Aermotor

Aermotor 1913 sold in Australia, by James Martin, Sydney

FIASA

1890's - W.D.Moore & Co. ventured into importing Aermotor Windmills from U.S.A.
The models would have been the 1897, 1898, 1899, 1903 and the 602.

by 1936 - The High Australian Tariffs made importing uneconomical.

1949 - Aermotor Factory, was built in Perth - The First West Australian Aermotor, the 602 model, was manufactured, in sizes; 6ft., 8ft., 10ft., and 12ft.

      It all started back in 1883 when a very clever fellow named Thomas O. Perry conducted over 5000 scientific tests on 61 different experimental wind wheels. With all these tests, Thomas figured out a new and brilliant way to design a wind wheel that was 87% more efficient than those that were currently on the market. At the time, Thomas was working for U.S. Wind Engine Company.  Eagerly the bright, young inventor presented his revolutionary design to his bosses.  However, their reaction was not exactly what Perry had expected.  The company heads looked over Perry's blueprints, gave a yawn, and said "So?"

      Then came businessman Mr LaVerne Noyes. When he looked over the designs of Thomas Perry, he immediately recognized two things.       First;   Perry was an engineering genius with a vision of the future.      Second;   U.S. Wind had the vision of a bat.  Noyes realized that with his own organizational skills combined with Perry's engineering talent, the two could set a new standard that would make them the leaders in the windmill industry.

      Five years later, Noyes and Perry introduced the "Aermotor" windmill. Their competitors just sat back and laughed at this new contraption, but within four years the Aermotor Company became the dominate supplier of windmills throughout the world.    Those who had once laughed now found themselves loosing customers to Aermotor. The truly unique feature of Aermotor windmills was not only did they pump water out of the ground, they also pumped money into the pockets of customers who used them.  The Aermotor design was so efficient that maintenance costs were far less than that of windmills produced at other companies.  Perry and Noyes had transformed the Aermotor Windmill into a major American industry, and by 1904 they had established a huge manufacturing plant in Chicago. Constant improvements in the design insured that Aermotor windmills were the most affordable and cost efficient on the market.

      In 1919, LaVerne Noyes died, but his company continues to flourish today. In the years since the founder's passing, Aermotor has undergone a number of changes, yet their famous windmills remain the finest available today. For over 100 years, Aermotor continues their proud tradition.

1888 - The Aermotor was introduced. Only 24 were sold the first year. The new "mathematical" windmill, as it was derisively called by the competitors, embodied all the principles learned from previous experiments. It also had back gearing which allowed the wheel to make about 3 ½ revolutions for each stroke, resulting in much greater lifting power and smoother pumping action.

1892 - Aermotor sold 20,000 windmills and the "mathematical" windmill's image had changed from a joke to a true necessity. Aermotor guaranteed its 8 foot steel mill to do more work than any 10 foot wooden mill. It actually would do more than some 12 foot mills. Aermotor was on its way to becoming the world's dominant windmill.

1904 - Aermotor catalogs listed a wide range of accessories, such as hand pumps, wood and metal tanks, equipment for power mills, such as feed cutters, power saws, corn shellers and numerous specialty items. With their revolutionary mass production methods, Aermotor was able to reduce the price of windmills to about 1/6th of the previous price, 8ft. windmills then sold for about $25 and 20 ft. mills for about $300.

1915 - Aermotor introduced its auto-oiled windmill with an enclosed gear case, in which all the working parts were continuously bathed in light lubricating oil. This design reduced maintenance to only once a year rather than previous weekly attention. (The 602 Model)

1918 - Aermotor's founder, La Verne Noyes, donated nearly two and one half million dollars to establish scholarships at many colleges and universities for veterans of the World War. (These scholarships are still available today). The largest benefactors were University of Chicago and Iowa State University in Ames, La Verne's alma mater.

1919 - La Verne Noyes dies. Having no direct heirs, he left the Aermotor Company to a tax paying trust, with 48 colleges and universities as beneficiaries.

1926 - "Bilby" towers, named for their designer, Jasper Bilby, were introduced. This was a tower within a tower. The inner tower provided an undisturbed instrument platform. This tower was destined to become widely used by the Army Engineer Corps as well as the Coastal and Geodetic Survey for much of the re-mapping of this country. Aermotor also built the first electric transmission towers and were designing and building most of the nations forest observation towers. Other products during this period were gasoline engines and electric generators.

1933 - Aermotor 702 was introduced, featuring replaceable bearings and screw-type wheel arms. Aermotor dealers and families, attending the "Century of Progress" World's Fair, were allowed to camp in the Aermotor factory yard and eat in the company restaurant.

1941 - 1946 Aermotor became a subcontractor for Bell and Howell, and built precision lens mounts for the highly secret Norden Bombsight.

1949 - Aermotor's chief engineer, Daniel Scholes, who had designed Aermotor's deep well electric pump became president.

1958 - Aermotor Company was sold to Motor Products corporation of Detroit, Michigan, a former supplier of parts to the automotive industry.

1960 - After purchasing the Bertram Yacht Company, Motor Products Corporation changed its name to Nautec.

1964 - Aermotor's manufacturing operation was moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

1965 - Aermotor named Wendell C. Dean, who was sales manager during Aermotor's transition and growth in the electric pump market, as vice-president and general manager.

1969 - Aermotor Windmill manufacturing moved to Argentina, and fabricating was performed by Fabrica de Implementos, Agriculas, S.A., a licensee.

1974 - Aermotor manufacturing named James E. Fetters, former export and marketing manager, as vice president and general manager. Aermotor's headquarters moves to Conway, Arkansas.

1976 - Aermotor was purchased by Valley Steel Product Co.

1979 - The Brentwood, Missouri operation of Valley Pump moved to Conway, Arkansas to the Aermotor plant and the Valley Pump headquarters was established at this location. Daniel F. Benson was named division president.

1980 - Valley Steel and Aermotor canceled their licensing agreement with Argentina and returned the manufacturing of windmills to the U.S.

1981 - Aermotor's manufacturing facilities were dedicated in Arkansas. In that same year 80% of all windmills sold were built at Conway, Arkansas. (The 802 Model introduced)

1984 - Valley Pump Group was purchased by the Mueller Co. of Decatur, Illinois.

1986 - Aermotor was purchased by an investor group and moved to San Angelo, Texas. The name was changed to Aermotor Windmill Corporation.

1998 - Aermotor was purchased by Kees Verheul. Aermotor has added new machinery and the entire manufacturing facility and warehouse now total 40,000 square feet.

Aermotor

20ft Aermotor Mill from www.windmills.net

The 20ft Aermotor Head between Paul & Ellen