Windmill Plow

[Wayne]

A friend sent me this photo. It was titled windmill plow. I see the drive wheel and big bull gear, but I see no plows. I have read about mobile windmills they pulled around to different wells for irrigation. I'm wondering if that's what this is and it was built to self propelled. Didn't have to have horses or tractor to move it.

image000000(351).jpg

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Probably just for decorating. Can't imagine waiting for the wind to blow in the right direction so you can plow. And then hoping it does a 180 so you can plow the other way

[windybob]

I think it was considered a portable water station. Or at least that makes more sense to me.

[RPinAZ]

I was thinking that the portable ones were for shallow wells and therefore smaller mills, but hey, I'm still new at this. Unless there's more weight in that rig than I can see, it doesn't look like there'd be a lot of margin between the wind needed to spin it up and the wind needed to knock it over.

RP

[tst]

It has a steering wheel on it, was the mill a power source and dragged a plow maybe ???

[Ron Stauffer]

The windmill was a first step for many farms to embrace mechanization over manual labor or horse use. The windmill was very effective in providing water by harvesting the wind. So there was a natural progression to assume wind could be harnessed for other uses.

Attached is the last two pages of the 1899 Aermotor catalog with some graphics illustrating the endless ways to harness wind power. The renditions are remarkable considering the lack of photoshop and AI at that time..

20250727_183253.jpg

I contacted Tim C for an ID of the mill who deferred to Dan B. The mill is an oil bath Clipper, either the top end pump rod mechanism is removed or it is a power mill.

General consensus:
It was not used for water pumping because of no pump rod mechanism.
The narrow axle in front did swivel and had no attachment for a tongue.
The large wheel in the center back looks like it could be a drive wheel.
The small wheel at back was probably not for steering but for gear disengagement. Steering was likely accomplished similar to steam or early tractors.
The motor/fan was on a turn table so would adjust for wind direction.

Practicality was probably questionable. Although it does exhibit somewhat of a level above a prototype.

Wayne, have the friend send some more pics..

Ron Stauffer
Montrose CO

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Still believe it was just a conversation piece or trickery. Made from at least three different farm implements. No way to steer, no seat that I can see, and no functionality to it at all. But really cool looking !!

[Wayne]

There is something at the back under the steering wheel I'm figuring that would be where the seat is. Can't see it. I think it had a use. Farmers aren't known to spend a great deal of time making something they didn't think was going to be useful back then or now. My friend was off on a trip somewhere when he saw this. Don't think there was anymore info.

[Wayne]

My friend didn't see this at a museum it just pooped up on Facebook. So no more info. I don't do Facebook, don't know if there is a way to search for it.

[windybob]

hey Wayne, proofread.....lol