1903 PATTERN SOUTHERN CROSS WINDMILLS
These were the first mills which bore the name "Southern Cross". Built between 1903 and 1910.
They may be recognised by various distinctive features:-
The fans or sails are bent over and bolted to the inner ring, and the outer ring (there are only two rings), goes through them.
The vane sheet is carried on two arms of steel angle.
The bearings are of brass in a flat grease box which is part of the main casing.
These mills were erected on three post galvanised towers, with 60 deg. leg angles.
The size of the 1903 mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel.
The 7ft. has 3, the 8ft. has 4, the 10ft. has 5, the 12ft. has 6, the 14ft. has 7, the 16ft. has 8.
1911 PATTERN AUTOMATIC OILING GEARED MILL
This was the first automatic oiling mill built.
It superseded the 1903 mill and may be readily recognised by:-
The large cylindrical oil barrel which is bolted to the main casting and carries the cast iron bearings;
And the windwheel, which has single rings to which the fans are bolted by bent galvanised brackets.
The 20ft. mill differs, in the bearing box, which is a single casting, and in several minor parts.
Between 1911 and 1915 these mills were erected on galvanised towers with 60 deg. leg angles.
After that 90 deg. painted leg angles and painted girts and braces were used.
The size of this mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel, also each mill has a code letter.
The 8ft. has 4, "H". The 10ft. has 5, "J". The 12ft. has 6, "K". The 14ft. has 7, "L" or "LL". The 16ft. has 8, "M".
Other alterations.
A third ring between the other two was fitted to all mills 12ft. and larger.
Brake Bands and Levers were not supplied from 1915 on.
The 16ft. mill only. In 1919 the design of the oil cylinder end plates was altered to employ white metal bearings.
1911 PATTERN DIRECT ACTION MILL
Sometimes called the "Intermediate Pattern".
Early in 1914 a direct action windmill was built, which was an adaption of the 1911 geared mill.
It employed the standard 1911 mill parts, except end plates and bearings, spindles gears and windwheel complete.
The new end plates had gunmetal bearings in which the main spindle worked.
On the front of the spindle were keyed two discs to carry the windwheel,
and on the back end of a crank disc giving three strokes with a removable mild steel pin.
The windwheel was of the double ringed type, the fans being riveted to steel angle brackets and held between pairs of rings.
These wheels were used to test the new direct action wheel before proceeding with the general design of the 1915 pattern wheel.
12ft. and 14ft. mills only were made in this style, except there were one or two 10ft. mills built at Rockhampton.
1911 PATTERN 7ft. MILL
The 1903 7ft. mill was converted into what was known as the 7ft. 1911 Mill,
the only difference was in the whindwheel, which was of the same design as fitted to the larger 1911 mills.
"F" Pattern windwheels were later supplied for complete windwheel replacements.
1913 PATTERN GEARED WESTERN MODEL MILL
These mills were supplied between 1913 and 1915.
The standard tower was a 3-post of painted angle with angle braces and girts.
The standard legs were 90 deg. angle, but some towers for smaller sizes had 60 deg. angle, and several 25ft. mills.
These mills may be recognised by the 1911 type of windwheeel with three single rings
to which the fans are attached by brackets and by the enclosed gears and four stroke crank.
The size of this mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel, also each mill has a code letter.
The 16ft. has 8, "MA". The 18ft. has 10, "MA". The 20ft. has 12, "NA".
The 22ft. 6 ins. has 12, "NA". The 25ft. has 14, "OA". The 27ft. 6 ins. has 17, "OD" .
1913 PATTERN DIRECT ACTION MILL
These mills are very similar in appearance to the 1913 geared mill,
except instead of a gear box there is a single main spindle running in two bearing, in between which there is an oil well.
This mill has the same windwheel and same four-stroke crank as the geared 1913 mills.
Very few of this type were made.
The size of this mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel, also each mill has a code letter.
The 20ft. has 12, "MA". The 22 ft. 6 ins. has 12, "NB".
