Extracts from various reference material

COMET WINDMILLS
12 Foundary Road, Seven Hills, Sydney.





THE COMET WINDMILLS


The 'A' Pattern Mill (Champion Mill) was first introduced in 22nd Feb 1910 - with a 22ft. Mill made in Rockhampton.

The 'B' Pattern Mill (which superceded the 'A') was made between 1911 and 1920.

The 'C' Pattern Mill (which superceded the 'B') in 1916 - with a 24ft. Mill made in Rockhampton.

The 'D' Pattern Mill (Fitzroy Mill - circa 1890) was first re-introduced in Sept 1925 - with a 20ft Mill made in Rockhampton.
The 20ft. & 22ft. mills had the words Fitzroy-Comet on the main casting for many years. All the others have D Pattern Comet on the main casting.

The 'Midget' Mill was introduced in the 1930's - a 3ft mill

The 'Meteor' Geared Mill was introduced in Aug 1933,- in sizes 7ft., 9ft., and 11ft. - discontinued in 1948.






The 'A' , 'B' & 'C' COMET Pattern Mills.
There are 4 distinctive Heads.

        The 6ft.   ~   'C' Pattern made from 1925 to 1963
        The 8ft. to 14ft.   ~   'A' & 'B' Pattern   ~   made from 1910 to 1920
        The 8ft. to 14ft.   ~   'C' Pattern   ~   made from 1920 onwards
        The 16ft. to 35ft.   ~   'A' , 'B' & 'C' Pattern Mills   ~   made from 1910 to 1943

ab8to14
8ft to 14ft Comet Windmill
'A' & 'B' Pattern
c6
6ft Comet Windmill
'C' Pattern
c16to35
16ft to 35ft Comet Windmill
'A', 'B' & 'C' Pattern (with alterations)
c8to14
8ft to 14ft Comet Windmill
'C' Pattern





THE COMET WINDMILL DATES

The 6ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from March 1925 and discontinued about 1963.


The 8ft. 'A' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Sept 1910 to Oct 1912.

The 8ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Oct 1912 to Oct 1920.

The 8ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Oct 1917 to Oct 1920.

The 8ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Sept 1920 to Dec 1920.

The 8ft. 'C' Pattern Mill one made in Brisbane in Oct 1920.

The 8ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Dec 1920 -


The 10ft. 'A' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from June 1910 to Aug 1912.

The 10ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Oct 1912 to Aug 1920

The 10ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Mar 1917 to Jan 1920

The 10ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from July 1920 to Nov 1920

The 10ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Oct 1920 -


The 12ft. 'A' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from July 1910 to May 1912.

The 12ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from June 1912 to Nov 1920.

The 12ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Mar 1915 to Dec 1920.

The 12ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Nov 1920 to June 1921.

The 12ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from July 1921 -


The 14ft. 'A' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Dec 1910 to Dec 1911.

The 14ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Dec 1911 to Oct 1920.

The 14ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from May 1915 to Dec 1920.

The 14ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Oct 1920 to Oct 1921.

The 14ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Nov 1921 to June 1922.

The 14ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from July 1922 -


The 16ft. 'A' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from July 1910 to July 1911.

The 16ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Aug 1911 to Mar 1920.

The 16ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Feb 1913 to Apr 1920.

The 16ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Sept 1920 to Apr 1921.

The 16ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from May 1920 to Aug 1921.

The 16ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Aug 1921 to Jan 1935.

The 16ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from June 1928 to Jan 1930.

The 16ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from June 1929 -


The 18ft. 'A' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Aug 1910 to July 1911.

The 18ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Aug 1911 to Sept 1920.

The 18ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Dec 1912 to Oct 1919.

The 18ft. 'C' Pattern Mill one made in Rockhampton in Oct 1920.

The 18ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from May 1920 to Mar 1921.

The 18ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Dec 1921 to Sept 1932.

The 18ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Oct 1928 to Sept 1932.

The 18ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Sept 1929 -


The 20ft. 'A' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Apr 1910 to May 1911.

The 20ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from June 1911 to Aug 1917.

The 20ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from June 1912 to July 1917.

The 20ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Sept 1917 to Jan 1922.

The 20ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Apr 1921 to Apr 1933.

The 20ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Sept 1925 to June 1927.

The 20ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Dec 1927 -


The 22ft. 'A' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Feb 1910 to May 1911.

The 22ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from June 1911 to Aug 1917.

The 22ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from June 1912 to July 1917.

The 22ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Apr 1918 to May 1922.

The 22ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Apr 1921 to Mar 1928.

The 22ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Mar 1926 to Jan 1927.

The 22ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from June 1927 -


The 24ft. 'A' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Mar 1910 to May 1911.

The 24ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from June 1911 to Jan 1916.

The 24ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Aug 1912 to June 1916.

The 24ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from July 1916 to Aug 1920.

The 24ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from June 1916 to June 1921.

The 24ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Mar 1921 to Mar 1935.

The 24ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from July 1929 -


The 27ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Aug 1911 to Feb 1917.

The 27ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Dec 1914 to Oct 1917.

The 27ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from Mar 1917 to Sept 1922.

The 27ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Feb 1922 to May 1935.

The 27ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Jan 1929 -


The 30ft. 'B' Pattern Mill made in Rockhampton from Aug 1913 to June 1915.

The 30ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Brisbane from June 1917 to May 1921.

The 30ft. 'C' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from June 1921 to Aug 1929.

The 30ft. 'D' Pattern Mill made in Sydney from Sept 1930 -






The 35ft 'B' Pattern Comet Mill - only 15 were manufactured.

The first 6 where made in Rockhampton :- from Sept 1915 to Jan 1922.

