Alfa Laval - Colibri IV
Brand and Model
Brand: Alfa Laval (Società Alfa-Laval - Italian Branch)
Model: Colibri IV (as marked on the stamp embossed on the bowl)
Italian distribution site: Via S. Marco 46, Milan (as shown on the brass nameplate).
Period: Datable roughly between the late 1910s and the 1930s. The Via San Marco address in Milan identifies a historical phase earlier than or different from that of Via Farneti seen in the previously examined models.
Technical Characteristics
This model stands out for a decidedly greater capacity and some period mechanical refinements:
Hourly flow rate: 200 litres/hour ("200 LITER" embossed on the medallion on the bowl). It is the largest-capacity of all those examined so far, designed to handle significant volumes of milk.
Operating speed: 60 crank turns per minute ("60 REV. PR. MIN." embossed on the gear casing).
Lubrication mechanism: On the casing, behind the drum, a glass drip oiler (or cup oiler) is clearly visible. This small transparent reservoir allowed the farmer to check the oil level and ensured constant, adjustable lubrication of the internal gears during high-speed operation.
Materials and Condition: Load-bearing structure in heavy cast iron with a blued/time-worn patina finish. The upper bowl features a beautiful round embossed mark and retains the original brass shut-off tap. The state of preservation is excellent, retaining the authentic "working" patina with no invasive restoration.
Historical Value and Positioning
Historical Value
The name "Colibri" identifies one of Alfa Laval's most successful and long-lived lines for collective agricultural use or small rural consortiums. The word "Separator" on the casing recalls the international origin of the patent.
Historically, the nameplate with the address Via San Marco 46 in Milan is a real gem: the Brera/San Marco district in Milan hosted the first representative offices and import warehouses before the branches expanded into more purely industrial complexes. Compared to the previous models, this machine positions itself on the rural market as a high-productivity tool (200 litres was a great deal for entirely manual processing).
Position in Collecting
This model is highly collectible for three main reasons:
The name of the "Colibri IV" series stamped directly onto the metal of the bowl.
The original glass oiler, a very delicate component that was often broken or lost over the decades.
The splendid, uniform dark patina that gives the object an ancient and monumental appearance.
Fun Facts
Why "Colibri"? Although the machine was large and heavy, the name "Colibri" (hummingbird) was originally chosen by Alfa Laval to evoke the fluidity, silence and lightness with which the internal discs rotated when separating the cream, almost like the imperceptible wing-beat of the bird of the same name.
The importance of the oiler: In smaller separators the mechanism was sealed or a periodic greasing was enough. In this 200-litre-per-hour giant, the friction generated by the speed multipliers was such that it required continuous lubrication. The drip oiler allowed one to watch the oil descend drop by drop, a technical detail that greatly fascinates lovers of period mechanics.