Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

Hello from the upper left coast. Last sept I purchased a standing 8ft Dempster 12a in eastern Nebraska , between Wakefield and Pender. It is in very nice shape, no rust under the hood, blades straight, minimum bullet holes. Just taking it apart giving it a good cleaning and new bearings. This is my first mill and I am getting a lot of good info from this forum. THANKS. A couple questions, what do you use to replace packing on the hood? The end of the blades are crimped, when did they start/stop doing that? Also on the side of the case it has a line and says oil level but it is upside down. Is this normal?

Dang! I never saw an upside down level indicator! LOL It holds 2 quarts. That's usually enough to go halfway up the big gear to the center shaft.

I use some kind of rope for helmet gaskets on these.

Dempster started crimping the blades I'm thinking in the 20's or 30's. The 12-A I think was made in the 30's or 40's for a while. I don't have my book here though. I do know that on very early Dempster wheels, the blades are not crimped. I have see 6 footers both ways.

You mean I got a one of a kind, $2000000 I can retire on unicorn dempster12a ? Thanks for the info!!

Unicorn 12a lol it is unique keep us posted on progress welcome to the group

Maybe the foundry worker had to much to drink the night before and didn't know up from down.

You are way up there. I'm planning a trip to Eastern Wa come Sept. Want to go the museums at Pomeroy, Walla Walla and any others I can find in the area. Then over to my daughters close to Bend Or. I've been to the one at Walla Walla once many moons ago.

That’s what I thought, made Friday afternoon or Monday morning. Used to drive truck through that area, some nice towns just no time to stop and explore. That’s about a 7-8 hour drive from here on the other side of the mountains. I’m closer to Vancouver BC then Seattle

The museum at Walla Walla had a complete wood hillside combine set up, with 40 fiber glass mules all harnessed up. Really something!

Another question about the oil level indicator, is that the normal location behind tail pin?

yep. Real handy ain't it...