Interview with Oliver Collins, 1973 July 19 [audio](part 1)

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  • Touring Collins' mill; Water turbines and powering mills; Turning lathes
    Partial Transcript: "I have ten foot lathe down there..."
    Synopsis: Collins takes the interviewer on a tour of his mill. They talk about other people Collins might know. Collins talks about other people he knows of who are operating mills. Collins talks about water turbines, he and the interviewer discuss their efficiency. Collins talks about using a lathe and maintaining the mill.
    Keywords: Maintenance; Mills; Power; Water turbines
  • Touring Collins' mill 2
    Partial Transcript: "The weight was 196..."
    Synopsis: Collins continues to give the interviewer a tour of his mill. He explains the different pieces of machinery they encounter and talks about running a mill. He runs some of the machinery. The audio becomes faint and hard to hear.
    Keywords: Machinery; Mills
  • Collins' gun; Sawmills; The millrace
    Partial Transcript: "When he sold the place... there was a gun."
    Synopsis: Collins talks about his gun. He talks about sawmills. he talks about the millrace, his motorcycle, and other tools. He runs some of his machinery. It is hard to hear Collins and the interviewer.
    Keywords: Guns; Millraces; Motorcycles; Sawmills
  • Touring Collins' mill 3; Repairing the mill
    Partial Transcript: "I cut firewood with it, yeah..."
    Synopsis: Collins continues to show the interviewer around his mill. He explains the machinery as they encounter it. A high pitched whirring noise sometimes makes it hard to understand what is being said. He talks about the age of his mill and repairing it.
    Keywords: Machinery; Maintenance; Mills; Repairs; Sawmills
  • Touring Collins' mill 4
    Partial Transcript: "I never used that, I had that when I came here (a gasoline motor)"
    Synopsis: Collins' continues to give the interviewers a tour of his mill. He talks about a gas motor in the mill. He also talks about steam engines. He explains some of the parts and machinery for the mill.
    Keywords: Machinery; Mills; Motors; Steam engines
  • Touring Collins' mill 5
    Partial Transcript: "I never put in all new teeth on that big wheel..."
    Synopsis: Collins contiues to give the interviewers a tour of his mill. He talk about maintaining his mill and using a lathe to make replacement teeth for one of the wooden gears in the mill. He runs machinery at times.
    Keywords: Maintenance; Mills; Repairs
Details
Title

Interview with Oliver Collins, 1973 July 19 [audio](part 1)

Date Created

1973-07-19

Abstract

Collins describes different kinds of turbines, wheel diameters and their various usage, and other industrial machines essential to his business. He also describes his family history and the running of the millrace, as well as overcoming problems such as rot. He describes the environment and wildlife in the area and also discusses his other interest in cutting hair.

Interviewee

Collins, Oliver Ernest, 1888-1982

Interviewer

Ackerman, James B.
McKelvey, Howard

Biographical Note

Oliver Collins owned Collins Mill Sawmill in Anselma, Pennsylvania.

Note

"Mr. Collins of Collins Grist and Sawmill, south bank of Pickering Creek nr. Alselna, on road to Ludwik's Corner" "Coordinated through Mrs. Samuel W. Morris, Secretary, French and Pickering Creek Conservation Trust, Inc."
Part 1: Ends abruptly but picks up on Part 2; Lots of background noise as demonstrations are done at the saw mill; Lots of variation in volume as participants are moving around the mill througout--sometimes Mr. Collins cannot be heard at all; Cuts off from 0:42:12 to 0:42:21; Cuts off from 1:23:40 to 1:23:43; This side of reel was compiled from three shorter reels ; Part 2 - Same issues with volume as side 1; The last few minutes are hard to understand, particulalrly the final 2 minutes as the quality of the recording is quite poor

Place

Anselma (Pa.)

Subject(s)

Sawmills--Management
Sawmills--Equipment and supplies
Sawmills--Environmental aspects
Barbering

Find all items with name(s)

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

Genre

oral histories

Brand Information

Robins Brand Five, 5 DMS, 1800 ft.

Language

English

Type of resource

sound recording-nonmusical

Extent

1 sound tape reel : 13 cm, 1.875 ips. TRT Part 1 - 1:32:11, Part 2 - 0:37:15.

Physical Details

One and Two
Part 1: 1:32:11; Part 2: 0:37:15

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

1970.370.057

Finding Aid

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

Item Location

Box 2, Reel 57

Preferred Citation

[Description and dates], 1970370_81613_Collins_O_part1, Box 2, Reel 57, 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_81613_Collins_O_part1

PID

islandora:2277840

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