Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

Picked up an old 8’ Aermotor fan for a fair price. Single rivet and I can see a “8” stamped on the end of the shaft at the hub, so I’m thinking 1918 based upon the hub design, stamp date location and single rivet. Seem accurate?

None of the above is remarkable, but zero bullet holes in it is uncommon. The windmill tower, gearbox and vane were still up. The seller was only parting with the fan, spokes and hub has it had fallen from the gearbox/tower

Mostly straightened.

Michael , good save . to live another day , or century

Michael if you look at the end of the shaft better you'll see 8 2 0 . My guess is Aermoter did this as a repair or upgrade. My transition Bell Hub has been stamped on the end of the shaft too. Only time I've seen it.

So possibly 8/1920? I see it now that you point it out.

Thanks.

Michael did you notice if the mill was an open gear or oil bath? That hub and shaft are a wall hanger. Or you could sell it to me. L O L.

It was an oil bath that I bought for the wheel. I don’t have any particular need for the hub/shaft, so I’m not opposed to parting with the hub/shaft.

Windcatcher530 Dan wrote: Sun Apr 02, 2023 6:10 am Michael if you look at the end of the shaft better you'll see 8 2 0 . My guess is Aermoter did this as a repair or upgrade. My transition Bell Hub has been stamped on the end of the shaft too. Only time I've seen it.

Very early 602s were stamped on the shaft end, there was no flat on the hoop. I don't believe it was due to repair or upgrade. Most all of these that I have came across all had flipper oilers as well (or at least the remnants of flipper oilers).

For some strange reason none of the 602s early or later have a date stamp on the hoop or shaft up here in NY.

Windcatcher530 Dan wrote: Thu Apr 27, 2023 6:47 pm For some strange reason none of the 602s early or later have a date stamp on the hoop or shaft up here in NY.

Dan Here are my thoughts on what you are seeing, and I see it too. I believe 1)shaft was replaced at some point or 2) More likely, with the humidity, moisture, & more acidic rain that we see here in the north, many times those stamps are obliterated by rust. Sometimes you can brush/sand/file the rust away and pick up remnants of the stampings.