Just in time for the second Elgin Open Gardens weekend during which the Mill operated both days again, I was able to buy this set-up for showing early video footage of the restoration:
It consists of a DVD player, an adaptor and a computer flat screen. There’s also a simple sound system. It was partly funded by a kind donation from Personal Trust, who visited the Mill recently.
Sandstone Estates Website received this request on 22nd January 2010:
JOANNE,
On the 5th January 2008 you had an article on your website
http://www.sandstone-estates.com/interim/Compagnes_Drift_Mill_water_wheel/5th_January_2008.htm
in which at the bottom you refer knowingly to one Servaas Daniel de Kock. My dad (now 92) is Servaas Daniel de Kock Venter and his name entered the Venter lineage via the De Kock part. Up to now I never traced that line, but since my son also carries that name, I would be interested to pick up that part of history. Can you refer me to someone who can point me in the right direction?
Work started at home during the week with the chute, making a wooden lining around the outside of the galvanised sheet trough which was cut and folded last week.
The steel service workshops are only opening on Monday, so although the linings of the chutes worked out last week are ordered, They will only be delivered in the course of this week. That meant that I chose to tackle a job I’ve been avoiding for a long time; the rotten planks in the upstairs floor.
On Monday 11th, I was able to slip away from work to show Compagnes Drift Mill to a group of people from Franschhoek. Before the week was out, they had arranged a visit to another Mill in their area, La Cotte. I invited myself along as an observer, but word leaked out that I had some experience with Mills, so it wasn’t long before there was lively discussion with our guide, Pietie Le Roux, Senior Farm Manager of the Historic Wines Management Company, part of the Rupert Group.
This is what our ‘bible’, Water-mills windmills and horse-mills of South Africa, by James Walton says about it in 1974:
Heritage - News
Update for 14th August 2009
Update for end of May 2009
Milling with the Vitruvian Mill!
Well, that’s let the cat out of the bag, but it wasn’t easy! I thought that the remaining wobble in the Vitruvian runner stone would be easy to adjust, it being in the direction which I can set through the eye of the runner. Not so! I adjusted as far as I could and it still wasn’t enough, the rhynd was bearing up against one of the sides of the driving dog which I made:
So I had to fit the cradle and lift the runner out.....
Heritage - News
Update for 7th August 2009
Update for 23rd May 2009
86. Rheenendal Mill
The purpose of today’s trip to Swellendam was to inspect a Lister Blackstone-powered generator which is set up as a stand-by plant at a sawmill on Grootvadersbos beyond Buffeljags River and Zuurbraak, quite a distance inland, on the way to Heidelberg. Ronnie Crowther and I had arranged to have the engine started for us by Nick Selley and to meet the owner, Alex Anderson. In case you think the name is in Khoisan, think again! It’s an acronym for all the first names in Alex’s family!
Heritage - News
Update for 14th August 2009
Update for beginning of June 2009
Horse, Hopper and Shoe
Again, working from the one poor picture out of James Walton's book of the now derelict Kleine Zand Drift Mill in Bredasdorp:
Heritage - News
Update for 31st August 2009
89 Damsel and Sweeper
Heritage - News
Update for 31st August 2009
90 Horse Mill at Calvinia Museum
Something totally different! On a weekday visit to the Northern Cape town of Calvinia (pron Kul-fffiee-niee-ah) in search of parts for a Commer TS3 lorry which Keith Wetmore from Somerset Timbers is restoring, we had an hour spare after a very successful day so far, to visit the town's museum.