INDEX
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(C-E) /
(F-I) /
(J-M) /
(N-R) /
(S) /
(T) /
(U-Z)
AUSTRALIAN WINDMILL MANUFACTURERS - C - E
C /
D /
E
Of South Melbourne. This machinery merchant apparently sold windmills made for them by Roy ROBINS. The YARRA windmill was very similar to the ROBINS EUREKA.
- YARRA WINDMILL Welded gearbox double geared oil bath with oil pump windmill. It used ball bearings on the hub shaft and the turntable. Made in 6, 8, 10 and 12 ft. Almost identical to the R. ROBINS, EUREKA Windmill. (ROBINS claimed to have had a hand in designing the YARRA)
CARRA & GREGORY BROS
Windmill manufacturers of Rainbow, Victoria, who produced a windmill in 1906 and 1908.
CHALLENGE COMPANY
Made in Batavia, Illinois USA.
IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA (or sold by)
- ANTHONY HORDEN & SONS LTD Sydney, NSW. CHALLENGE STEEL 1913-1920, CHALLENGE 27, c1934, produced from 1927 - WWII
- BURNS & TWIGG Rockhampton, 1875 - 2011. DANDY windmill imported from 1905 - 1921. NEW DANDY windmill manfactured between 1921 and 1942.
- JAMES MARTIN & Co Sydney, c1910. DANDY windmill marketed as the CLIPPER, produced from 1891 - 1920's
- LANGWILL Bros & DAVIES PTY LTD South Melbourne, VIC. CHALLENGE STEEL c1913.
- GEORGE WILLS & Co Perth, WA. CHALLENGE STEEL c1911.
- McLENNAN & CO Brisbane, QLD. CHALLENGE STEEL
- ROBERTS & CO Hobart, TAS. CHALLENGE STEEL
CHAMP & FOX
Principals were George CHAMP (formerly of Champ & West)and George A. Roy FOX. Started business in June 1911 at 110 James Street, Perth, W.A. Moved to 106 James Street Perth by 1912. In March 1914 the address was 86 James Street, Perth, W.A. where it remained until it closed in 1932. Champ & Fox were licensed plumbers who, in addition to their general plumbing work, also made tanks, supplied pumps and pumping engines, put down bores and erected and repaired windmills. There is no evidence that they made their own windmill. George CHAMP died in 1941.
CHAMP & WEST
Partnership formed in 1891 between George CHAMP and Alfred Archibald WEST as plumbers and tinsmiths in Murray Street, Perth, W.A. Patented a portable condensor (WA Patent No. 442) in September 1893. Moved to the corner of Lake and Roe Streets Perth, W.A. in October 1896. Manufactured their own windmill from circa 1896-1899. Address in 1897 was 14 Lake Street, Perth, Western Australia. Council changed the numbering system in 1908 and this address became 10 Lake Street. The company had a branch at Midland Junction in 1898-99. They also made tanks, sank bores, supplied, erected and repaired un-named windmills and pumps. The partnership was dissolved in April 1911. Both CHAMP and WEST continued in the windmill and plumbing business as separate entities.
- see -
(C-E) CHAMP & FOX.
- see -
(U-Z) WEST & GARRETT.
- see -
(U-Z) WEST, BRADFORD & MARQUIS.
- ADVANCE WINDMILL Made from 1896 to circa 1899 in 2 sizes, 8ft. & 10ft. Steel windmill on a 4-post steel tower. Appears to have 6 wheel sections with 3 sails per section. Difficult to discern if it is geared or direct acting. Tail vane similar in shape and design to the Aermotor.
- AERMOTOR WINDMILL Agent for this US made windmill in early 1907.
CHAPMAN & SAUNDERS PTY. LTD.
They produced a windmill before 1979 which was later made by BORMANN ENGINEERING, Woodside, South Australia. At that time their address was PO Box 54, Clarence Gardens, 5039. In c1979 they purchased the windmill business of T. H. VARCOE and they continued production of VARCOE windmills until December 1984 when DEAN & McCABE was set up.
