Why did the Arbovale Milling Company have to sell its equipment?

 

The four items in the image are:

1. 25-barrel Marvel Midget Mill This is a small-scale grist mill that was popular in the early 20th century. It was used to grind wheat, corn, and other grains into flour. The Marvel Midget Mill was known for its compact size and ease of use.

2. Williams burr mill This is a type of mill that uses two rotating burrs to crush and grind grains. Burr mills are known for their high-quality output and durability. The Williams burr mill was a popular choice for millers in the early 20th century.

3. Bowser feed grinder This is a machine that is used to grind animal feed. Bowser feed grinders were known for their reliability and efficiency. The Bowser feed grinder was a popular choice for farmers and ranchers in the early 20th century.

4. Fue oil engine This is a type of engine that runs on fuel oil. Fuel oil engines were commonly used in the early 20th century to power machinery and equipment. The Fue oil engine was a reliable and efficient source of power.

These four items would have been essential for a small flour mill in the early 20th century. The Marvel Midget Mill would have been used to grind the wheat into flour, the Williams burr mill would have been used to grind the corn into cornmeal, the Bowser feed grinder would have been used to grind the animal feed, and the Fue oil engine would have been used to power the mill.

Additional research:

The advertisement states that the equipment is all new, which suggests that the mill was either recently built or had recently upgraded its equipment. The reason for selling the mill is that the owner "has no miller." This suggests that the mill was profitable, but the owner was unable to find a qualified miller to operate it.

The advertisement also states that the mill is located in Arbovale, West Virginia. Arbovale is a small town in the Appalachian Mountains. In the early 20th century, the Appalachian region was a major center for the flour milling industry. The region's abundant water resources and fertile soil made it ideal for growing wheat and other grains.

Overall, the image of the for sale or rent advertisement tells us a story about the flour milling industry in the early 20th century Appalachian Mountains. It is a story of small-scale mills that were essential to the local economy, but that were also vulnerable to the changing needs of the industry.