INDEX     (A-B) / (C-E) / (F-I) / (J-M) / (N-R) / (S) / (T) / (U-Z)

AUSTRALIAN WINDMILL MANUFACTURERS - U - Z

U / V / W / X / Y / Z

US WIND ENGINE & PUMP Co.

    1857 - 1940's. A Batavia, Illinois, USA, manufacturer.
   IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA or sold by

1. EYRES, BLACK & CO.    Adelaide, South Australia. 1892 - 1894. HALLADAY STANDARD windmill.
2. HARRY & BURNS    Kooringa, South Australia. 1886. HALLADAY STANDARD windmill.
3. G. DAY    South Australia. 1884. HALLADAY STANDARD windmill.
4. INTERCOLONIAL BORING CO.    Brisbane, Queensland. 1903 - 1920. HALLADAY STANDARD windmill 8-30ft, GEM windmill 8, 10, 12ft in 1904.
5. A. OVEREND & CO.    Queensland. 1888. HALLADAY STANDARD.
6. ALFRED SHAW & CO.    Brisbane, Queensland. 1877 - 1878. HALLADAY STANDARD.
7. McLENNAN & CO    Queensland. 1897 - 1902
8. LASSETTER, F. & CO.    Sydney, NSW. 1881 - 1906. HALLADAY STANDARD. GEM windmill 8, 10ft in 1906.
9. J. VICKERY & CO.    Narrabri, NSW. 1883. HALLADAY STANDARD windmill.
10. HORROCKS & CO    Perth, Western Australia. 1885 - 1886. HALLADAY STANDARD windmill.
11. METTERS, Fred    Perth, Western Australia. 1903 - 1908. COMET windmill 6, 8, 10, 12ft. GEM windmill 6, 8, 10, 12ft.
12. WEST AUSTRALIAN FOUNDRY CO.    Western Australia. 1885 - 1891
13. McLEAN BROS. & RIGG.    NSW, VIC and SA. 1875-1899. HALLADAY STANDARD windmill 10, 12, 13, 14, 16ft. GEM windmill.
14. JAMES ALSTON    Warrnambool, Victoria. 1886. HALLADAY STANDARD windmill.
15. F. MARSHALL & CO    Victoria. 1913 - 1914.
16. ROBERT GARDNER LTD.    Tasmania. 1914.

• COMET WINDMILL    This was an open back geared windmill available in 6 and 8 foot.
• GEM WINDMILL    Available in 8, 10 & 12 ft in Australia. Oral tradition has it that this windmill was made as an intentionally poor product to discourage people from buying steel windmills as against wooden ones. There are 2 different designs in the GEM and as yet it is not clear which one was imported.
• HALLADAY STANDARD WINDMILL    The first commercially successful self regulating windmill manufactured in the United States. It was a wooden sectional wheel windmill with a rigid tail. Available in Australia in sizes from 8 to 30 foot. One of these on Rocklands Station in the Northern Territory had its wooden vane eaten away by cockatoos within a year. Other examples have been found in Western Australia and South Australia.

TOP

VARCOE WINDMILL

    - see - (C-E) DEAN & McCABE WINDMILLS PTY. LTD.
    - see - VARCOE, T. H.

VARCOE, T. H.

    Thomas Hornsby VARCOE worked for and later purchased Mr William WILLIAMS blacksmith shop in Mount Gambier, South Australia in 1911. WILLIAMS had produced a direct drive windmill similar to the TRUMAN windmill. In about 1913 the VARCOE FOUNDRY was built in Ferrers Street, Mount Gambier. The foundry site was sold in 1979 to the Mt Gambier City Council. Also about this time the windmill business was sold to CHAPMAN & SAUNDERS PTY LTD. Thomas Hornsby VARCOE applied for a windmill patent in 1928.1937 image of the T.H. VARCOE Foundry

