Vikelä Farm Mill, Taivalpohja (1)

A wind-powered corn mill in Finland.

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The mill was built in 1838. In 1964 it was restored by the Parish Society who now own it. Though difficult to photograph, its situation on a rocky bluff by a small farmhouse and a lake from which it is screened by trees is by far the most attractive of any of the mills discussed in this Paper. It is also noteworthy for the fact that all the restoration is completely authentic. The body of the mill is 8 ft. square by 12 ft. 3 in. high, with a pyramid roof, vertical boarding with a horizontal petticoat, and a rear lean-to porch which has a step on the right-hand side when viewed from the rear. Inside, a ladder with steps cut from a solid balk, leads up from the lower floor. The crowntree is 16 in. wide by 8 in. deep with a split plate of wood 4 in. thick below it. The hollow post is 18 in. square. There are two parallel pairs of crosstrees halved together, each one has a quarterbar and there are four additional quarterbars between to the main frame of the stone chamber. The crosstrees are 9 in. by 18 in. wide; the quarterbars are 6 in. by 5 in. wide.

Inside, the original stone chamber is 11 ft. square and 5 ft. 8 in. high, built of balks of timber 6 in. thick of varying depths. Round this square chamber an outer octagonal house, 22 ft. across the flats, has been added. Except at the doorway, this outer chamber has been filled with rocks to stabilise the base. On the sloping roof, turf with growing grass has been laid. The mill was once overturned by a gale and this accounts for the outer casing, added after this disaster.

The sails have permanent boards; they are 5 ft. 6 in. wide at the tip, have a constant angle of weather, and are equally spaced each side of the stock which is 5 1/2 in by 4 in. deep and about 14 ft. long. There are twin iron hooks at the bottom of the mill body which are caught into eyes on the sails to hold them when the mill is not at work since there is no brake. Winding is by inclined tailpole.

The windshaft is 14 in. diameter. The headwheel, which is 6 ft. 4 in. diameter and planked solid, has 46 cogs and drives a ten-stave lantern wallower. The wheel is braced to the windshaft, the neck journal of which consists of iron strips clamped on with no wood in between.

The upright shaft is wood-sheathed and drives a single pair of red granite stones, 3 ft. 6 in. diameter, brought from a watermill. These stand on two beams below, and parallel to, the lower twin crosstrees. There is a round vat; the show is cut out of a solid piece of wood, the hopper moves with the shoe, and is slung from the horse fixed to a substantial plank behind it. Adjustment of feed is by cord; tentering is by lever and wedges.

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References

• TIMS Mills GPS Database Mill ID 3049
• Wailes, Rex, & Auvo Hirsjärvi, "Finnish Mills Part III: Hollow Post Mills", (Transactions of the Newcomen Society, 44, 1971-1972, pp.99-118)

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