CHERRY & CHECKETTS
Cherry & Checketts manufactured windmills and other agricultural implements in Sale, Victoria. The principals of the business were George Addey CHERRY and John CHECKETTS. The partnership which carried on business as engineers, ironfounders and general blacksmiths, was dissolved by mutual consent from the 19th of October 1903. The windmill had a corrugated iron tail and the metal blades were fitted between the wheel rings. Advertised in the G.F. Witton's Commercial Directory of Victoria in 1895.
CLARK
Known windmill manufacturer. He was appearing in the rates books in Colac as early as 1885 as a tinsmith, but there is at present no information confirming the period over which he produced windmills.
CLARKE, T. & SONS
Listed as manufacturers in Colac, Victoria in 1906
CLEVELAND FOUNDRY
Engineers, contractors and shipbuilders who also manufactured well-boring plants and sheep & cattle troughing in Townsville, Queensland. Advertised in Wise's P.O. Directory of Queensland in 1903.
CLIMAX
Heavy open geared windmill with steel windwheel and tail. - see -
CLIMAX
CLIPPER WINDMILL
- see - CHALLENGE WINDMILL CO.
THE CLYDE ENGINEERING Co LTD
The origin of the company is with William Henry HUDSON who in 1843 migrated to Australia with his family via New Zealand. In 1855 he with his son Robert established a joinery workshop in Hudson St, Redfern. In 1863 they became known as HUDSON & SONS. He handed over the business to his sons in 1866 and in 1883 building began on new premises at Duck Creek near Granville, NSW. There was a CLYDE windmill advertised in 1888 by HUDSON BROS Limited of Sydney. Unfortunately the company went into voluntary liquidation in 1897. The company re-emerged in 1898 run by William NOAKES (NSW agent for John FOWLER & CO (Leeds) LTD) and members of the HUDSON family. Through the life of the company the focus had been rail, but they did produce windmills at the CLYDE WORKS, Granville, NSW in 1905, Auburn, NSW in 1910. Martin Place, Sydney - Office 1909 - 1920.
- CLYDE WINDMILL This windmill had a wooden wind wheel and tail vane. The windmill was first made by HUDSON BROS c1884 and continued in production until at least 1899 under CLYDE INDUSTRIES.
- EOLUS WINDMILL 1905 - 1916. It used an internal toothed gear and hardwood pitman.
COBBLEDICK, T. G.
Of Franklin Street, Traralgon, Victoria. In 1908 he advertised as agent for several makes of mills including Alston's. Tanks and troughs made on the premises.
COBDEN TURBINES
COHOE, A. J. & SONS
Andrew J. COHOE arrived in Australia from Canada in 1889 with a wife, two young daughters and less than ten pounds of money. He commenced employment with a Victorian firm and was given the task of altering a machine used for winnowing grain. This was successful and the machine was patented by its original inventor, SUDOLTZ. In 1892 SUDOLTZ employed Andrew COHOE and a partner named WALSTER to start an engineering works in Junee NSW to manufacture these winnowers and other agricultural machines under the trade name of ECLIPSE. The bank collapse of 1893 crippled the business but the invention of a new machine to lay poison baits for rabbits saved and rebuilt the company until it at one time employed 60 - 70 men. Unfortunately the hot dry climate and strenuous working conditions affected Andrew COHOE's health with serious lung trouble, so upon doctors advice, he moved to Toowoomba, Queensland in 1905. He commenced another business with his son-in-law under the name of COHOE and PENFOLD to biuld harvesters and other agricultural machinery. However the machines were not suited to the moister climate and with the imposition of severe Government tariffs, the manufacture of harvesters was abandoned. COHOE turned his attention to windmills, firstly as a maker of windmills for other machinery agents, and then as the maker and distributor of ECLIPSE WINDMILLS and WELLBORING MACHINERY. The business manufactured windmills in Brook St, Toowoomba, Queensland. It was also known as the ECLIPSE IRON WORKS. Both names were used until at least circa 1918. It became the ECLIPSE WINDMILL CO. LTD. in 1920.
COHOE and PENFOLD
- see - COHOE, A. J. & SONS.
COMET PUMPS AUSTRALIA
Took over the manufacture of COMET windmills from RAPID RAIN PTY LTD in 2002. The then principals were Darren & Melissa FITZGERALD. Name changed to Comet Windmills Australia Pty Ltd in 2004.