• OIL BATH    The first VARCOE windmill produced was an oil bath.
• DIRECT ACTION OIL BATH - c1920    In c1920 he produced a direct action oil bath mill which he claimed was the first in the world.
• PIPE CYLINDER TYPE    Oil bath type. This was the last of the T. H. VARCOE windmills.
• TURKS CAP TYPE    Oil bath single geared windmill with heavy cast cap. Walking beam drive. Single rod spokes [5] with 3 blades to a section.
• WITCHES HAT TYPE

VICTOR WINDMILL

    - see - (A-B) ANDERS, E. & SONS.     - see - (S) SAUNDERS ENGINEERING CO. LTD

VICTORY WINDMILL

    - see - (J-M) MUNRO, David & CO.
    - see - (J-M) MORIESON, John.

The VULCAN FOUNDRY (W.A.)

    The VULCAN FOUNDRY dates back to c1872 when Fras. G. ARMSTRONG and W. H. McGLEW took over the premises formerly operated by the late S. COOK in Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia. They purchased all the patterns used by COOK and intended to carry out all types of engineering, iron and brass founding. This included reaping and threshing machines, hay rakes, patent chaff cutters and other general agricultural implements. They also produces wagonettes, drays, gigs, traps, wagons, timber whims and other vehicles. The lathes and machinery were operated by steam power from this early stage. By c1878 only McGLEW appears to be operating the business and by 1886 it was known as the VULCAN FOUNDRY. It had expanded its business to include fertilisers, offering to buy bones and supply bone dust to any part of the Colony. It was also in 1886 that the first advertisement for the IMPERATOR WIND ENGINE appears. It is described as being intended for stock or irrigation purposes, and states that several of the machines were then working at the Metropolitan Railway Station, pumping water for the locomotives.
    - see - (J-M) McGLEW, W. H.

VULCAN FOUNDRY (QLD)

    The Vulcan Foundry, Couper & Co. was listed in the 1903 Wise's P.O. Directory of Queensland. Their address was Dutton Street, Cairns. W. J. DANIEL was the manager.

VULCAN FOUNDRY (VIC)

    The Vulcan Foundry in Geelong was operated by Humble and Co. from the 1860's.     - see - (F-I) HUMBLE & CO.
TOP

WABCO

    - see WESTERN AUSTRALIAN BORING CO.

WATTS, EDWARD

    Blacksmith in Yambuk, Victoria.

• WEBBWATTS WINDMILL    Appears to have been a windmill using WEBB Bros castings and the rest being fabricated by WATTS.

WARNER, JOHN & SONS LTD

    - see - (J-M) JOHN WARNER & SONS LTD

WARNER, R. G. & CO.

    - see - (N-R) R. G. WARNER & CO.

WARWICK WINDMILL

    - see - (F-I) FRANCE & CO.

WAUPUN VANELESS WINDMILL

    - see - (A-B) ALTHOUSE WHEELER & CO.

WEBB BROS. & CO.

    Windmill manufacturer of Warrnambool, Victoria who produced windmills 1906 - 1915.

WEBB BROS. PTY. LTD.

    1920's - 1950. Manufacturers at 284 - 294 City Road, South Melbourne, Victoria. Shown also at 264 - 268. Made a number of models in sizes ranging from 6 to 30 foot. There are a number of windmill patent, trademark and design applications in the name of Percy Barrett WEBB made in the period 1905 - 1938. view image

• OIL GEAR "A" TYPE WINDMILL
• OIL GEAR "F" TYPE WINDMILL
• OIL GEAR "L" TYPE WINDMILL    Patent 928 - 23920. Totally enclosed head  with all working parts running in oil. Probably in a number of sizes, but only 25 foot confirmed.
• OIL GEAR "S" TYPE WINDMILL - c1933 -    Patent No 928 of 1933. Available in sizes 6, 8, 10 and 12 foot. Totally enclosed design which used a slipper type crosshead, giving a centralised and vertical lift for the pumprod, all ballbearing bearings and all working parts operated in a deep oil bath. For further information see - WEBB S TYPE Windmill
• "T" MODEL WINDMILL - c1946 -    Used a steel fabricated head and flat fan blades.

