Antique Grain Mill or Coffee Grinder.  Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz pointed out on American Pickers that this item would be a good piece to use as a "draw" for any auction we may have.  Would look great sandblasted and repainted, like a bright red, which I believe the original color was, and put in a Coffee Shop or Bakery.  Great conversation piece. I believe it says The CS Bell Co. Hillsboro - Model No 3.  CS Bell Co. was the largest caster of Bells in Ohio, and likely the U.S. at that time.


A little more history about the company;


In Jan., 1858, Bell purchased the Speedwell Foundry on W. Beech, being operated by Bitler and Clayton. He started work with one boy and a weekly expense of $7.00. In addition to stoves they began to make plow points and other castings.

In a few years a second foundry and showroom was built on the northwest corner of Main and West Sts. James K. Marlay became a partner and was placed in the showroom, while Bell operated the foundry.

When making of sorghum syrup sprang up in the North, Bell designed a cane mill to meet the demand. The mill was very efficient, simple to operate, strong, cheap and very durable. It was equally well adapted to the southern sugar caner being grown on the small plantations.

Bell advertised for sale: “A cast center lever plow, 100 bells, made from the best materials at the foundry.” They also had on hand number of improved beehives and were prepared to pay cash for any amount of scrap iron.

In 1869 Bell purchased Marlay’s interest and continued to add various items to those he already sold and manufactured.

The pioneer Bell had a natural aptitude for metallurgy and continued to experiment with different formulas of iron, steel and other metals in his search to find an alloy cheaper and more durable than iron. Bell continued his experiments and his business continued to expand. One day he was busily engaged in the foundry working with a metal formula he had developed when he accidentally dropped a piece.

To his great surprise he heard a ringing tone that “sounded like a bell.” He experimented, mixed ingredients, poured them carefully, cooled them just so, until he had a metal with bell tones. The allow or “peculiar amalgam” developed by Bell could be produced cheaper than brass, copper or tin which were being used in the manufacture of bells. Bell also discovered that the allow from which he made the bells could be pitched, with very mellow tone.

In 1889 over 20,000 bells were manufactured and sold. They were sent out by horse-drawn wagons, by ship and by rail to all parts of the civilized world. Charles E. Bell, son of the founder, was taken into partnership in 1882 and the C.S. Bell Co. was formed. The son became a world traveler and built up outlets in many foreign countries. Orders poured in from South Africa, Brazil and Central America for cane mills and evaporators. Rice mills were shipped to China, feed and grinding mills, corn shellers, stoves and other items were shipped to all points of the compass.

By 1892 over 100 men were employed in the various departments in the new plant erected on a seven-acre tract of land at the edge of town. With the new facilities the C.S. Bell Co. produced 2,000 tons of bells, 400 tons of cane mills and 400 tons of other manufactured items per year. The company with its increased business was incorporated in 1894.

Charles S. Bell died in 1905. The business was continued by Charles E. Bell and Co. The sale of bells was slow, so the company again concentrated on the manufacture of laborsaving machinery for the farm. About 1,000 bells per year were produced. The members of the C.S. Bell Co. in 1912 were Charles E. Bell, president; Libby Boyd, vice president; Ernest W. Shumacher, treasurer; and Blair M. Boyd, secretary.

http://www.highland-ohio.com/c_s_bell_company.htm