Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

Finally tearing into the Appleton to pour new bearings. Seems the mill isn't quite as original as previously thought. Seems to be an older rebuild. Mismached hex and square bolts, gaskets that look to be made of cardboard and newspaper. As well as it seems to have been repainted as I've read these were original painted a shade of blue. Does have signs of some good wear too. Im pretty sure the wood pitman is probably the original though, so thats pretty cool.

Wear at the top pitman hinge may need some attention

Hex Head Bolts were mass produced in the early 1900s and were invented in the 1800s .

You can replace those cardboard shims with leather. Possibly use a bronze bushing on the pitman.

Windcatcher530 Dan wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 6:10 am Hex Head Bolts were mass produced in the early 1900s and were invented in the 1800s .

Thats true. But these were the bolts holding down the covers on the main shafts. Some were hex, some were square and they were different lengths when is seems they could be all the same length. Also every other nut and bolt on the mill is square head

Gotcha !!

Picking up some bronze rods from work. Going to attempt to braze the hub spider i broke tomorrow. I'll do a couple test brazes on some scrap cast I have laying around as ive never done it before.

Or should i use just brass rods?

the product that is sold at the local NAPA store is correct rod . be sure you get the parts HOT so the rod will melt into the crach to help "glue " the pieces together .

Not perfect, but for my first time i think it'll do. Still need to dress it out once it cools completely.