COMET WINDMILL
- see -
(J-M) FRED METTERS & CO.
- see -
(J-M) LAVER, H. R.
- see -
(U-Z) SIDNEY WILLIAMS COMPANY.
- see -
(U-Z) U.S. WIND ENGINE & PUMP COMPANY.
COMET WINDMILLS
Address in New South Wales. 255a George St, Sydney [1927].
COMET WINDMILLS AUSTRALIA
Managing Director in 2021 is David Catchpole. Manufacture of COMET windmills takes place at Macksville, NSW. Address in January 2021 is 16 Yarrawonga Street, Macksville, NSW, 2447.
Website
COOEE WINDMILL
- see -JOHN DANKS & SON PTY LTD.
CORBET, JAMES
He was the son of John and Sarah CORBETT, and was born at sea on board the
Allen Kerr during the families trip to Australia in 1841. James married Jane McPHERSON in 1863 at Geelong, and is first recorded at Beeac on a land transaction in 1886, although both he and his parents may have been in the area previous to this date. His mother died that year, and both of his parents are buried in the Beeac cemetery.
He appears to have been farming for an income up until about 1891, when he started a blacksmith shop on fifty acres of land he had begun leasing in 1889, before purchasing it the following year. The site of the premises was one kilometre north of Beeac on the south east side of the present intersection of Corbett Road and the main road to Cressy.
When he started making windmills is unknown but at least two versions were produced.
James CORBETT was eighty years of age when he died at Beeac on the 17th of May 1921. Details on the mills themselves are uncertain, but there appears to have been at least two types.
- The Corbet Windmill The Corbet Windmill was manufactured at Beeac, Victoria somewhere between 1891-1919, though the exact date is not known. The earlier Corbet windmills certainly had wooden parts such as the tower and tail. Of the surviving examples it appears at least 2 basic size castings (presumably produced elsewhere from a casting foundry to his pattern) were used over the years of manufacture. The size and strength of the wheel increased slightly with the use of the 2 main castings pretty much remaining the same. For some unexplained reason there is a left and right tail on the larger casting type.
- TYPE 1. This was mounted on a wooden tower and used a wooden tail. The main casting had a mast pipe fitted into it. This mill had a straight hub shaft that ran in a single bearing clamped to the main casting, with a grease cup on the clamp to lubricate the shaft. A crank disc was used and a stroke choice appears to have been available. All this was fitted about half way to the top of the main casting, which included a strap across the top for additional strength. This mill was set up for a metal wind wheel with pipe spokes in a cast hub with sockets. The spokes were grub screwed into the sockets. A smaller hub disc at the front with holes in its face held brace rods that attached to the outer ring. The wheel furled to the left.
- TYPE 2. This mill was similar in many respects to Type 1, as far as the wind wheel and other aspects, but used a crankshaft, held fore and aft at the top of the main casting.
COUNAHAN, F. J.
Listed as a manufacturer at Sale, Victoria in 1940. Advertised as an agent for Metters K windmills in 1940.
COUPER & CO
- see -
(U-Z) VULCAN FOUNDRY (QLD).
CRIBB & FOOTE
General merchants of Ipswich, Queensland from 1849 - 1949 and possibly longer. Between 1910-1914 imported the IDEAL and IMPERIAL windmills manufactured by the Canadian company, Goold Shapley & Muir of Brantford, Ontario.
CROPLEY, Wyndham
Listed as a manufacturer at North Melbourne, Victoria in 1910 to 1913.
CROSS, C. A.
Windmill manufacturer of Hamilton, Victoria. Produced a windmill in 1913.
CROWN WINDMILL
- see -
(S) SAUNDERS ENGINEERING CO LTD.
CYCLONE WINDMILL
- see -
(A-B) BRYAN BROS.
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circa 1910 in QLD
DALGETY
- DALGETY M WINDMILL Actually the [WA] METTERS M.
- DALGETY SELF OIL WINDMILL Offered by DALGETY & CO, Perth. Appears to be the METTERS K model.
DANKS, John & SON PTY LTD
John DANKS arrived in Australia in 1857. The firm of JOHN DANKS & SON PTY LTD was founded in 1859 in Melbourne. They began as a plumbing business , established by brothers John and Samuel. By 1880 DANKS had been making their CANVAS SAIL windmill.
