Oliver Evans' Automated Mill Design

(Companion to the post on Capitol Milling)

Oliver Evans was a mostly self-educated mechanic, engineer, and inventor whose greatest contribution was the automation of the milling process.  In the early 1790s he began to write a pamphlet summarizing his innovations as a guide for working millers and mill-wrights, but this work grew into a comprehensive work including not only the specific application to milling but also  a general introduction to mechanics and hydraulics and an appendix detailing further proposed inventions. The text on mechanics and hydraulics included numerous examples and sample questions for the student to work out. 

Cover page of The Young Mill-wright and Miller's Guide, first edition.

The book went through at least eleven more editions, well past the author's death in 1819.   

To contemporary readers, the eighteenth century English can be somewhat difficult, and those interested in the details of Evans' process may prefer the description by Peter Kozmin, in his 1917 book Flour Milling, which is available, here, in full text from Google Books.  The relevant three pages are pictured and linked below.