Page 1 of 1
Wooden tower-top casting ID
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 2:06 am
by hwy8
What brand/model machine would have used a casting like this?
Re: Wooden tower-top casting ID
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 8:26 am
by Wayne
I wondering if it's Dempster, They have the two piece casting that might fit in the spot on top. Looks kinda like their top casting for a metal tower.
Re: Wooden tower-top casting ID
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 10:45 am
by Windcatcher530 Dan
I would say it fit a wooden tower and possibly was meant to use ball bearings
Re: Wooden tower-top casting ID
Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 1:34 pm
by windybob
Looks like wood tower top, and yes, either balls or more likely an anti-friction washer (s). Not sure if the 'pocket' on the left has a galley for oil to the bearing area.
Re: Wooden tower-top casting ID
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:49 am
by hwy8
How would it have attached to the tower? Would there be slots in the 4x4's that held the projections on the bottom of the casting? This came off the water-tower barn and even though the group is going to install a 10' Aermotor, they would like to figure out what was originally "on top". There haven't been any photos discovered yet and it would be nice to at least display a drawing, etc.
Re: Wooden tower-top casting ID
Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 7:13 am
by mtblah
The Ideal Steel windmills used a very similar set up . I believe the slot is for indexing the leveling plate that sits on top & the motor on top of that part .
Re: Wooden tower-top casting ID
Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2023 8:53 am
by Wayne
image000000(195).jpg
image000001(94).jpg
This two piece bearing race is what I think goes on top of the wooden tower top plate. I also posted the metal tower cap that the race would set on for a metal tower
Re: Wooden tower-top casting ID
Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:40 am
by windybob
That appears to be an old Dempster tower top Wayne. You know that already. I have used those turntables when switching over many types of mills on many types of towers.
The wooden tower top lays on the ends of the 4 X 4's and bolts straight down into the wooden legs. I would guess the lugs on the underneath go between the legs to prevent the casting from trying to turn, and working the bolts loose.
Re: Wooden tower-top casting ID
Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2023 3:53 pm
by windybob
One type of tower top casting. J-bolts to the legs, or inner brackets. Didn't crawl under and look.
tower top.jpeg