WEBB, PERCY BARRETT

    - see - (U-Z) WEBB BROS PTY LTD.

WEBER, D. E. C.

    - see - (N-R) PORT WEBER.

WEBSTER, A. G. & CO.

    Previous name of WEBSTER, A. G. & SON. Circa 1890.

WEBSTER, A. G. & SON

    Agricultural machinery merchant who had branches in Hobart and Launceston, Tasmania. Advertised in October 1897 that they were the sole agents for the AIRMOTOR windmill, "shown for the first time in Tasmania and decidedly superior in power and durability to any previous importation."

WEICKHARDT, F. W.

    Windmill manufacturer of Clunes, Victoria who produced a windmill in 1910.

WELCH PERRIN & CO.

    South Melbourne, Vic. - see - (S) STOVER MANUFACTURING AND ENGINE CO.

WEST, BRADFORD & MARQUIS

    Successor to West & Garrett. Principals were Alfred Archibald WEST, Walter David BRADFORD and Alexander Charles MARQUIS. Advertised as irrigation and windmill experts from 1923 to 1938 when WEST retired. Sold Southern Cross Z Pattern windmills 1932-33. Sold reconditioned Samson, Aermotor and Monitor windmills in 1931. Address was 10 Lake Street, Perth, W.A.

WEST & GARRETT

    Principals were Alfred Archibald WEST and William Joseph GARRETT. WEST was formerly with Champ & West. Advertised as suppliers and erectors of windmills from June 1911 to December 1919. Address was 10 Lake Street, Perth, W.A.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN BORING CO.

    Welldrilling contractors and manufacturers of Wembley, Western Australia from circa 1936 to 1956. Manufacturers of WABCO welldrillers and welldrilling tools. Suppliers of drilling and sandpump cables, WABCO Windmills and all types of pumping equipment. Oxy, electric welders and oxy cutting. Turnings, shaping and taper screw cutting. Steam and drophammer forgings.

• WABCO WINDMILL    This was the METTERS K windmill rebadged.

WESTRAL FOUNDRY & MFG. CO.

    Shown as a windmill manufacturer at Saunders Street, East Perth in the 1932/3 Business Directory of W.A.

WHITE, WILLIAM B.

    Listed as a windmill maker at Coonieah in the Darling Downs district, in Wise's Post Office Directory for Queensland 1903.

WIGMORES LIMITED

    Importers of Agricultural Machinery and Farm Implements. Machinery Merchants, Engineers, Manufacturer's Agents, Produce Merchants and Auctioneers, Insurance Agents, Shipping Agents. Shown as an agent/manufacturer for WIGMORE windmills, pumps, piping etc. from 1939-1952.
Addresses

1. 613 - 619 Wellington Street, Perth, Western Australia. 1940 - 1958
2. Collie Street, Fremantle, Western Australia. 1940

• WIGMORE TYPE W WINDMILL    Advertised between February 1941 and August 1944.
• WIGMORE WINDMILL    Shown at the 1939 Royal Perth Show. Still being advertised in 1952.

WILLIAMS, J. H.

    Exhibited an American windmill in Sydney in May 1869.