The other 9 were made in Sydney :- from Mar 1924 to Dec 1943.

The only two Mills were erected outside Queensland (No. 106 & 110).





Mill No. Station Name Date
Supplied
Tower
Height
Pump
Size
Pump
Depth
Comments - 1966
Comets Records
Comments - July 2001
by ozwindmills
101 Oban Station Sept 1915 50ft. 4¼ in. 490ft. ~ - ~ - ~ Mill dismantled - date unknown
102 Oban Station June 1916 50ft. 4¼ in. 490ft. Replaced with 27 ft.Comet 'D' in 1960 ~ - ~ - ~
103 Oban Station July 1916 50ft. 4¼ in. 500ft. Replaced with 27ft. Comet 'D' in 1960 ~ - ~ - ~
104 Mackunda Trust
Bore
Jan 1920 50ft. 7¼ in. 158ft. New arms & Top Forging in 1958 Tower still standing, wheel arms used for a shed
105 Harry McIntyre Esq. 1920 50ft. 15 in. - ~ - Sold to Cressy Downs Wheel & Head used at Stockmans Hall of Fame
106 Anthony Horden Esq., Bowral, NSW. Jan 1922 - ~ - - ~ - - ~ - Dismantled by Comet in 1952. ~ - ~ - ~
107 Blantyre Station Mar 1924 50ft. 4¼ in. 500ft. Aug 1966 - mill working well Mill still standing, but not in use
108 Wetherby Station Feb 1926 50ft. 15 in. 10ft. Replaced with 30ft. Comet 'D' in 1957 ~ - ~ - ~
109 Blantyre Station Feb 1931 50ft. 4¼ in. 520ft. Aug 1966 - mill working well Mill still standing, but not in use
110 No Entry - ~ - - ~ - - ~ - - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ Kultanaby Station S.A. ~
Mill purchased from railways 1977
& overhauled in 1993
111 Sesbania Trust
Bore
July 1933 40ft. 15 in. 33ft. ~ - ~ - ~ Mill still standing, but not in use
112 Leichhardt Station Oct 1937 43ft. 15 in. 68ft. Overhauled in 1956 Mill dismantled in the 1980s
Wheel arms & tower used for a shed
113 Wellshot Trust
Bore
June 1939 43ft. 12 in. 60ft. New arms & Top Forging in 1958 Tower, Tail & Pump used at the
Stockmans Hall of Fame
114 Cork Station April 1940 43ft. 12 in. 65ft. New arms & Top Forging in 1958 Mill still standing, but not in use
115 Oakhampton
Trust Bore
Dec 1943 43ft. 8 in. 51ft. Originally Southern Cross 36ft 'E' Pattern
erected in 1923, dismantled in 1940
Mill still standing, but not in use





Mill Nos.   '105' & '113'  were combined to make the mill at the   Stockmans Hall of Fame   Longreach, QLD,   in April 1988.


(See   The Comet Windmill   Back on the Company Page)

The Plaque @
Stockmans Hall of Fame &   7 ~ 35ft Mills







The chart bellow is good for identification;


COMET WINDWHEEL DATA


'C'   PATTERN (Small)

Mill Size No. Sails No. Arms No. Inner Rims No. Middle Rims No. Outer Rims
6ft 12 4 2 0 4
8ft 12 4 2 0 4
10ft 18 6 3 0 6
12ft 18 6 3 0 6
14ft 24 8 4 0 8






'D'   PATTERN

Mill Size No. Sails No. Arms No. Arm Braces No. Inner Rims No. Middle Rims No. Outer Rims
16ft 24 8 0 8 0 8
18ft 24 8 0 8 0 8
20ft 24 8 0 8 8 8
22ft 30 10 0 8 10 10
24ft 30 10 1 10 10 10
27ft 36 12 2 10 10 10
30ft 42 14 3 14 14 14






'C'   PATTERN (large)

Mill Size No. Sails No. Arms No. Arm Braces No. Inner Rims No. Middle Rims No. Outer Rims
16ft 24 8 0 8 0 8
18ft 24 8 0 8 0 8
20ft 27 9 0 9 9 9
22ft 36 9 0 9 9 9
24ft 36 9 0 9 9 9
27ft 39 13 1 13 13 13
30ft 45 15 1 15 15 15
35ft 51 17 4 17 34 17








Packed Weights of Comet 'C' Pattern Windmills And Towers (small)

Tower Height in ft. & Weight in lbs. approx.

Mill
Size
Mill
Weight
20ft. 25ft. 30ft. 35ft. 40ft. 45ft. 50ft. 55ft. 60ft.
8ft. 400 550 690 800 950 1080 1250 1400
10ft. 460 550 690 800 950 1080 1250 1400
12ft. 780 700 840 1000 1180 1360 1560 1760 2000 2200
14ft. 900 700 890 1010 1230 1400 1630 1830 2100 2400





Packed Weights of Comet 'D' Pattern Windmills And Towers

Tower Height in ft. & Weight in lbs. approx.

Mill
Size
Mill
Weight
30ft. 35ft. 40ft. 45ft. 50ft. 55ft. 60ft.
16ft. 2450 1620 1820 2150 2400 2900 3200 3800
18ft. 2600 1620 1820 2150 2400 2900 3200 3800
20ft. 3500 2100 2400 2900 3200 3900 4300 4900
22ft. 4000 2100 2400 2900 3200 3900 4300 4900
24ft. 4900 3200 3500 4000 4500 5100
27ft. 6100 3900 4700 5200 6400 7000
30ft. 7100 5500 6200 7400 8000

Back to the Company page           Back to Comet's Page