Yellowtail Windmills

Georges Plains NSW

Mungo NP NSW

Molong NSW

METTERS LIMITED.
Extract from Windmills of the World
By William McCook 1986

Fred Metters founded the company (Metters Ltd.) in the final years of the 1890's, his main vocation was stove making. Fred Metters sold out his interest and vacated his position with Metters Ltd. in 1904 (by 1908 Fred Metters was again trading in Windmills as Fred Metters & Co., in partnership with H.L. Spring). Windmills built by Metters Ltd during their 80 years of existence, followed established designs and patterns. That is not to say they did not produce a good windmill: they did. Some of their mills, most notably the MASTER NUOIL, introduced in the early 1930's and was built for 40 or more years. This was an extremely high quality product and comparable to the very best produced by rival companies, either in Australia or elsewhere. They were built in two locations: Adelaide, South Australia, their original home, and at Subiaco, Western Australia.
They were perhaps the only Australian windmill company to make use of the governor weight for windmill control and it was put to use on various models of Metters mills over a long period. One particular model built pre-1920, the WINDMOTOR, displayed a number of features which were of distinctly 'Aeromotor' inspiration and origin; parts list nomenclature bears this out, the vane stem of the WINDMOTOR being referred to as the "tail Bone", a term that 'Aermotor': alone uses for this particular item. The MASTER NUIOL: superseded an earlier mill made in the 1920's called NUOIL; this latter named mill was the last made by Metters to utilize the governor weight. The MASTER NUIOL was phased out of production in the 1970's, possibly because of its rather high purchase and productive price and public demand for a cheaper mill. With it went the 'DA' model, a direct acting mill in limited production since 1936. The torch bearer for the Metters name was, by the mid 1970's the model 'KM'.
The 'KM' had its beginnings in the mid 1930's as the Type 'K', a cheaper alternative to the MASTER NUIOL. The type 'K' went through only minor mechanical changes until it was completely re-modelled and emerged as the 'KM' in the early 1960's. During the latter years of Metters Ltd., the company had a very chequered career with more downs than ups. It fell victim to a series of takeovers by other companies. Executive mismanagement, antiquated production equipment and continued industrial strife were a classic witch's brew for corporate extinction, and the firm ceased to exist as an entity in the early 1980's. A rather sad end to a company which produced a very fine line of windmills for over eight decades. Although contributing nothing outstanding in originality, they were a very real force to be reckoned with in the Australian windmill manufacturing industry. The Metters windmills of various models will continue to be a feature of Australia's countryside for a long time to come.
They were quality built and made to last. Perhaps the most eye-catching memorial to the marque is the bright yellow paint on the tail sheet causing the mills to be nicknamed YELLOWTAILS. After the demise of the company, production of the Model 'KM' was taken over by John Shearer and Company, a large and old established firm of agricultural machinery manufacturers of Mannum, South Australia.
In 1985, the business was added to the range of W.D. Moore & Co, Perth, W.A.
As well as fulfilling the needs of the Australian market, the Yellowtail has been exported internationally.

Metters Little Toff

METTERS LIMITED
Adelaide, Sydney, Perth,

1922 CATALOGUE

"Nuoil"
A Double Geared Self-oiling Mill fitted with Wind Wheels 8, 10, 12 & 14 ft. diameter.

"Self Oil"
A Single Geared Self-oiling Mill fitted with Wind Wheels 6 & 7 ft. diameter.

The All-Steel "Wind Motor"
Grease Lubricated; fitted with Wind Wheels 8, 10, 12 & 14 ft. diameter.

"The Toff" All-Steel Wind Mill
Grease Lubricated; fitted with Wind Wheels 6, 7, 8 & 9 ft. diameter.

"The Flirt" Direct Acting Mill
One Wind Wheel only, viz 5 ft. diameter.

WIND MILL DEPARTMENT
JANUARY, 1923.