SIDNEY WILLIAMS COMPANY

    Sidney WILLIAMS a qualified engineer, arrived in Australia from Britain. Not much is known about his early life here except that he worked with steam powered pumps at one stage and he also had experience of overlanding and droving cattle in the inland and far north of Australia. The firm of " SIDNEY WILLIAMS AND COMPANY " was formed in 1879 in Rockhampton, Queensland.
   Addresses

1. New South Wales    Constitutional Rd, Dulwich Hill, a suburb of Sydney. 1926 - 1933.
2. Queensland    Rockhampton 1879 -

• COMET WINDMILL - c1910 - 2001+    The COMET is a simple design windmill, designed by Sidney WILLIAMS and his son Arthur. It was built in sizes from 8 foot to 35 foot. Bearings and shafts work in separate weather proof oil boxes. The bearings are of lignum vitae or spotted gum. Over a period of time the hardwood bearings develop a very smooth surface. The head of the 24 ft model weighs 2.4 tonnes.
• A PATTERN - 1910 - 1912
• B PATTERN - 1911 - 1920
• C PATTERN - 1916 - PRESENT    Made in sizes from 8 to 14 foot. There was a significant design change at the start of 1940, from the pipe pull out design to the double chain pullout design.
• D PATTERN - 1925 - PRESENT    The D Pattern has two different variations. One is for the sizes 16, 18, 20 & 22 foot and the second is in the sizes 24, 27 & 30 ft.
• FITZROY WINDMILL - c1891    The design was used for the FITZROY - COMET windmill c1926.
• FITZROY - COMET WINDMILL - c1926    This was a 20 foot updated version of the FITZROY Windmill. Later the series were renamed the "D" Pattern COMET.
• METEOR WINDMILL - Aug 1933 - 1948    This was a geared oil bath windmill using machine cut gears. Patented in 1933. An 11 foot version was produced first that year followed by improved designs in 7 and 9 foot for further testing which took 4 years. The final product was released in 7, 9 and 11ft. Download Patent Specifications (PDF 314kb)
• MIDGET WINDMILL - 1930's    At 3 foot this is one of the world's smaller windmills. It was a direct acting oil bath mill designed to pump from ponds or springs and wells to 25 feet. Advertising also recommended it for pumping from rainwater tanks to overhead tanks and emptying septics. The fan had 12 blades mounted direct to the hub with a single outside ring.
• WILLIAMS WINDMILLS    This appears to have been the name for windmills produced between pre 1895 to about 1910, when it is presumed the COMET windmill came into being. He began building windmills in 1882 and had his first Queensland windmill patent in 1891 so it is possible that the WILLIAMS name could have been used on windmills as far back as 1882.

WILLIAMS MANUFACTURING CO.

    c1889 - 1904. Formerly B. S. Williams & Co. of Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Later became the Kalamazoo Tank and Silo Company. Manufacturer of the Manvel and Stover windmills from circa 1867.
    IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA or sold by

• Australasian Implement Company    Of North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia. Advertised the MANVEL windmill in 1883.
• James ALSTON     Victoria Forge, Raglan Parade, Warrnambool, Victoria. Advertised the MANVEL windmill in 1886.
• Holmes Samuel CHIPMAN    Applications for MANVEL as a trademark in respect of windmills were made by Victorian merchant Holmes Samuel CHIPMAN in the colonies of Queensland and South Australia in December 1883 and were granted in early 1884.

WILLIAMS, W. & SONS

    A blacksmith in Mount Gambier, South Australia. His Jubilee Standard windmills were displayed at the Mt Gambier Spring Show in October 1897. Sold the business in 1911 to Thomas Hornsby VARCOE.

• JUBILEE STANDARD WINDMILL   
• UN-NAMED WINDMILL    It used two eccentric wheels, one driving the other but the wheels were smooth not cogged like a normal gear cog.

WILLIS, William

    William WILLIS was the son of a local Balaklava, South Australia farmer and trained as a blacksmith under Walter BLAKE in the 1880's. In the 1890's he took over Blake's blacksmith shop and soon developed his wooden bearing windmill. He advertised as the inventor and patentee of the King Windmill. The business was acquired in 1904 by W. T. ANDERS who had also worked for Walter BLAKE.

• KING WINDMILL    After 1880 - c1902/04. Wooden bearings were used throughout.

WILSON, R. H. and WILSON, S. P.