Addresses
- 119 Liverpool St, Sydney in 1881
- 363 Pitt St, Sydney in 1896
- 324 - 330 Pitt St, Sydney in 1899 - 1930
- Doody St, Alexandria, NSW
- 63 Ashmore St, Alexandria, NSW.
- 391- 403 Bourke Street, Melbourne, for 100 years. 391 from 1896
The company quickly grew to include factories in Melbourne and Sydney, which manufactured and supplied a variety of plumbing and engineering products such as brassware, pumps, windmills and bells. Following John DANKS' death in 1902, his son Aaron (later Sir Aaron) led the company. In 1928 Aaron's son, Fred, became Chairman and Managing Director upon his father's death. DANKS HOLDINGS LIMITED was formed in 1951, as a public company and JOHN DANKS & SON PTY LTD became its wholly owned subsidiary. At this time, the company was operating retail and wholesale shops in Bourke Street, Melbourne, and Pitt Street, Sydney, as well as its manufacturing plants in Melbourne and Sydney. In 1948 they exhibited at the Royal Melbourne Show. In the mid 1950s, the decision was made to phase out retailing and manufacturing, to concentrate on distribution to independent hardware dealers.
- AERMOTOR Model 602 WINDMILL They manufactured the American AERMOTOR Windmill for a period in the 1930's and possibly 1940's in at least 6 and 8 ft sizes. Some of these were resold by W. D. MOORE & Co. Their price with the help of the tariff considerably undercut the imported Model 702.
- ALSTON WINDMILLS In the 1890's they acted as agents for ALSTON and put their own name on the tail.
- BILLABONG WINDMILL - open gearbox 1911 - still offered in 1924. This version was available in 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 foot sizes. The head was mounted on a pipe stem which was trued with a spider fitting. It had a hub brake. The distinctive right angle triangular vane was introduced in 1913.
- BILLABONG ENCASED GEAR WINDMILL 1924 - 1932+. All cast head with double gears, rocker arm design and had a hub brake.
- BILLABONG WINDMILL 1932 Model 1932 onwards. Succeeded earlier oil bath model. Crosshead motion.
- BUSY B WINDMILL Early to late 1930's. This was a 5 ft direct acting windmill. It had a corrugated roofing iron tail and the fan had 3 spokes and 9 blades.
- COOEE WINDMILL 1933 - c1946. According to W. D. MOORE & CO, production was ceased c1946. This is the Model 602 AERMOTOR under a different name. The fan on the W. D. MOORE AERMOTOR was identical to the COOEE but there were variations in other parts.
- BIG BILL Trademark No. 18,858 was taken out for this windmill in 1915 but it is not known if it was ever produced.
- LITTLE BILL Cast fabrication 6 ft open single geared windmill intended for moderate loads. Gears had a ratio of 4 to 1. The fan had 4 spokes with 16 blades.
- STEEL STAR WINDMILL Made by FLINT & WALLING in Kendallville, Indiana , USA and marketed by DANKS. The BILLABONG appears to be designed similar to the STEEL STAR. - see - (F-I) FLINT AND WALLING
DAVEY, Thomas & Co
Melbourne company which exhibited the EMPIRE windmill at the "National Agriculture Society of Victoria" show in October 1872. Another EMPIRE windmill, presumably by the same manufacturer, was erected at Champion Bay, Western Australia in 1875.
DAY, William
Listed as a manufacturer at Caniambo, Victoria in 1910 and 1911. Listed as a manuacturer at Shepperton, Victoria from 1912 to 1914.
DAY, William [Wm] & SON
Windmill manufacturer of Caniambo, Victoria [1910 - 1911] and Shepperton, Victoria [1912 - 1914] who produced a windmill from 1910 to 1914.
DAY & DATE
Windmill manufacturer at Shepperton, Victoria who produced a windmill in 1915.
DAY & SLOAN
Michael John DAY and William SLOAN were windmill manufacturers in Ballarat East, Victoria who produced a windmill 1909 - 1912. Advertised the ABRAHAM'S EVERLASTING windmill c1900.
