Alfa Laval - Alba 20

Identification Plate and Machine Details

The front metal identification plate provides the machine's exact identity:

• Manufacturer: Società Alfa Laval (Manufactured in Milan, Via Farneti 5). Alfa Laval is the historic world leader in centrifugal separation, founded in Sweden by Gustaf de Laval, the inventor of the continuous centrifugal milk separator in 1878. The Italian branch in Milan was responsible for manufacturing or assembling machines for the domestic market.
• Model (Type): Alba 20 (the name appears both on the identification plate and silk-screened in an elegant cursive script on the side door).
• Serial Number: 4415 (a relatively low serial number, indicating a specific production series).
• Approximate Period: The compact design, painted cast-iron construction, aluminum bowl shape, and typography place this machine approximately between the 1930s and the 1950s.

How Does It Work and What Is It Used For?

The primary purpose of this machine was to separate cream from skimmed milk.

• Loading: Freshly milked whole milk (typically warmed to around 35-40 °C to improve separation) was poured into the large upper aluminum bowl.
• Centrifugation: By manually turning the crank fitted with its wooden handle, an internal gear system multiplied the rotational speed, causing the internal steel "bowl" (the conical component visible in the last photograph without the upper basin) to spin at several thousand revolutions per minute.
• Separation: Due to centrifugal force, the heavier skimmed milk was forced toward the outer walls of the spinning bowl, while the lighter fat globules forming the cream concentrated toward the center.
• Output: The machine features two stacked spouts (clearly visible in the side-view photographs): one discharged the rich cream (intended for butter production), while the other delivered the skimmed milk.

Condition and Visual Details

The photographs reveal several noteworthy details:

• Mechanical Condition: The presence of the internal cone (the centrifuge bowl) in the final photograph is an excellent sign. On many surviving examples, this component was lost over the years during cleaning. If the crank still turns smoothly and rotates the internal shaft, the machine is mechanically complete.
• Appearance: The red paint retains an attractive aged patina and remains well preserved, with the "Alba 20" logo still clearly legible on the side. The crank still features its original wooden handle, which is free from cracks. The aluminum bowl shows only the expected wear marks from decades of use and cleaning, with no significant dents.

Historical and Collectible Value

Today, machines like this are highly sought after by collectors of country-style vintage furnishings, antique agricultural equipment enthusiasts, and for the display of rural heritage museums, agritourism properties, and traditional dairies.

The Alfa Laval brand is regarded as the industry's "Gold Standard," adding significant intrinsic collectible value compared with lesser-known local manufacturers. Such a complete example (including the bowl, spouts, and internal centrifuge bowl), together with its exceptionally well-preserved Milan identification plate, represents a remarkable piece of Italian industrial archaeology.