METTERS LTD

142 RUNDLE STREET, ADELAIDE.

Replacement Parts for Metters Wind Mills
1921 Pattern Metters Nuoil Mill
1919 Pattern Metters Nuoil Mill
Metters Old Pattern Wind Motor - fitted with glass lubricaters
Metters Old Pattern Wind Motor prior to 1910 - 8, 10, 12, & 14ft.
Metters 1914 Pattern Wind Motor - 8ft.
Metters 1915 Pattern Wind Motor - 8, 10, 12, & 14ft.
Metters Little Toff Wind Mill - 6, 7, 8, & 9 ft.
Metters Little Doris Wind Mill - 6ft.

METTERS LIMITED
Adelaide, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane

1934 CATALOGUE

Master "Nuoil" Windmill
A Double Geared Self-oiling Mill fitted with Wind Wheels 6, 8, 10, 12 & 14 ft. diameter.

Type "K" Self-Oiling Windmill
A Double Geared Self-oiling Mill fitted with Wind Wheels 5, 6 & 8 ft. diameter.

The All-Steel "Wind Motor"
Grease Lubricated; fitted with Wind Wheels 8, 10, 12 & 14 ft. diameter.

"The Toff" All-Steel Wind Mill
Grease Lubricated; fitted with Wind Wheels 6, 7, 8 & 9 ft. diameter.

"Minor" Geared Windmill
One Wind Wheel only, viz 5 ft. diameter.

METTERS LIMITED
Adelaide, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane

1937 CATALOGUE

Master "Nuoil" Windmill
A Double Geared Self-oiling Mill fitted with Wind Wheels 6, 8, 10, 12 & 14 ft. diameter.

Type "K" Self-Oiling Windmill
A Double Geared Self-oiling Mill fitted with Wind Wheels 5, 6, 8 & 10 ft. diameter.

The "Direct Acting" Self-Oiling Windmill
Fitted with Wind Wheels 12 & 14 ft. diameter.

WIND MILL DEPARTMENT
OCTOBER, 1945.

METTERS LTD

66 GRENFELL STREET, ADELAIDE.

Duplicate Parts for Metters Wind Mills

When ordering replacement parts it is essential that clients state the size and pattern of the windmill,
and the numbers and names of the parts required. Information regarding the age of the mill will also be helpful.

The first windmill manufactured by Metters Limited was during 1896 and was known as the Windmotor.
This mill was made in four sizes, namely 8 10 12 and 14 ft.,
and was fitted with fixed white metal bearings which were abandoned in 1898 in favour of replaceable brass cylindrical shaped bearings.
In 1910 brass hexagonal shaped split bearings were introduced, but in 1912 the cylindrical bearings were again resumed.
In 1914 important alterations were made to the design of the Windmotor.
The 8ft. 1914 Pattern Windmotor was fitted with two special brass bearings for the Hub Shaft.
These bearings had an oval shaped flange with two screw holes at outer end.
The Gearwheel shaft remained stationary in the cast sleeve so that no bearings were needed for same
The Gearwheel itself turned on the shaft.
The 10, 12 and 14ft. Windmotors supplied during 1914 were fitted with Ball Bearings,
but in 1915 were again reverted to brass cylindrical bearings in all sizes.

Shortly after the Windmotor had become well established on the market, the Doris Windmill was introduced.
This mill was made in one size only, namely 6ft.
The Doris Wind Wheel was composed of four double flat spokes, and the Hub and Pinion was cast in one piece.
The Toff Windmill was first made early in the twentieth century in four sizes, 6, 7, 8, and 9 ft.,
and was fitted with white metal bearings that were run into the casting whilst in molten form, and not replaceable.
The Wind Wheel of this Mill had single angle iron spokes.