DEAN & McCABE WINDMILLS PTY LTD
Of 2 Ramsay Avenue, Mount Gambier, South Australia in 2011. Set up with the sole purpose of operating the windmill business of CHAPMAN & SAUNDERS in December 1984.
website
- JUNIOR WINDMILL Made in 6 & 7 ft. Direct action windmill with sealed ball bearings, and a 3 inch stroke.
- VARCOE 6 WINDMILL - Geared drive - double gear The fan is assembled onto a fully welded & galvanised steel frame. The tower has 4 posts.
- VARCOE 7 WINDMILL - Geared drive - double gear The fan is assembled onto a fully welded & galvanised steel frame. The tower has 4 posts.
- VARCOE 8 WINDMILL - Geared drive - double gear The fan is assembled onto a fully welded & galvanised steel frame. The tower has 4 posts.
- VARCOE 10 WINDMILL Geared windmill which mounts on a 4 post tower. The fan has 6 segments
DEHLE, BENNISON & CO
Hobart, Tasmania. see -
(S) STOVER MANUFACTURING AND ENGINE COMPANY.
DEFIANCE WINDMILL
- see -
(F-I) HARRIS SCARFE SANDOVERS. - see -
DEFIANCE Windmill
DEXTER WINDMILL COMPANY
This American company had its genesis with a patent granted in 1868 to Albert H SOUTHWICK for a vertical axis windmill. After operating for a short time under the name of A.H.SOUTHWICK & Co, he started the DEXTER COMPANY in 1875 in San Francisco. Then in c1884 he returned to Des Moines, Iowa, where he marketed the windmill as the TURBINE Windmill. C1885 is the last record of the mill.
- DEXTER WINDMILL Purchased by Sir Samuel McCAUGHEY for his property at Coonong near Urana, NSW. The only known example of the make in the world. It had a 16 blade rotor and 16 vertical louvres to control the wind. It was in a 2 storey building with the mechanisms for operating the pumps etc. in the lower storey. There is an intention to restore the mill which fell over and was later burnt. On the 3/5/1877 Patent 2370 was issued to Francis Boardman CLAPP an importer of Bourke St, Melbourne for changes to the regulating and other aspects of the mill . He may have been the importer and the manufacturer of the Australian fitted parts. There is no confirmation of either claim. McCAUGHEY did visit the USA several times.
DICK BROS.
Machinery merchants of Elcho Street, Hamilton, Newcastle who also advertised as millwrights in the 1904 Wise's P.O. Directory of N.S.W.
DON WINDMILL
- see -
(J-M) MOUNT BARKER IRONWORKS.
DONOVAN & McCRAY
Sydney, NSW.
- see -
(S) STOVER MANUFACTURING AND ENGINE CO.
DORIS WINDMILL
- see -
(J-M) FRED METTERS & CO.
DOT WINDMILL
- see -
(A-B) JAMES ALSTON & SONS PTY LTD.
DREADNOUGHT WINDMILL
- see -
(F-I) GEO E FORTESCUE & SONS LTD.
DUTCH, Charles
- see -
(J-M) MOUNT BARKER IRONWORKS.
DUTCH BROS
- see -
(J-M) MOUNT BARKER IRONWORKS.
DUX WINDMILL
- see -
(S) STATE IMPLEMENT AND ENGINEERING WORKS. - see -
DUX Windmill
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Appears to have been in business from c1888. Operated by James STEVENS Jnr. at North Laura, South Australia.[c1891]. In October 1891 he advertises that he is going to erect buildings on ADAMSON BROS land.
- ECLIPSE WINDMILL c1891. All iron windmill. It is not known whether this windmill was manufactured here or just sold from the premises.
ECLIPSE COMPANY
This is an advertising reference and the actual company could be one of several.
RESELLERS
- H.P. GREGORY & Co 17 Pitt St, Circular Quay, Sydney
- H.P. GREGORY & Co 63 Bourke St, Melbourne
- H.P. GREGORY & Co 2 & 4 California St, San Francisco. [1885]
ECLIPSE IRON WORKS
This appears to be the previous name of the ECLIPSE WINDMILL COY. LTD. The ECLIPSE IRON WORKS were established in 1905 as an agricultural implement manufacturer in Toowoomba by Andrew J. COHOE who already had many years experience in manufacturing in the southern Australian States. The works were gradually extended and windmills and boring plants were included. These were so successful that they became the principal items of manufacture. The original works appear to have been in Brook Street, Black Gully under the management of E. A. COHOE, eldest son of the founder. The city offices and showroom appear to have been at the corner of Russell and Railway Streets. The office and works were later listed under the ECLIPSE WINDMILL COY. LTD. at the corner of Ruthven and Campbell Streets.
