Device for weighing the force that turns a millstone
A drum, threaded shaft and weight linked to gauge the effort of grinding grain
In faint red chalk a mechanism is drawn with a broad drum or wheel at the top, a threaded (screw) shaft descending from it, and a boxed weight and smaller wheel below, connected as an apparatus for measuring effort. The e-Leo caption describes a rotating millstone with a contrivance to measure its force, and the mirror-script note calls for weighing the force needed to turn the millstone together with its grain. The drawing and note together set out an experiment in mechanical measurement.
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Apparatus for gauging a millstone's driving force
The linked drum, screw shaft and suspended weight form a device to register the force that drives a rotating millstone. The caption presents it as a millstone with a contrivance for measuring its force.
Weighing the force of grinding
The note directs the reader to weigh the force required to turn the mill along with its charge of grain. It reduces the labour of milling to a quantity that can be measured mechanically.