I would like to let you guys over here know what happened with CrankandStein too....there's been a lot of flap on several boards about what happened, and you should hear it from one of the horses' mouths. (or the other end, depending on who you talk to.
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I was partners with the guy that builds the CrankandStein mill for the last 7 years. Our deal was for me to sell the mills, and for him to build the mills. Part of selling was advertising $$, web site development $$, professional photos $$, etc....all financed from my share of the profits. Basically after we finally got successful, and I was selling more mills than my partner could build in a week, he decided that he didn't need my services any longer. He remarked more than once that his mills were "selling themselves" . Being the one that was answering all of your questions, shipping all of the mills as quickly as possible, and supporting the customers, I was sure that the mills weren't really selling themselves. I felt like I provided a "value added" service to the product, and was earning my $$.
So basically, we aren't working together any more. After we split up, I found a machine shop that could build my own design, and had them make a bunch of the new MM-2 mills. I'm working to get the new name out there. The reason that Monster Brewing Hardware looks like the old CrankandStein site is that I owned the CrankandStein site, it was mine all along, as well as the URL. I plan to re-do the site sometime, but I had to get back in business asap, and didn't have time to get a web developer on it.
Originally I had hoped to use the CrankandStein.com URL to sell my new mill. Wrong!! Can't do that. So it's down, basically for good. So, I'm having to start all over again with a new mill, a new name, and a new business. I plan to add new products as soon as its financially possible without debt. Right now I have a working prototype of the new MM-3 mill. I'm testing it currently, and having some other folks look at it too. If everything goes well, it should go into production very soon. It'll retail at $149 with the std shaft. I'm also working on a hopper design that is sheet metal. The design is almost done. After its right, I'm going to look for someone to build it. If anyone knows a sheet metal fabricator that'll do small runs of simple stuff, let me know. Stainless rollers will come next, and then later the 2" roller mills. I'm sorry that I can't provide a date for these, but I can only promise that they'll be here as soon as possible. My old partner is still building mills, and he can whip you up a 2" roller mill no problem if you have an immediate need. I would suggest that our 1.5" roller models work great, and will certainly provide a satisfactory crush. I'd bet that the used market is good, and an upgrade to 2" status in the future wouldn't cost too much. The 2" 2-roller mill will most likely retail at $179, and will come standard with the larger 1/2" drive shaft.
You can check out the new mills at my new location.
Monster Brewing Hardware
We will post the arrival of new products there first, and probably here in the Vendor Area.
Please shoot me an e-mail if you have any questions.
[email protected]
Thanks,
~~fred francis
Monster Brewing Hardware