The real Bilby

[Ron Stauffer]

This is to clarify the misnomer of Bilby used in reference to any 3 post tower built by Aermotor for windmill purposes. Jasper Bilby was chief signalman for the C&GS as part of a 50+ year career with C&GS. He supplied plans to Aermotor in 1926 for them to build a 3 leg tower within a 3 leg tower for surveying so the instrument was isolated from the operator.

Reference for the above:

Still Turning by Christopher Gillis, p 106-107

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/geodesy/bilby-towers.html

https://blog.history.in.gov/tag/geodetic-surveying/

https://amp.ww.en.freejournal.org/54414 ... tower.html



In viewing the above references, you can see that the Bilby tower built for C&GS by Aermotor has very limited resemblance (3 post) to what Aermotor called a "Trussed Tripod Tower". I did not have a complete set of early Aermotor catalogs but there is mention in the 1899 catalog of the first 3 post tower. The 1905 catalog gives a full page description to the "Trussed Tripod Tower" and the 1907 catalog gives all applications and sizing for ordering of the Trussed Tripod Tower.

1905 trussed tripod.jpg

1907 trussed tripod.jpg

1908 patent for the Trussed Tripod Tower https://patents.google.com/patent/US889 ... oyes+tower



The Aermotor Trussed Tripod Tower was on the scene over 20 years before Aermotor built the Bilby for C&GS and it bears no resemblance. It is a misnomer to refer to it as Bilby.


Ron Stauffer
Montrose CO

[Bryon]

Ron, thanks for the post of the link to the video. I have never seen a Bilby tower. You could definitely tell it was built by Aermotor.

[PaulV]

Thanks Ron!!

[hedgerow]

Ron Neat story. Thanks for posting

[windybob]

Yes thanks for sure.

I had always thought that there were 2 different kinds of Aermotor 3 legged towers, one designed by them, and another different type of the Bilby design. I don't know How i came to this conclusion, most likely by lots of talk. Once again, I realize how just plain old conversation, and idea swapping can lead to conclusions that are not so valid.

I apologize for my part in perpetuating this myth, It was unintentional, but a mistake none the less.

[Jim Corcoran]

Ron,
Many thanks for this posting, particularly the video. Nice piece of history of which I knew very little.

Best regards,
Jim