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[Nick48]

Thank you for allowing me to join. I have what I believe is a early Aermotor pre 1915 windmill with a 3 leg tower that I want to have replaced with a 8' A-702 I have attached a picture, could I get some help with identifying Thank you

https://share.icloud.com/photos/092jk76 ... y7JVjIyiew
https://share.icloud.com/photos/05fh6rt ... 2rjwRs4z2A

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Welcome to the forum Larry. I believe your Mill is a RA model, the last open gear Aermoter made before the oil bath 502. Can't get a good close up without the pic getting blurry.

[Linda Jacox]

Sent you a private message.

[Nick48]

Thanks Dan! I moved here in 1979 the previous owner moved here in 1929 and the windmill was here when he moved here and he told me steam engines from all over used it then, I don't know when it quit working it was tied down when I moved here, I later used a chain and heavy padlock but the other day the padlock wore the hasp in two with all the wind we have been having and at that time I decided it deserved to be repaired with a new unit, sorry about the pictures its been so windy here I have not been able to get better pictures, the reason I thought it was a Aermotor is originally I found a Aermotor tail in the barn
/Users/larrymyers/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/5/56C678E5-76C8-4BD9-9B5F-C644FB5557AE_1_105_c.jpeg

[CTXmiller]

Welcome to the forum

[Windcatcher530 Dan]

Larry would it be possible to get a pic of the tailbone and vane? There's three other models besides the RA it might be i might be able to eliminate one of them, Thanks Dan !!!

[Nick48]

Yes Dan it will be a couple of days I will have to dig it out. Larry

[Ron Stauffer]

Congrats on having one of the best examples of the earliest model Aermotor 3 leg tower I have seen. Aer introduced this in 1899 as first ever 3 leg and made until 1904. The tower is 30’ and looks to be a 6° versus the 9° like the trussed tripod and ETBU models. Would you verify whether 6 or 9 by measuring the footprint where it attaches to anchors on one side at bottom? 6 should be 6’ 2 3/4” and 9 would be 7’ 7 1/2”. Measurements could be + or – a couple inches. That should be 2.5 x 1/8 corner angle, 15” rungs, keyhole girts and button head wire Xs. Lower angle Xs are one piece and have rolled ends top and bottom. The x point is flattened and falls on a girt unique to this model of 3 leg.

That could be a 99 model open gear. One part on the head looks like the wing bone but cant see enough to be sure. Yes, the tail bone will make ID more certain.

In converting to a 702, you will want to get a 3 leg furl lever and complete mast with base besides the head. The L bolts that are down 40” on the angle are for the platform. In reference library, there is a 3 leg platform pattern BUT it will only work if that is a 9 o tower. All the stuff that is bolted on at 30” down is specific to a open gear furl so it gets removed. The position of the mast base bolts is the same for OG, 602, 702, 802 etc. Two bolts will need to be longer to accommodate the furl lever on the outside.

You can leave the mast attached in the head of the OG and remove wholesale. Then you can put the mast in the 702 with tail strapped open and reset wholesale. I have tried this several times and never had it seem time effective. I always had to loosen the top section of tower to get the mast inside. This being a key hole button head tower, I don’t think you want to do that. My preferred way is removing the head off the mast (need to deal with furl, pump rod and hold down bracket). Then remove mast base bolts, just loosen clamp nuts enough to slide the mast down and out. Resetting the new mast is easiest with crane/hoist by putting the pump rod in the mast to tie a rope to and pull it up in. Don’t forget to have the 3 leg furl lever handy to go on as I don’t think there are many 2 piece 3 leg furl levers that can go on after the fact.

MN location?

Ron Stauffer
Montrose CO

[Nick48]

Thanks Ron I will do some measurements and get better pictures in a couple of days, we have rain moving in. For several days, I appreciate your knowledge, I did have a couple of pictures of the tail it’s in the rafters, I had painted the logo years ago

https://share.icloud.com/photos/098KAVt ... wcPlKS8FzA

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0e671Ek ... vgZlQGM8tA

https://share.icloud.com/photos/019Pblt ... UFzqsKKE6w

[Ron Stauffer]

Definitely not a 99 motor. Likely 1903 pumping or RA. Either would be correct for the tower.

Graphics are period correct on the vane. Vane construction if original is a head shaker. Tail and bone is "Tucker" style, usually seen upper Midwest. That vane has all the characteristics of being original on that bone. Can the prior property owner provide any genealogy?

Ron