The Coffee Grinder

The former Jam Factory site was once enhanced with a giant Coffee Grinder. An exact replica of the American antique ones with the big wheels that Peter Von had been buying for years, ingenious fancy devices resplendent with flower transfers and brass trim.

At a second-hand barbecue store, Peter Von found a Webber lid, copied the fancy wheels in routed MDF in giant form, found a circular flanged collar (to become part of the body) and a huge wok lid. To hold the grinder wheels, he used a small stainless steel beer keg from the scrap yard with holes through the middle, and shaft and mock bearings to hold the big fancy routed wheels.

Peter Von then made up an MDF box with a drawer to catch the coffee grounds, with a big brass ball knob, and it was then mounted on cast-iron legs. With a fence post knob on top, the usual brass gauge, suitable annotated and turned wooden handles to work the big wheels, it was then shaded scarlet paint all over, with blue bands around the big wheels and shadowed computer-cut lettering of “Anytime is Pancake Time” in gold. Fancy flowery cut-outs, which were genuine old transfers overlaid and varnished, were added. All bright and beautiful, it was installed in the outside seating area in the Jam Factory Pancake Parlour, where it was also subjected to the same public souveniring as all the other devices around the group.

The Giant Coffee Grinder is now in the happy hands of Beraldo, purveyors of fine coffee to The Pancake Parlour.