1833 -
Laurel Merchant Mill on Jones Falls "belongs to Nathan Tyson.
Warehouse, the lower end of Patterson street. There is at this mill an
apparatus for drying wheat flour, which promises to be of importance to the
export trade of this important article. This is a patented invention of the
proprietor of this mill, and consists in passing the flour, after it is ground,
through a series of revolving cylinders, enclosed within a tight chamber,
heated to a high temperature, by which all the moisture is expelled, and
escapes through an aperture in the roof of the chamber. Flour thus prepared, it
is believed, will resist the effects of the warmest climates without becoming
sour. This improvement will be of much value in long voyages, either of government
or merchant vessels. To millers on the western waters, great benefits would
result from it.
Some millers suppose that if dry staves were used for barrels, when the
barrels are perfectly dry, and made perfectly tight, no fear is to be
entertained of the flour becoming sour. They take, for example, the French
flour, which they say never sours, from this precaution being used, they
putting paper for a lining to the barrels."
He also ran on his deceased father-in-laws mill on Gwynn's Falls - "George Ellicott’s Merchant Mill, conducted by N.
Tyson, Patterson street."
Varle, Charles. A Complete View of Baltimore. 1833 1831 patent -
Tyson’s Improved Flour-drying apparatus
A very valuable improvement in the process of kiln-drying wheaten
flour, has been lately introduced at the extensive flour-mills of Mr. Nathan
Tyson, of Baltimore. We extract the following documents on the subject from the
“Franklin Journal” for April last:
Specification of Patent granted to Mr. Tyson, August 8, 1831.
“To all whom it may concern, be it known, that I, Nathan Tyson, of the
city of Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, have invented certain improvements
in the kiln-dryer, patented by Oliver Evans, on the 22nd day of January, 1808,
as specified by him among certain ‘inventions of improvements in the process of
the art of manufacturing grain into flour or meal, and for other purposes;' by
which improvements in the mode of preparing wheat-flour and other kinds of meal
for packing, their tendency to sour, or to become otherwise injured by keeping,
if not altogether obviated, is much decreased; and that the following is a full
and exact description of the same.
“ It is a well-established fact, that the various species of
fermentation which take place in vegetable matter, are not produced by
temperature alone, but require the presence of a certain portion of moisture.
The advantage derived from the kiln-drying of grain and of meal depends upon
this principle; and my improvement consists in a more effectual and beneficial
mode of accomplishing the end proposed, than any of those which have been
heretofore adopted. “I take the flour, or meal, either as it leaves the
mill-stones, or after it has been submitted to the process of bolting, and
cause it to pass through cylindrical or other suitable tubes, or boxes, to
which a revolving or vibratory motion is to be given, and in which the flour,
or meal, is subjected to the action of steam or of heated air. The tubes, or
boxes, may be constructed either of wood or of metal, according to
circumstances, and they may be suspended and moved in the manner of the common
bolter. Within the cylinder or other apparatus, containing the flour, or meal,
to be dried, I generally place small ledges, which may stand perpendicular to
such cylinder or other apparatus, and project to such height from its inner
surface, and have such direction, either parallel with or inclined to its ends,
as may appear best calculated to detain, conduct, or agitate the flour, or
meal, and expose it for the requisite time to the influence of the artificial
heat employed. “When heated air is used as the drying agent, the cylinder or
box containing the flour or meal may be made to revolve within a long oven, or
kiln, with the ends of said cylinder open to receive and deliver the flour or
meal. I sometimes, however, intend to enclose the cylinder entirely within the
oven, or kiln; a tube will, in this case pass through the cover to admit the
flour, or meal, to be dried, which will then escape through another tube at the
opposite end. When so constructed, the heated air will not only surround, but
be contained within, the cylinder or box. “When steam is applied for the
purpose of drying the flour or meal, I surround the tube, or box, which in this
case must be made of metal, or other good conductor, with an exterior case, or
jacket, within which it revolves; a sufficient space being allowed between the
two for the passage of the steam or heated air, which is to be admitted from a
boiler, or stove, properly constructed, and conveniently situated for that
purpose; such connecting tubes, dampers, and valves, being attached to the
apparatus as may be required, according to the various modifications of which it
is susceptible. The steam may be admitted through a hollow gudgeon, and allowed
to escape in the same way, there being tubes to conduct it to and from the
space provided for it. “Instead of the revolving cylinder, or box, I intend
sometimes to construct a cylindrical, or other, chamber, with suitable floors
or shelves, one above the other, upon the upper one of which the flour, or
meal, may be received, whence it may pass to those below it, being stirred and
carried by hopper boys, or other suitable contrivances. Heated air will, in
this case, be admitted into the chamber, and have its exit through suitable
openings. For steam, the floors or shelves must be made double, and the steam
pass through them in ways well known to every mechanist. “A current of air,
sufficient to carry off the moisture, separated from the flour or meal, must in
all cases be admitted into the cylinder, or box, in which the flour, or meal,
is contained. In most cases, no particular provision need be made for this
purpose; and where this may be requisite, the means of doing it are too obvious
to require description. The drawings deposited in the patent-office will serve
to illustrate the process and apparatus herein described; but I do not intend
to confine myself to any particular form, construction, or position of the
tube, or box, or of the other parts or modifications of the apparatus. A series
of convoluted tubes may be employed, forming a structure like that of the screw
of Archimedes; and, indeed, an almost infinite variety of shapes may be given
to the apparatus, all operating upon the same principle, and producing the same
effect, with equal, or nearly equal, advantage. “What I claim as new, and for
which I ask a patent, is my improvement in the drying of flour, or meal, either
bolted or unbolted, by means of the application of steam, or of heated air, in
an apparatus constructed in the manner and upon the principle hereinbefore
described.
“NATHAN TYSON.”
With several descriptive letters in Mechanics’ Magazine. May 31, 1834
1867. Also on Sunday, the 6th of January, Mr. Nathan Tyson, one of the ablest and most honorable merchants of Baltimore, in the 80th year of his age.
The Chronicles of Baltimore by John Thomas Scharf. 1874
1867. Also on Sunday, the 6th of January, Mr. Nathan Tyson, one of the ablest and most honorable merchants of Baltimore, in the 80th year of his age.
The Chronicles of Baltimore by John Thomas Scharf. 1874
©2018 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD
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