Abstract: A condiment mill has a catcher device installed on the bottom thereof opposite the grinder to catch and prevent the dropping of condiment grindings left over after the mill has been used. The catcher device is in the form of a receptacle and cover which is pivotally mounted on the mill. This cover is resiliently urged towards a closed position by a leaf spring and can be manually placed in retention in the closed position.

Abstract: A condiment mill has a pair of separate compartments each for containing a different condiment, such as peppercorns and salt crystals. At the bottom of each compartment, a grinder is installed for grinding the condiment. A shaft is provided for rotatably driving each of the grinders, each such shaft extending upwardly through its associated compartment and having a spur gear fixedly attached to the upper end thereof. A pivotally supported gear drive mechanism is provided at the top of the compartments which engages the gear of one of the grinders when rotated in one direction and the gear of the other of the grinders when rotated in an opposite direction to enable the alternative grinding and dispensing of one or the other of the condiments. A cover is provided for the top of the compartments, this cover being spring-urged into its closed position over the compartments. This cover can be manually raised against the spring action and rotated to permit the filling of the compartment with condiment.

Abstract: A condiment mill for grinding pepper, rock salt and other condiments has a base member with a grinder receptacle formed therein in which a grinder head is rotatably mounted. Also, mounted on the base member is a casing member forming a compartment for storing the condiment to be ground. A shaft extends from the grinder head and through the top of the casing member, a manipulator device for rotating the shaft being attached to the end thereof. The grinder head is resiliently retained in the base member by spring means positioned between the grinder head and the base member. This same spring means also resiliently retains the base member to the casing member; the base member thus can be manually manipulated rotatably and brought into several positions: one position for filling the compartment with condiment; another position for providing a coarse grind for the condiment and a third position for providing a fine grind for the condiment.