The sawmill and the diesel engine

In 1922, the owner of Gl. Rye Mill bought a petroleum engine as supplement to the wind power. Two years later, he built a small sawmill, which was powered by the petroleum engine. In 1931, a 20 hp MIAS diesel engine manufactured by Møller & Jochumsen Machinery in Horsens was bought. The engine was connected to a main axle so that is could power both the grinding mills and the sawmill. Not at any time did the mill run the circular saw.

The sawmill was installed under an open shed with only three walls, so that long logs easily could be taken to the saw. The sawmill was a customers' sawmill, i.e. the local peasants brought their logs to the sawmill to have it sawn up. Many farms had small plots of forest in the area near the “Himmelbjerget”.

In the 1950’s, when miller Jensen was the miller a typical work day at the sawmill could be like this: It was normally on Saturdays the sawmill was in use. The miller’s sons were not at school and could help their father at his work. The logs were delivered by the peasants at the storage yard by the sawmill. The logs were cut in the sizes that the customers wanted. The logs were then carried into the sawmill and here miller Jensen needed his sons to help him handle the heavy logs.

The miller directed the log, so that it was sawed up the right way, and the boys had to pull the small “wagon” on which the log lay. They had to pull at an even strength, so that the saw and the engine were not overloaded. If so happened, the engine would lose its speed of rotation and black smoke would come out of the chimney. When it happened, “black smoke” also came out of miller Jensen’s mouth!

Everything that was produced at the sawmill was used for a purpose and nothing was wasted. Even the fine sawdust was swept into a corner at the sawmill. Among others, the local butcher turned up from time to time and took some shovels of sawdust, which he used on the floor in the butcher shop. Whether he paid for it, we do not know – but it was probably part of an exchange of some kind!

The last time the saw and the engine was used – before the mill became a museum – was in the 1970’s, when one of the miller’s sons built himself a new house.

In 1990, when the museum took over the mill there was no trace of the engine. During the clear out in the old sawmill, more and more part from the engine turned up and eventually almost the whole of the engine was there. However, some very important parts were missing, including piston, connecting rod, and lubricator. Spare parts were impossible to get, but the idea that the original engine should run the sawmill was not abandoned. A few capable local motor enthusiasts helped by firms and sponsors were able to repair the engine. The vital parts that were missing were simply cast, and in May 2006, the engine and the sawmill were started anew as part of the “living museum” at Gl. Rye Mølle.

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