Ben's Mill: An Excerpt

This film is available from Documentary Educational Resources at http://www.der.org/films/bens-mill.html.
Ben Thresher's mill is one of the few water-powered, wood-working mills left in this country. Operating in rural Vermont since 1848, the mill is a unique link between the age of craft and the age of modern industry. In this 1981 documentary, Ben uses his machines and finely crafted tools to first adapt a neighbor's pitch fork into a sod turner, and second to build a wooden watering tub for cows (a task that he accomplishes in one day). The film evokes the quality of rural New England life, and at the same time provides a close, step-by-step view of Ben's woodworking processes.

• Category

  Travel & Events

[lolly pop]

amazing mill love it great way to live a life

[sneezie22]

I will repeat this just for you ...."I believe his claim was that the water power was the most efficient means to get the job done"

Take care.,Pierre : )

[Steffen Reichel]

Well, sneeze, you used the word liar - I not.

If you have 300 hp then 5% might be not much, but it you have only 10 hp a factor of 5% is much...

And if you haven't knowledge in water turbine efficiency - well, you won't understand.

If you have changing water, your turbine works once at top notch, if you have not optimum water, that turbine wastes a lot of efficiency.

Other turbines even water wheels deals much better in such circumstances

[sneezie2]

This was one of the best videos I've ever enjoyed , other than the poor lighting by the film crew. Excellent work , Ben : )

[sneezie2]

So call him a liar for 5%...does it really make a difference in the end ?

I believe his claim was that the water power was the most efficient means to get the job done. Thanks for sharing your brilliance with us !

[bigmontana00]

that was pretty darn cool.

[Gary Henderson]

great video ..what a great inspiration..

[guyontheblackchair]

Yes. You can put a taper on any piece by placing the far end of it on the far jointer-table and 'going'. You will remove wood "from nothin'-to-whatever-the-depth-­of-cut-is-set-at".

[guyontheblackchair]

At a loss for words.

God bless you people.

[Cedarworkshop]

What a fascinating video. I could watch a whole series of video's on Ben. Reminds me of the days of school groups going to historic forts.