CATALOG OF THE MECHANICAL COLLECTIONS I3 



WINDMILL, 1879 



U.S.N.M. no. 309131 ; original patent model ; transferred from the United States 

 Patent OflSce; not illustrated. 



This model was submitted with the application for the patent issued 

 to J. and F. M. Cottle, October 21, 1879, no. 220751. 



This mill has a double-rimmed steel wind wheel made up of small 

 wedge-shaped vanes, which are removable to permit regulation of 

 the power of the mill. Tlie wind wheel cannot be swung out of its 

 position, but the shaft is carried in sliding bearings so that the gear 

 on the shaft can be disengaged to let the wheel run free. It is 

 equipped with a selective gear transmission. The model shows the 

 mill attached to the bucket chain of a well. 



WINDMILL, 1880 



U.S.N.M. no. 309201 ; original patent model ; transferred from the United States 

 Patent Office ; not illustrated. 



This model was submitted with the application for the patent issued 

 to H. H. Bevil, April 6, 1880, no. 226625. 



This specimen illustrates all the parts of the present-day "Ameri- 

 can" type of windmill. It has the multivaned wind wheel, the pivot, 

 the brake, the rudder vane, the governor, the pull-out, and the pump 

 pole. 



FARMER WIND-ELECTRIC GENERATOR, 1880 



PUITB! 5, FiGUEE 2 



U.S.N.M. no. 181985; original model; gift of Sarah J. Farmer; photograph no. 

 18234. 



Three solid wdnd wheels drive the armatures of three dynamos, 

 which are in circuit with a small storage battery, an incandescent 

 electric lamp, and switches. This model, constructed by Moses G. 

 Farmer, electrical pioneer, about 1880, is probably the earliest sug- 

 gestion of the use of wind power through the medium of the electric 

 generator and storage battery. 



Much of the objection to the use of the windmill as a source of 

 power is due to the intermittent nature of its operation. It was 

 thought that it was suited only for pumping water or similar opera- 

 tions where the energy or work produced by the windmill could be 

 stored during periods of useful wind velocities to be used as needed. 

 Now considerable work has been done on the use of the wind-driven 

 electric generator to charge storage batteries from which electrical 

 energy can be drawn as needed. At present the use of the windmill 

 as the prime mover for small domestic or farm electric sets offers 

 interesting possibilities. 



