Historic decanters and separators

Alfa Laval - No. 2

Brand and Model

  • Brand: Alfa Laval (Società Alfa Laval - Italian Branch)

  • Model: Alfa Laval No. 2

  • Italian distribution site: Via Farneti 5, Milan (indicated on the nameplate, with the additional wording "Milano 4/12").

  • Period: This too is datable between the 1920s and 1940s. Compared to the previous one, the casing finish features details with embossed gold paint highlighting the brand and the RPM on the gear casing.

Technical Characteristics

From the original nameplate and the images, the exact specifications can be gathered:

  • Hourly milk flow rate: 110 litres/hour (slightly smaller capacity than the "22" model, which reached 150 litres).

  • Hourly whey flow rate: 110 litres/hour.

  • Operating speed: 60 crank turns per minute (required a slightly faster rotation rhythm than the previous one).

  • Materials: Black cast-iron body with decorative gold lettering, bowl and outlet ducts in polished metal alloy (treated aluminium/steel).

  • Exceptional bonus: Inside the bowl are its original maintenance keys in metal, specially shaped to disassemble the internal drum and discs for daily cleaning. Finding these original accessories still paired with the machine is a rarity.

Historical and Market Value

Historical Value

This "No. 2" model was designed for domestic settings or for small to medium-sized farms, where daily milk production did not require the larger industrial machinery. It represents the classic tool of the European farming tradition, designed to last for generations.

Market Value (Collecting / Vintage)

This specific piece is in an excellent, almost museum-quality state of preservation. The black cast-iron paint is vivid, the gold details are well defined and the upper metal parts are shiny and free from noticeable rust blooms or dents.

  • Assessment: The presence of the original keys inside the bowl and the excellent aesthetic conservative restoration (clearly visible gold lettering) place this model in a slightly higher value bracket for collectors. A perfect and sought-after piece of vintage and industrial design.

Fun Facts

  1. The "dedicated" keys: On old farms, losing the separator's keys meant no longer being able to wash the internal drum. The milk fat left inside would go rancid, ruining the following batches. The fact that they were kept together with the machine indicates it was cared for with extreme attention over the decades.

  2. 60 turns per minute: One rotation per second (60 RPM) was the perfect rhythm imparted by the farmer's arm. This timing was carefully calculated to allow the internal clutch and gears to bring the separating drum up to the ideal centrifugal speed without over-stressing the mechanical components.