Molinology (from
Latin: molīna, mill; and
Greek λόγος, study) is the study of mills and other similar devices which use energy for mechanical purposes such as grinding, fulling or sawing.
Mill technology
The term "Molinology" was coined in 1965 by the Portuguese industrial historian João Miguel dos Santos Simões.
Mills make use of moving water or wind, or the strength of animal or human muscle to power machines for purposes such as
hammer
A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object. This can be, for example, to drive nails into wood, to shape metal (as w ...
ing,
grinding,
pump
A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by mechanical action, typically converted from electrical energy into hydraulic energy. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the method they u ...
ing,
sawing,
pressing or
fulling.
Cultural and scientific interest in molinology is maintained by
The International Molinological Society (TIMS), a non-profit organisation which brings together around five hundred members worldwide. It was founded in 1973 after earlier international symposia in 1965 and 1969. The Society aims to retain the knowledge of those traditional engines which have been rendered obsolete by modern technical and
economic trends.
See also
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Watermill
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Tide mill
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Windmill
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Horse mill
A horse mill is a mill, sometimes used in conjunction with a watermill or windmill, that uses a horse engine as the power source. Any milling process can be powered in this way, but the most frequent use of animal power in horse mills was for grin ...
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Ship mill
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Treadmill
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Treadwheel
Further reading
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External links
Official website of The International Molinological SocietyThe Society for the Preservation of Old Mills (SPOOM)The Mills Archive
References
History of technology
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