"In 1889 the C. H. Woodruff foundry, which had been making school furniture almost exclusively, introduced the Elgin National coffee mill for groceries, hotels, and restaurants. Sales were brisk, and the number of employees rose from 40 to 65 within a year.
The first mills were painted black or maroon with gilt striping. The hoppers were either black or polished nickel. The grinding burrs were steel. The two large turning wheels were adapted for use by either hand or motor power.
Elgin National mills were later made in both counter top and floor models and were finished in red, blue, and gold bronze colors. The largest was 68-1/2 inches high, had wheels 34 inches in diameter, and weighed 365 pounds. It could hold up to nine pounds for grinding. The smallest, for household use, was only about a foot high and weighed 20 pounds.
Before production ended in 1917, when a fire destroyed the molds, coffee mill wheels were used by Elgin boys on the pushmobile and coaster cars they built during the years of the Elgin Road Races. The Elgin Nationals are now highly prized by antique collectors and can be seen as period pieces in many historical exhibits. One way of determining the age of an Elgin made mill is the name of the manufacturer on the wheel. The C. H. Woodruff Company did not become Woodruff & Edwards until 1900"
http://www.elginhistory.com/dgb/ch23.htmBetting yours is like the one on this page with the stand attached (circa 1890). People would purchase the top part only for a tabletop version....or have the stand with it for a freestanding version.
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/4512307There is also this model with a different stand
This next one weighs appx 175 lbs.
http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=353330
