Unusual Heller Aller

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Has anyone ever seen one like this?

IMG_20230725_194822.jpg

[windybob]

does it have a helmet?

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

I'm guessing it does it's an oil bath.

[CTXmiller]

Is that one at Chuck’s place?

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Michael it could be it was sent to me a while back and I couldn't remember from who.

[CTXmiller]

I think that one is at Chucks place, but I could be wrong. I sort of recall Steve A showing me an odd ball mill and the background sort of looks like Chucks place. It is unique.

[Wayne]

Any idea what those extra gears were for?

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

My guess would be some kind of oiling system ?

[windybob]

In 1923 H/A came out with their very first Run-In - Oil mill, which was replaced in 1927 by the "Improved Model" which ran all the way till the 80's. The original was proved to be defective, so was re-designed. Seems to me that the mill shown was the first original H/A mill.

Quite the rare bird there.

[Challenge 27]

Daresay Windybob has it right. The Panhandle-Plains museum at Canyon,Texas, has in the museum library the "Baker Run-in-Oil Windmills, Catalog No. 31" (ca 1923) which describes the above windmill.

Windcatcher530Dan, you are right, too. The purpose of that Rube Goldberg device was to splatter the oil around.

Challenge 27

P.S. The Panhandle-Plains museum library has a tremendous collection of trade literature on windmills. I spent over a day there years ago going through it all (was like a kid in a candy store). They will xerox whatever you want, so be sure to bring some $. Well worth the visit. The museum itself is also worth a visit.