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WINDMILLS, PICTURESQUE AND
HISTORIC: THE MOTORS OF
THE PAST

BY
F. H. SHELTON
Philadelphia. Member of the Institute


Reprinted from the Journal of The Franklin Institute
February, 1919





PRESS OFJ. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY1919


(Reprinted from the Journal of The Franklin Institute,
February, 1919.){171}

WINDMILLS, PICTURESQUE AND HISTORIC: THE
MOTORS OF THE PAST.[A]

BY
F. H. SHELTON.
Philadelphia.
Member of the Institute.

 

The pessimist says that man is a lazy animal and that he inventsmachines to save himself work. The optimist, that man is an industriouscreature who invents machines that he may accomplish the more. Whicheverdoctrine is right, there is but little question that of all theingenious contrivances evolved by man none is more picturesque, of morehistoric interest nor of greater usefulness in its day than theold-fashioned windmill, the world’s principal motor for some eighthundred years. And “motor” is the viewpoint to take of this old piece ofmechanism, for just as the later devices of steam, electricity orgasoline are for the purposes of making power for the needs of man, sowas this old appliance for the prime purpose of securing power from thewind, and by thus harnessing that most widely distributed of Nature’sforces, of enabling the accomplishment of work far beyond the limits ofmanual power.

The steam engine came into use in the early part of the nineteenthcentury. By 1825 most of the principal English cities had it in use.Before that period, and dating back to remote ages, the only sources ofpower—other than man or bullocks, etc.—were the two great forces ofwind and water. But only countries of waterways and varying levelsafforded waterfalls; while the wind was universal. Therefore, whilewater wheels were in use in parallel periods with the oldest ofwindmills, in number they were infinitely less, so that one can properlysay that the world’s motor for some eight centuries was the old-timewindmill. These eight centuries are from about 1000 to 1825, when, withthe advent of Watt’s invention, the zenith of windmill design and usehad been attained. After that date they so declined that in fifty yearsnot only had new construction ceased, but the old structures in verylarge measure had fallen into decay and{172} abandonment. It is evident fromthe above that an account of this old, picturesque, historic andeffective tool of mankind should have some interest, both from thestandpoint of engineering and that of sentiment; and it is believed thatwhat follows will give the essential facts relating to it. It may beproper to say here that what is related applies entirely to theold-style windmill, and in no mea

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