    R. H. Wilson was listed as a windmill manufacturer in Port Fairy, in Wise's Post Office Directory of Victoria in 1904.

• WILSON WINDMILLS    Late 1890's to c1940. Awarded a gold medal for windmills at the Warrnambool Show of 1897. The windmill was built originally by R. H. WILSON of Bank St, Port Fairy, Victoria, 1902 - 1906, and 1908 - 1909, and later by S. P. WILSON. S. P. WILSON was still listed as a manufacturer in 1940.

WIMMERA WINDMILL

    - see - (A-B) BRADBURY, R. & CO.

WINDLE ENGINEERING COMPANY

    George Windle began manufacture in his back shed at 64 Vine Street, Prospect, South Australia, before shifting to rented premises, first at Manton Street, Hindmarsh and then Giles Street, Adelaide. The company then moved their factory to Baker Street, Hindmarsh, where they stayed until it was closed in 1978.

• WINDLE SELFOIL WINDMILL    First manufactured in 1936 and ceased about 1944-45. Counterclockwise running single gear windmill. Only three moving parts, a single pinion gear drove an internally toothed main gear which had an eccentric driving a strap. The windmills were made with three legged towers and were available in 6, 8 and 10 ft sizes. Castings were done by E. J. KEEN & Co from patterns made by George WINDLE.

WINDMOTOR WINDMILL

    - see - (J-M) METTERS, Fred & CO.
    - see - WINDMOTOR Windmill

WINDPUMP WINDMILL

    - see - (N-R) RAINDROP AGRICULTURAL.
    - see - (S) SOUTHERN CROSS [SOUTH AFRICA]

WIZARD WINDMILL

    - see - (A-B) ALSTON, James & SONS PTY. LTD.

WOODIN and LITTLE

    This San Francisco, USA company made the ALTHOUSE WHEELER company WAUPUN VANELESS windmill under licence during the 1880's. It is very difficult to say as yet that all the ALTHOUSE windmills in Australia were sourced from this supply, however, until further is known, the records are grouped together. There is an Australian trademark application for 1882 made by Lewis H WOODIN and the windmill was certainly being offered by 1881.
IMPORTED INTO AUSTRALIA or sold by

1. AUSTRALASIAN IMPLEMENT COMPANY.    c1892 - c1897. Advertised as sole South Australian agents.
2. McLEAN BROS & RIGG LTD.    Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, London & New York - 1888.
3. D. & W. MURRAY.    King William St, Adelaide. Claimed to be the sole importer - c1885.
4. A. G. ROSSER    1885 - 1887.
5. SCOTT & YOUNG - ATLAS COMPANY OF ENGINEERS    Melbourne - 1887. The company was listed at Carlton 1891 - 1894.

• ALTHOUSE WINDMILL    D. & W. MURRAY claim there were 100 in the colony by 1885. See the WAUPUN VANELESS for details.

WOODMANSE MANUFACTURING CO.

    USA manufacturer of Freeport, Illinois who apparently had windmills imported into Australia.

WORTHINGTON & SIMPSON BROS

    Advertised windmills in 1923 - 1933. Address 1923 - 1933 was 32 Clarence St, Sydney.

WORTHINGTON PLUMBING

    Advertised windmills in 1899 - 1917. Address 1899 - 1917 was 32 Clarence St, Sydney.

WRIGHT, A. L.

    Windmill manufacturer of Wodonga, Victoria who produced windmills - 1905 - 1906.

WYNDHAM CROPLEY

    Windmill manufacturer of North Melbourne, Victoria who produced windmills - 1910 - 1913.
TOP

X

TOP

YARRA WINDMILL

    - see - (C-E) CARPENTER, H. & CO.

YELLOWTAIL WINDMILL

    - see - (J-M) MOORE, W. D. & CO.
TOP

ZEPHYR WINDMILL

    - see - (T) TOOWOOMBA FOUNDRY & RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK CO.
TOP