ECLIPSE IMPLEMENTS PTY LTD
Manufactured a windmill in 1909 at Ascot Vale, Victoria.
ECLIPSE WINDMILL
CARLYLE, USA manufacturer. (Presumably imported - no other reference) It is possible that it is actually the windmill made by
BOOTH MACDONALD in New Zealand.
- see also - COHOE A. J. & SONS.
- see - EAGLE FOUNDRY.
- see -
(T) TOOWOOMBA FOUNDRY CO. LTD.
ECLIPSE WINDMILL CO. LTD
Previously known as A. J. COHOE & Sons and the ECLIPSE IRON WORKS, it became the ECLIPSE WINDMILL CO. in 1920. The Managing Directors of the company were E. A. & H. J. COHOE. The opportunity arose to purchase land at the corner of Ruthven and Campbell streets, and the new factory and offices were built. The factory was on land alongside the main workshop of the foundry of the TOOWOOMBA FOUNDRY CO. They amalgamated with the TOOWOOMBA FOUNDRY in 1925. The COHOES became shareholders of the TOOWOOMBA FOUNDRY Co. and took up managerial positions in it. The company expanded into Western Australia in 1926 under the direction of Mr H. J. COHOE. The windmill continued to be offered for sale by the new owners although they were offering parts only by 1926.
ECONOMY WINDMILL
- see -
(F-I) GEO E FORTESCUE & SONS LTD.
- see -
(F-I) GRIFFITHS BROS & CO.
ELGIN WINDMILL COMPANY
The ELGIN WINDMILL COMPANY was an American manufacturer that commenced operating in its own right in 1887 and continued making windmills until the 1940's. The factory was at Elgin, Illinois.
IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA OR SOLD BY.
- MOTOR TRACTORS PTY LTD 369-385 Wattle Street, Ultimo, NSW. Agents in 1948, but no supply available at that date. ELGIN WONDER??
- ELGIN WONDER WINDMILL The evidence for this mill is slight but it appears to have been imported. The WONDER was introduced in 1912 and was the first successful, widely distributed self-oiling oil bath windmill in the American market. It was a double geared steel windmill. It was manufactured until the late 1940's.
ENSOR & BUCKINGHAM
Manufacturers in Queensland. Commenced production in mid 1881 with an order for two mills. Their original factory was at the rear of Mr W. WOOD's Golden Fleece Hotel, which was located (presumably) in Toowoomba. The metal parts for these machines were supplied by Griffiths Foundry, Toowooomba.
EMPIRE SELF REGULATING WINDMILL
- see - Thomas DAVEY & Co.
ENGINEERING SUPPLY CO OF AUSTRALIA
Brisbane, Queensland. - see -
(S) STOVER MANUFACTURING AND ENGINE CO.
ENTERPRISE WINDMILL
- see -
(T) TOOWOOMBA FOUNDRY & RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK CO.
EOLUS WINDMILL
- see - CLYDE ENGINEERING CO LTD.
ESAM, John
Warrnambool manufacturer in the period from at least 1873 to 1880. Seems to have made transitional type windmills.
EUREKA WINDMILL
- see -
(N-R) ROBINS & GRIEVE.
- see -
(N-R) ROBINS, Roy.
- see -
(T) TOOWOOMBA FOUNDRY & RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK CO.
EVERLASTING WINDMILL
- see -
(A-B) ABRAHAMS, John.
EXCEL WINDMILL
- see -
(A-B) The BAIRDS COMPANY.
EXCELSIOR WINDMILL
- see -
(J-M) MOUNT BARKER IRONWORKS.
EYRES, BLACK & CO
They were McLEAN BROS & RIGG of Adelaide. Advertised windmills in 1892 - 1894.
- see -
(U-Z) U.S. WIND ENGINE AND PUMP COMPANY.
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