Aermotor Windmill

The pumping Aermotor is governed through the action of a slightly off center wind wheel counterbalanced by a coiled governor spring. As the wheel automatically turns away from increasing wind, because of its being off center, and slows its speed. The increased tension on the spring causes the wheel to return into the wind when the wind decreases. When the mill is turned off from the ground or when it is completely put out of the wind, a friction brake on the hub tightens, preventing the wheel from free-wheeling.

Self oiling Aermotor windmills were made in a full range of sizes including six, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen, and sixteen foot sizes. From 1929 until 1966 a large 20' mill, weighing forty nine hundred pounds and having a five gallon oil reservoir, was manufactured for deep well pumping or for use in localities where large volumes of water was needed from shallow depths. Most of these were seen in the desert Southwest. All of the Aermotor mills were made by the Aermotor Company of Chicago until 1958, when the firm began the first of several changes in corporate ownership. Among the firms producing the mills since that time have been: Aermotor Division, Motor Products Corporation, Chicago, Aermotor Inc., Division of Nautec Corporation of Chicago, Aermotor Division, Braden Aermotor Corporation of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma: Braden Industries of Conway, Arkansas: and Aermotor Division, Valley Corporation of Conway, Arkansas. The manufacture of mills was shifted from Chicago to Broken Arrow in 1964, at which time the company began purchasing castings from foundries other than its own.

About that time the ring shaped outer hub of the wheel was redesigned into a solid spool shape. By 1969, the company began purchasing castings from an Argentinean licensee, buying some casting in the United States, but by the next year all casting were coming from the South American producer. Soon this policy changed to one of complete mills being made overseas and then being shipped to the Untied States for the domestic market. These Argentina 702 Model mills, sold by the Aermotor in America until 1981, are easily identified in the field from their spool shaped hubs and the simple red "Aermotor" stenciled on their vanes. In addition, Argentina made 702 Model mill marketed as the F.I.A.S.A. named for the initials of the Southern American manufacturer have been imported and sold in the US since 1980 by Essex Associated, Inc. of Dallas, Texas.

The Aermotor, the most common of American Windmills, the self-oiling Aermotor, may be seen in virtually all parts of North America as well as in many countries abroad. For many years they have dominated the American market Because of their economical price and high quality. Many thousands of them remain in service, providing water to this very day.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Pumping
• Aermotor
• Windmill
• Geocaching
• Panasonic
• Lumix
• DMC/TZ5
• Camera
• Hawks
• Barn

[art166wj]

I rarely get to see a windmill in action; thanks for this vid!

[ilovemusicd00d]

We have one of these in some property we just bought. do you know how much these are worth?

[zeedee21]

I really like those Aermotor windmills. I would love to have one in my front yard pumping water to the garden. I have everything but wind LOL.

I like geocaching also. I'm the worst in the world. Can't find anything.

Nice Video Jeff.