THE 1919 FULLER & JOHNSON MODEL “K” THROTTLING GOVERNOR KEROSENE ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN MADISON WISCONSIN. IT IS A 12 HP ENGINE AND OPERATES AT 325 RPM AND RUNS ON KEROSENE AND GASOLENE. IT WEIGHS 2350 LBS.
THE MILL WAS MANUFACTURED BY W. J. PALMER MFG CO IN ROARING RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA. IT HAS A WOODEN CASE, 20-INCH GRANITE STONE BURR AND OPERATES AT 600 RPM. THE W. J. PALMER CO WAS PURCHASED BY THE MEADOW MILLS COMPANY IN 1925 AND IS STILL IN BUSINESS TODAY. THE SALE PRICE OF THE MILL, AS LISTED IN THE MEADOWS MILL BOOK, WAS $83.00 IN 1919. THE PROFIT MARGIN OF EACH MILL MANUFACTURED WAS $6.00 USD. W. J. PALMER CO. WAS ALSO A MANUFACTURER OF SAWMILLS. JERRY HELTSLEY, A REPRESENTATIVE FOR BELKNAP HARDWARE IN LOUISVILLE, KY SOLD THE MILL AND ENGINE AS A UNIT IN 1919 TO HIS FATHER FRED HELTSLEY. MR. HELTSLEY OPERATED THE MILL IN CLAYMOUR, KY UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 1950. AT THE TIME FRED HELTSLEY PURCHASED THE MILL, HE ALSO HAD A BROOM FACTORY. FRED HELTSLEY BROTHER WILL RAN A GENERAL STORE, ALSO IN CLAYMORE, FROM WHICH EVERYTHING WAS SOLD FROM GROCERIES TO FARM EQUIPMENT. ENOLA HELTSLEY, WILL HELTSLEYS DAUGHER-IN-LAW, PROVIDED THIS HISTORICAL INFORMATION.
CARL SECCHI IN HARRODSBURG, KY PURCHASED THE MILL FROM FORD STINSON WHO LIVED IN CLAYMOUR, KY. THE MILL WAS RESTORED AND OWNED BY MR. SECCHI UNTIL 1981. MR. SECCHI ALSO PARTICIPATRED IN THE RESTORATION OF SHAKER VILLAGE AT PLEASANT HILL, KY.
TED WIDSEMAN FROM PARIS, KY PURCHASED THE MILL IN 1981. TED AND HIS WIFE MOLLIE CONTINUED RESTORATIONS AND OPERATING THE MILL AT MANY LOCATIONS IN KENTUCKY UNTIL 2002.
JERRY AND CLEONE SAVALOJA FROM WALTON, KY PURCHASED THE MILL IN 2002 AND OPERATED THE MILL UNTIL 2017 WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED BY MICHAEL BEANE OF COTTONTOWN, TENNESSEE. MR. BEANE KEPT THE MILL AND ENGINE IN HIS GARAGE UNTIL IT WAS PURCHASED BY MICKEY HILL OF HILL’S MILL ON JULY 6, 2023. IT IS CURRENTLY IN USE AT HILL’S MILL IN LYLES, TENNESSEE. THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF HISTORY TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES TO EDUCATE YOUNGSTERS AND OLD TIMERS ALIKE ON ITS WONDERFULLY WELL KEPT OPERATION.