Who invented the gristmill?
George Washington invented the gristmil.
George Washington invented the gristmil.
Oliver Evans of Newport, Delaware is credited with
revolutionizing the flour/grain milling industry c1780. Believed to
be the first automated manufacturing process in the world. He
invented labor saving devices powered by a waterwheel. A gear and
pulley driven system of chutes, augers and elevators moved grain
and flour through the milling process. Prior to Evans' inventions
men carried grain and flour through a mill in large heavy sacks
while climbing ladders and stairs
A structure known as a gristmill has been around since c200BC. A
combination of Roman, Greek and Egyptian technology eventually lead
to English, German and other European families bringing their
milling methods to the Americas.
As for George Washington, much of his wealth was due to farming
wheat and milling flour. Oliver Evans modernized the mills that
Washington owned.