Vintage Windmill and Wind Generator Forum

Traveled to 1880 Town today near Murdo, SD. My Dad’s friend has been in charge of maintenance and upkeep there the last few years and called us down to see if we could help him out with some repairs and maybe a newer Aermotor upgrade. (Obviously the windmills aren’t time period accurate except for the Monitor but most people just associate windmills with old west and stuff so it works out.)

Here’s the Monitor.
Some extra Monitor sections on the second floor of one of their buildings.
Here I think is a Samson Air Flow? With a custom vane design.
And last but not least, some kind of Frankenstein combination thing. That might consist of a Dempster wheel maybe? Aermotor vane? Older one cause it was that different tail design on the end? I was told the wheel and parts on the ground were originally up on what’s left on the tower. Obviously I can see why it fell down if it was cobbled together like that.


So in thinking, the Air Flow could come down and be replaced with an Aermotor A702 or maybe even B702. It’s at the front and center of the town when you walked out the admission building and would make a nice statement.

The Monitor could be entirely restored and out back up. I didn’t get a picture but there were more parts even further back and a whole skeleton frame of another one!

No clue with the Frankenstein one.

Bottom pic of tailvane looks challenge, next pic up Aermoter Bell Hub wheel,then Aermoter Bell Hub, next is a Bell Hub tailbone .

There are some unique windmills there.

That Airflow looks like a 6.5’ so an A702 would probably be fine. A B702 might be a little much for the lighter angle iron tower that the 6.5’ Airflow is on.

The one appears to be a power mill of some sort. Check out the gearing.

Windy is right, look at that bevel!

If you look closer at that power mill it's homemade None of the gears mesh up and the small power gear doesn't set over the center of the mill.Just for looks!!!

I agree with Dan. I'm not even sure the main shaft will spin.

If the bearings are good, that Monitor may not need much more than a new wheel (call Loren Lockman) and a paint job.

Flip that nice Aermotor bell hub over before winter!