Interview with Oliver Collins, 1972 July 6-7 [audio]

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  • Learning the miller's trade
    Partial Transcript: "I learned the millers trade..." "I had two sawmills in the 20s..."
    Synopsis: Collins is hard to understand. He talks about learning his trade as a miller. He says that he had a sawmill. He explains that he worked in and owned multiple mills. He talks about how a mill works. He talks about maintaining the gears in a mill.
    Keywords: Flours; Gears; Maintenance; Milling; Trades
  • Milling jobs in Wilmington; Rodents living in mills; Taking care of grindstones; Running the mill
    Partial Transcript: "Oh yeah, corn, wheat, rye, and oats..."
    Synopsis: Collins details some of the materials he has milled while living and working in the area near Wilmington, Del. Collins talks about rodents living in the mills. He talks about how fast a mill can turn and says that his went at a speed of 90 rpm, but he had seen mills go as fast as 150 rpm. Collins talks about taking care of his mill's grindstones. Collins describes what happened when a main bought grain to his mill to be made into animal feed.
    Keywords: Animal feed; Corn; Flour; Mill stones; Milling; Oats; Rodents; Rye; Wheat; Wilmington, Del.
  • Mill between Landenberg, Pa. and Newark, Del.; Different kinds of mills; Running a mill and earning money
    Partial Transcript: "All that was left was that old Quaker meeting house..."
    Synopsis: Collins talks about a mill that used to stand on White Clay Creek between Landenberg Pa. and Newark, Del. Collins explains the differences between a gristmill and a flour mill. He talks about different kinds of mills. He talks about running a mill and how he earned money from it. He recalls some anecdotes about running a mill and talks about some of his machinery.
    Keywords: Landenberg, Pa; Money; Newark, Del.; Wages; White Clay Creek
  • Operating a mill; Grinding grain for animal feed
    Partial Transcript: "That gear is original..."
    Synopsis: Collins explains how his mill worked. He talks about how the machinery works and pays attention to maintaining gears. He talks about grinding grain for animal feed.
    Keywords: Animal feed; Gears; Machinery; Mills; Waterwheels; Wood
  • Exploding flour mills and grain elevators; Building a grain elevator; Cider mill
    Partial Transcript: "Dust explosions, I never had any, but grain elevators...they were bad..."
    Synopsis: Collins talks about the danger of explosions. He says that he's never had an explosion at his mill, but he has seen grain elevators explode. He talks about some close calls that he has had with explosions and fire. He talks about building a grain elevator. He talks about a dilapidated cider mill on his property.
    Keywords: Accidents; Explosions; Grain elevators; Mills; Risk
Details
Title

Interview with Oliver Collins, 1972 July 6-7 [audio]

Date Created (questionable)

1972-07-06

Abstract

Collins describes how he was trained as a miller, how his business expanded, the different crops ground at his facility, the process of grinding corn and wheat, different grades of flour produced, and explosions that occurred in the mill business. He also discusses the role of grain elevators in the mill process.

Interviewee

Collins, Oliver Ernest, 1888-1982

Interviewer

Ackerman, James B.

Biographical Note

Oliver Collins owned Collins Mill Sawmill in Anselma, Pennsylvania.

Note

cuts off at 0:38:55 briefly in between interviews; Mr. Collins is hard to understand; ends abruptly

Subject(s)

Flour mills
Mills and mill-work--Equipment and supplies
Explosions
Grain elevators
Reminiscing
Mills and mill-work--Employees

Find all items with name(s)

Collins, Oliver Ernest, 1888-1982
Ackerman, James B.

Genre

oral histories

Brand Information

Gibson Girl Robins Tape Mialer

Language

English

Type of resource

sound recording-nonmusical

Extent

1 sound tape reel : 1.875 ips. TRT 1:02:24.

Physical Details

A
1:02:24

Repository

Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library

Original Collection

Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation interviews on the history of the DuPont Company Powder Yard (Accession 1970.370)

Original Identifier

1970.370.284

Finding Aid

http://findingaids.hagley.org/xtf/view?docId=ead/1970_370.xml

Item Location

Box 6, Reel 284

Preferred Citation

[Description and dates], 1970370_022614_collins_part3, Box 6, Reel 284, Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation interviews on the history of the DuPont Company Powder Yard (Accession 1970.370), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807

Access Condition

Access to this item is provided for educational and research purposes only. The user assumes responsibility for obtaining permission from the copyright holder to publish or distribute this material. If you would like more information, please contact askhagley@hagley.org

Hagley ID

1970370_022614_collins_part3

PID

islandora:2277752

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