1915 PATTERN DIRECT ACTION MILL
These mills followed the 1913 D. A. mills, and were supplied between 1915 and 1922.
30ft. mills with modifications were built up till 1925.
Most mills of this type had "1915 pattern" painted on the vain sheet, if not,
the type may be recognised by the double ring windwheel with outriggers from the arms to the third sail.
This was the only mill built which had three discs.
The size of this mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel, also each mill has a code letter.
The 18ft. has 9, "NF". The 20ft. has 10, "NG". The 22ft. 6 ins. has 11, "NH".
The 25ft. has 12, "NL". The 27ft. 6 ins. has 13, "NJ". The 30ft. has 14, "NK".
1915 PATTERN 30ft. MILL
These mills were made till the end of 1925 but with alterations made in about 1921.
The crank and crankpin were altered to the pattern "A" triangular style.
The crosshead and connecting rod No. 14 was replaced by a connecting rod on the lines of the pattern "A".
The pitman rod was altered and a new thrust collar and oil dipper, cast en bloc, was used.
The main spindles were lengthened slightly and the outer disc keyed on instead of being held by a nut.
"AE" PATTERN 30ft. DIRECT ACTION MILL
These 30ft. mills superseded the 30ft. 1915 pattern at the end of 1925.
They are very similar to large "A" pattern in their essentials
but have a main frame built up with steel angles instead of the usual main casting.
There code No. "AEW" and have 15 wheel arms.
1915 16ft. PATTERN DIRECT ACTION MILL
One mill only of this type was made.
The mill engine was a standard 1915 pattern 18ft., and the windwheel a special 16ft. diameter one,
similar in appearance and design to the 18ft., but 8 arms only were used.
1916 PATTERN DIRECT ACTION MILL
This was a development of the 1911 direct action mill.
It had a double ring windwheel, pivoting platform, 1911 type oil barrel bolted on top of the main casting,
and no rocker arm, but instead, a plunger working inside the mast pipe.
The size of this mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel, also each mill has a code letter.
The 12ft. has 6, "AK". The 14ft. has 7, "AL".
"G" PATTERN MILL
These mills were first sold in 1921 and superseded the 1911 geared mills.
They have double ring windwheels, roller bearing turntable on top of tower and white metal bearings in flat oil box.
The size of this mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel, also each mill has a code letter.
The 8ft. has 4, "GB". The 10ft. has 5, "GC". The 12ft. has 6, "GD".
"F" PATTERN 7ft. MILL
Code letter: "FA" - 3 arms.
This mill was built between 1922 and 1925.
It had a double ring wheel, white metal bearings, and a steel angle instead of a mast pipe.
"A" PATTERN (1920) DIRECT ACTION MILL
These mills were supplied in 1920 and continued until about 1925 with various modifications.
Then the designs were completely revised and the mills were then known as "AB" pattern.
The size of this mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel, also each mill has a code letter.
The 12ft. has 6, "AS". The 14ft. has 7, "AT". The 16ft. has 8, "AU" .
Mills numbered lower than;- 12ft.- 3230, 14 ft. - 3231, and 16ft. - 3185 are "A" pattern .
"AB" PATTERN DIRECT ACTION MILL
These mills are the 1920 "A" Pattern Mills revised to bring their design in line with the large "A" Pattern.
The size of this mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel, also each mill has a code letter.
The 12ft. has 6, "ASB". The 14ft. has 7, "ATB". The 16ft. has 8, "AUB" .
Mills numbered higher than;- 12ft.- 3231, 14ft. - 3232, and 16ft. - 3186 are "AB" pattern .
LARGE DIRECT ACTION "A" PATTERN MILL
These mills were first built in 1922 which replaced the 1915 mills.
They are similar in appearance and have double ring windwheels, without the outrigger of the 1915 mills.
The vane sheets are corragated iron.
The size of this mill may be identified by counting the number of arms in the wheel, also each mill has a code letter.
The 18ft. has 9, "AV". The 20ft. has 10, "AW". The 24ft. has 12, "AX". The 26ft. has 13, "AY".
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