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New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 3:58 pm
by K.P.
Hello

My nickname is K.P. from northern Illinois. I just became the owner of a water pumping windmill that is on a piece of property my wife and I just purchased. I'm trying to identify it and then figure out what to do with it. The 8 foot diameter metal mill is partially buried on the ground below an approximate 33 foot tall four leg tower. The gear case and wind vane are still up top and most of the wood decking is still in place. There's a Trahern pump mounted to a concrete slab below. The windmill has spent the past 60 years or so as a gun target. The wife, who grew up on a dairy farm, wants it gone. I'm thinking of restoring it and maybe use the springs on the property to divert and pump water for the future garden. Trying to identify this windmill has been a challenge but I just found this forum which could be my answer to its future. I'm looking forward to learning something new about something old.

KP

Re: New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 4:34 pm
by CTXmiller
I’m leaning towards a Woodmanse E, but there are smarter folks on this forum than me.

Welcome to the forum.

https://vintagewindmillforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=12

Re: New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 5:38 pm
by K.P.
Thank you CTX, that makes sense. The property is west of Freeport, IL where Woodmanse was based and the water pump came from Rockford, IL. Tower construction, gear case design, and vane all look like they could have been manufactured by Woodmanse.

Loved Waco! At least what I remember of it when I lived in Granbury, TX in the late 80's.

Re: New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 5:45 pm
by CTXmiller
Thanks.
That link I posted above is for the literature section on here and for the Woodmanse section, which has a .pdf parts list, etc.

There are folks on here who can provide guidance and or possibly parts for rebuild. I have not rebuilt or encountered a Woodmanse.

Re: New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 5:55 pm
by K.P.
Thanks for directing me to that. I didn't pay attention to the link first time I looked at your response. Very cool! Looks like I came to the right place.

Re: New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 9:13 pm
by mtblah
Please don't do anything to destroy the "aged patina " it gives the windmill creature , beautiful .
Just my opinion .

Re: New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 9:35 am
by Wayne
Is it a E or a G. Isn't the only difference the E is back geared and the G is eccentric. You would need to take the bonnet off to know what you have. Either way it is a Woodfmanse, first introduced in 1923, then came the G in 1926.

Re: New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Tue May 17, 2022 1:48 pm
by Windcatcher530 Dan
K.P. welcome to the forum me myself am not familiar with a Woodmans haven't found one yet up here in N.Y. keep us posted on your progress.

Re: New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Wed May 18, 2022 3:18 pm
by windybob
I have some of those. Rebuilt a couple.

Re: New Member and Unintended Windmill Owner

Posted: Thu May 19, 2022 9:08 am
by Wayne
I have a G model may be up for sale soon.