also accurately measured. The final result after usually 18 hours' grinding is a slip whose specific gravity and viscosity are within very narrow predetermined limits.
In the foreground is shown a blunger with the cover raised. The ground slip is stored in these blungers so the mill can be released for another charge of body. The blungers were 9' deep and 9' in diameter and each could hold the contents of several mills. At the left center, the geared wheel is attached to a screw conveyor which is delivering dust from the turning department to the dust piles, which were located outside the walls of this department. Overhead, are shown the pipes for delivery water to the mills. This picture was taken at least 25 years ago (1924) probably earlier.