In 1919 the first of the Nuoil series was supplied.
This Mill was equipped with outside furling gear that operated on the same principal as an umbrella, and was known as the 1919 Pattern Nuoil.
During 1921 very important improvements were made on the Nuoil Mill, Principally in the furling gear and turntable.
The outside furling gear was abandoned, and a more direct system introduced. A ball-bearing turntable was also introduced.
During 1924, more alterations took place in the design of the cross head and guide.
A 'T' iron guide loop displaced the two single round steel guide bars.
During 1929 the spring oil pump was abandoned in favor of a springless system
whereby the operation of the automatic oil feeder was derived direct from the cross head.
With the exception of the alterations to the crosshead and guide,
the 1921 Pattern Nuoil was maintained until 1931, when the Master Nuoil was introduced.

The Master Nuoil Windmills are equipped with interchangeable and replaceable bearings
of high class anti-friction metal on both gear wheel and hub spindles.
The automatic governing device is more simplified and effective.
The tail when out of gear, is poised upward and drops back into gear under its own weight,
the governor weight or spring being entirely eliminated.

In 1922 the single crank Self-Oil Windmills were first manufactured in sizes 6 and 7 ft., and abandoned in 1929,
when these two sizes were added to Master Nuoil Windmill range.

The first 5 ft. Minor Windmill was introduced in 1927.

The first Type 'K' Double Geared Self-Oiling Windmill was supplied in September 1934.

It had twin pinions which were secured to the Hub Shaft with steel cotter pins.
The furl chain operated inside the pipe barrel.
The crosshead guide consisted of a round steel rod inside of a steel tube which was welded to the pipe barrel.
The tail support pin was in two pieces but from September 1936,was supplied in one piece.

Important improvements were introduced in 1937;
The furl chain operated outside of the pipe barrel;
Single pinions were keyed to the hub spindle;
Tee iron guide loop welded to the pipe barrel;
The crosshead altered to suit the tee iron loop;
and a ball bearing turntable included.

In August 1939, the new anti pumprod swivel attachment and interchangeable bearings for the gearwheel stroke holes were supplied.
and from September 1945, two cast washers for ball bearing turntable were included.

10ft Yellowtail @ Neville NSW

THE YELLOWTAIL WINDMILL

Extracts from W.D.Moore & Co
www.wdmoore.com.au

The YELLOWTAIL was originally the METTERS - 'M' windmill. This was developed in the late 1950's from the older 'K' and NUOIL models that METTERS had made since early 20th century. The YELLOWTAIL was also known as the MBP model 'M', but was renamed in the early 1980's with a name to reflect what it was popularly called.
The YELLOWTAIL is available in sizes; 6ft., 8ft., 10ft., 12ft., and 14ft. The mechanism is double geared, and includes in-built speed control and manual shut-off. The windwheel will govern itself, as the wind speed increases the windwheel will turn away from the wind. The main casting of the gearbox is line bored and fitted with long life replaceable bearings. Other features include the unique Twin Pinion that will not loosen or allow the large gears to work out of alignment. All gears feature cast teeth - the traditional method of producing gearwheels with a long lasting had 'cementite' gear teeth. The gears run in an oil bath to ensure complete lubrication.
The YELLOWTAIL is designed and built to last. The Wheel Arms are built as a one piece 'A' frame to make assembly easier, and for a more rigid base for the the windwheel. The sails on the windwheel are built around the outer rind to ensure they will not work loose. The entire windwheel bolts together under tension to create a tight structure that will withstand gale force winds.

THE TEMPEST 8ft. WINDMILL

This new windmill is a direct action machine - it has no gears, and the bearings are greased for life.
There is no need to change the oil, therefor no oil to cause a mess around the tower.
This windmill also features automatic governing to limit the speed of the wheel in high winds.
The TEMPEST Windmill will fit to an existing tower, or it can be supplied on a Yellowtail Tower.

SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE

Metters 'K' Windmill
Yellowtail 'M' Windmill
Tempest Windmill
Aermotor Windmill
Southern Cross 'Z' Windmill
Southern Cross 'IZ' Windmill
General Windmill Accessories

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