Corn Mill at Stiens

Posted by Illuci (Hurdegaryp, Netherlands) on 28 August 2007 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.

This mill has been restored in 1992. Of course it existed much longer, I think from 17.. In the years 1940 or 1950 an innovation had been added which is slearly visible at the wing (sail) at the right: namely an automatic break system, to avoid a too fast rotation which could set fire to the mill (heat by rubbing wood on wood). It exists in one or two sails provided with a long lath turning into a break position, slowing down the rotation pace when the wind gets too strong. The mechanism to achieve this automatically is located inside the mill, the lath being connected to it by steel bars via the sails centre cross (also visible on the picture). (F. Stokhuyzen: "Molens", Waanders 2007, revised 1961 edition, the 1961 ed. is also translated and maybe still available in English)

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Comments (8)

Jose from Barcelona, Spain

Perspectiva, composición y luz increibles. Me encanta esta imagen. Las líneas que se cruzan sin molestar y el fondo azul del cielo impecable. Genial!!

28 Aug 2007 4:45am

@Jose: Muchas gracias, Jose, Usted me ha estimulado mucho!

Wolfgang Prigge from Granby, Canada

Beautiful windmill from a different perspective. I think Jose is right, light, composition and perspective are just perfect. In North America corn is only maize, we would call this type of mill a grist mill.
I like all kinds of mills, even the modern wind turbines. I our area there is a great controversy about them, a company wants to install several of them and people against them say all kinds of half baked stuff about them. Ex: "they are very noisy, people will have health problems because of them", but no turbine will be installed at less than 600 m from houses. I have stood at less than 150 m from one this summer and there was less noise than from my refrigerator in the kitchen.... For pictures of the windturbines you can go to my personal website at web.mac.com/wolfgang.prigge1 and open the album Gaspésie 1.

28 Aug 2007 6:20am

@Wolfgang Prigge: Thanks, also for the advice about "grist"; I had been in doubt about "corn" because of the corn flakes and other words telling me that corn was maize, but the dictionary told me that corn was OK for all kinds of cereals, including maize. Also in our country there is a public debate about wind turbines, but it's more about "horizon and landscape pollution" and "net energy production" than about noise. I must say they have a very heavy impact on the landscape (but so do electricity transport poles - only we are more used to these), and also the net energy production is called "negative" by some scholars, because producing, transporting and placing the turbine costs also lots of ernergy, allegedly more dan it produces for years to come.

Charisse Farr from Brisbane, Australia

excellent perspective!

28 Aug 2007 6:55am

@Charisse Farr: Thanks, Charisse, from so far away!

Wolfgang Prigge from Granby, Canada

Well there will always be people against anything. Modern Windmills have an impact on the landscape, no doubt about it, just like the old windmills in your beautiful photo have. But we are used to the old ones and find them nice. For me the new windturbines are not ugly and they bring playful life to the landscape, it looks like they are dancing!

28 Aug 2007 9:35am

Erik from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

I think you 're right, on some places I think they should attach little lamps at the wings, e.g. along a boring highway. But I have my doubts if they are scattered over a beautiful countryside area, or in a dune landscape along the coast, on the other hand their purpose is to save energy in the long run and that's what we all must strive for.

28 Aug 2007 12:41pm

Markus from Reading, United Kingdom

Heerlijke foto Erik. Mooie winkelhaak.

28 Aug 2007 4:26pm

@Markus: Bedankt, Markus!

Evie from Fairfax, United States

I love the colors and lines - very nice abstract.

28 Aug 2007 5:08pm

Erik from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

Evie, thanks, I'm also very glad with it and I'm thinking of purchasing a good photo printer to make postcards and wall decorations.
Long time no see, glad that you visit me again, but you must be very busy with your job and family. It reminds me to continue my textblog. Since holidays + maintenance requiring boat I've little time left, too.

29 Aug 2007 4:53am

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