How much did it cost to thresh grain with the steam mill? An article in the Aberdeen press and journal of 28 March 1913 set out how much it cost to thresh grain with the steam mill. It sets this out as an average or “as a rule”. The calculation was made for “manpower”, coals and hire of the threshing plant. The article states:
“Steam mill threshing
Cost per hour to farmers
Travelling steam-mills are yet largely used in many parts of the country, particularly among the smaller farms where oil engines are less common than on the well-equipped big farms. There are various points to attend to on threshing day, and the farmer is himself often the busiest man “aboot the toon” in seeing that all goes well. The number of men employed in threshing varies with the machines, and the nature of the stackyard arrangements, etc. Taking an ordinary traction-engine and portable mill, we may expect from 80 to 100 or even 120 quarters of oats a day, in an average season. Unfortunately the pour of grain falls very far short of these figures most ways this season. The work will be accomplished by a varying force according to the position of the machine, and the arrangement of the stacks, distance from granary, etc. As a rule, for a day’s threshing the following number of men are required:-Three men pitching sheaves, two lads cutting bands, one man feeding, two men attending to sacks, weighing etc. one man at engine, one boy carrying water, two boys at chaff and covings, six men at straw stack (an elevator being used). In addition to these there will be needed a man at odd jobs, and a variable force of horses and carts to take the corn to the barn, or mayhap, when within easy reach, to the railway station.
If we restrict ourselves to the actual work of threshing, the cost may be approximately arrived at from the above statement. For the feeder and engine attendant, however, no charge need be entered, their wages being inclusive with hire of threshing plant.
11 men at 3s £1 13 0
5 boys at 2s £0 10 0
Coals, 6 to 10 cwt (say) £0 12 0
Hire of plant, 10 hours at 4d £2 0 0. Total – £4 15 0.
Other items, including refreshment, etc, would cost about £1 more. Thus we see that a day’s thresh (with steam-mill) costs practically about 11s 6d every hour the mill is running. The cost per quarter, etc, may be easily ascertained by a little calculation based on these figures.”
