A big ending for an early Dansk mill auction on eBay yesterday. The mill pictured below sold for $340. It is a rare early pepper mill (no salt shaker) in great condition. The mill is very nice. It is old and thus not common, but I wouldn’t say it is one of the super rare designs, as it shows up on eBay every few months. It was found by the seller in the East Village in NYC – quite a score! I helped the seller authenticate it, which I am pleased to do for anyone.
As is usually the case with a big auction like this, another one popped up the next day. The second one looks like it needs a good cleaning, but it is in very good condition and has an unusual grinding mechanism that says “Made in France” on the bridge (pictured below).
Hi Mark. I enjoy your blog.
I also have this one in my collection. I’m interested when you say the one on ebay needs a cleaning. Apart from wiping off crust and grime, I tend to leave the patina on mine alone.
My example of this one is quite dark (dirty, I guess)–it almost looks like rosewood. But I like the aged look.
Anyway, you may well have thoughts on cleaning these in your book (which I intend to receive soon as a birthday present). I was just wondering how you do it, whether you thin restraint is a better option in some cases, etc.
Thanks, and keep it up.
Ah, excellent topic, Mark. There seem to be only three variations I’ve seen in the bands of the early Peugeot grinder. I’ve only seen a dozen or twenty over the last year, and those are about equal. There’s “Made in France”, as pictured above, but there’s also “Peugeot Fs” (I’m assuming — the fancy script is hard to read) as well as a version of the Peugeot Lion symbol plus “Lyon.”
I just updated my Peugeot grinders page to show pictures of each: http://www.tpederzani.com/pepper/Peugeot_grinder#Band
Foppy, I’ve done a lot to my mills, but what I’ve liked most recently is using Murphy’s Oil Soap. Afterwards, the mills really need some oiling, but at least it should remove the kitchen splatters. I’m by no means a professional, nor am I interested in reselling mine, so I’ve tried a lot of things on my mills that are in bad shape.
Thanks for the comments!
I’m sure there are many ways to care for the mills depending on the look you want. I like them looking new, but don’t mind dings or flaws at all. I personally would worry that Murphy’s Oil Soap could raise the grain and leave a scent on the wood. I’ve had some bad experience with both this and water – especially for mills with wood pegs.
I’d start with mineral oil and a rag, and move to oil and a super fine steel wool if you want to remove grime. If you know more about woodworking, you could explore thinners but be aware that they are not food safe and dangerous to work with.
Follow up: the second mill I mentioned in the post sold for $359, and a third has appeared in a new auction.
I don’t think I have had any problems with raising the grain with Murphy’s Oil Soap. The instructions I followed were to dilute it with water, soak a rag in it, squeeze the rag out, rub the mill with the grain, and then wipe off with a clean rag. I’ve also tried Formby’s Buildup Remover, but that doesn’t seem to get as much off. Both Murphy’s Oil and Formby’s Buildup Remover have scents, but they disappear after a number of days.
Regardless, people should exercise caution and only try cleaning techniques that they’re comfortable with. The mills are both investments and pieces of art, so a little caution is in order.
And that third mill has sold for $406.
$406 !!!
Normally I would recommend putting money into stocks or real estate but in todays market it seems as if pepper mills are the best investment. I only wish my collection was complete–it’s getting too expensive to compete on ebay.
Soren just bought the fourth mill up for auction for $227.50, so perhaps prices are going to return to normal. For never-before-seen-on-eBay ones, it’s going to stay very high, I’d bet. All the new collectors will scramble to outbid each other on them.
Interesting! I have this exact mill / mechanism, in excellent condition. Now I have to grapple with what to list it at…
Also, I would love to ask your opinion on whether I should try do anything to clean up the metal on the grinding mechanism….?
(also, this (a different one) sold a couple weeks ago for $661..?!? Is this one an especially rare one?
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vtg-DANSK-Danish-Modern-TEAK-Peugeot-Pepper-Mill-EARLY-/250855871375?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a682cd38f
Diana, I’m not Mark, but I’d suggest leaving the metal alone (if yours is sort of a whitish-gray, instead of the clearly steel appearance of later mills — those I’ve had success with getting the brownish residue off of).
I’d also suggest listing it at $0.99 with no reserve — unless you need to make a specific amount of money on it. Bidders will find it (and some will ask you to add an inexpensive BIN price to the listing — don’t do it), as long as you have the right terms in the title. I’d suggest incorporating these words: Peugeot, Dansk, Quistgaard, JHQ, Danish, Teak, and Pepper. There are listings with both “peppermill” and “pepper mill” (along with a few “pepper grinder”s) — but I’m not sure which is better for attracting bidders. I got my version of this mill (catalog # 826) on the cheap — someone listed it, if I recall correctly, as a Peugeot pepper mill — no reference to Dansk or Teak or Quistgaard. Those kinds of auctions are where collectors get good deals. Don’t be one of them. 🙂
Thanks, Tood. The mechanism is whitish like you say, seems to have deposits from age. I will leave it alone.
It makes me nervous to list it w/o a reserve … for in the unlikely event that the right bidders don’t see it, I have no control over the final sale price.
Oops, I meand Todd, not Tood! 🙂
That sounds good — I’ve just been selling off stuff around my house and wanted to make the most money off of them (thus no reserve and starting below $1). Whatever else, do what makes you most comfortable.
Just as a FYI, I’ve tried to keep up with eBay auctions for these things, and if my quick math is any good, I’ve seen 4k+ completed auctions totaling $287k… So there are a lot of collectors out there!
Infinity Mill page 38, I need detailed instructions on how to separate both ends for filling. Also, how to remove pegs for the Cross Mill page 46, both pegs are stuck. Your book has been my guide through all of my pepper mill adventures and I really could use your advise as I continue on my journey.
I found my 5 the Dansk (Rosie) at Goodwill Friday for $1.99 Whoo hoo! This is by far the cleanest one to date. The only issue with it is one of the pins is chewed up…looks like someone took some Visegrips to it…no big deal I make new Teak pins when they are bad like this one..
I could use some help. I have acquired the teak mill on page 34 of Mark’s book (large ring on top with 4 pegs). Two of the pegs have been forced in, one to the point of creating a hairline crack in the mill. Is there a way to remove the two pegs without destroying them? I’m guessing not so my next question is if replacement pegs are available. The mill and grinder are otherwise beautiful and I would like to bring it back to life. Thank you –
Hi all. Does anyone have advice for finding replacements for the teak stoppers/pegs? I don’t have the skills to make them myself like Eric mentioned doing above. Thank you!
Don’t mean to be pithy but, is anyone selling replacement pegs?