Rare Windmill Featured Welded Gear Case
When Terry Jantzen came across a Norton All Steel Windmill, it was the end of a search and the beginning of a major challenge. Jantzen collects windmills manufactured in Kansas and had heard of the Norton. For several years, he was unable to find one or even learn much about the company.
In 2009, he saw the name on the tail vane on a trailer at the International Windmiller’s Trade Fair (IWTF) in El Dorado, Kan. Dave Johnson, Fort Morgan, Colo., had rescued the windmill from a hedge row in Norton County, where it had been built. The windmill had a bent main shaft, two broken pitman arms and a fractured large gear. The gearbox sheet metal hood and two blade sections were missing. However, what mattered to Jantzen was the windmill’s construction.
The All Steel referred to the gearbox. Traditionally, gearboxes had been cast iron with sheet metal hoods. The Norton, with its arc-welded, 3/16-in. thick steel plates and patented self-oiling system, was a less costly alternative. Norton Manufacturing began making the windmills around 1933 and continued until 1940. While the factory largely shifted over to war materials, parts for the windmill continued to be made until 1957.
This past spring, Jantzen shared his story in an article by Christopher Gillis in the Windmillers’ Gazette. While Jantzen had found his long sought-after windmill, he still had no luck finding trade literature or other reference material.
“The biggest challenge was replacing the broken parts,” says Jantzen.
He started the restoration by cutting up and removing the bent shaft. That revealed the need to replace three Hyatt bearings. He turned to a local machine shop to make a replacement gear shaft and main shaft using the pieces for a pattern.
To get replacements for the cast pitman arms and gear, Jantzen contacted Johnson, who operates a small foundry in Fort Morgan, Colo.
Jantzen welded the broken pitman arms together to serve as a pattern for Johnson, who also poured a replacement for the fractured large gear.
Windmill restorer Patrick Hunt of Findlay, Ohio, fabricated the missing blade sections. Jantzen notes that specialists like Hunt and Johnson and the entire windmill collector community are terrific resources for restorations.
“Windmill collectors are very good about loaning parts for use as patterns for recasting or fabricating,” he says.
Jantzen riveted modern brake lining material to the original windmill brake band and had a replacement hood for the windmill made at a local HVAC shop. He had traced a hood on a Norton All Steel on display at a museum in Almena, Kan. At the time, he noted it had several non-Norton parts.
After final assembly, Jantzen mounted the windmill on a short tower made from previously salvaged, 2-in. windmill tower angle iron. By 2011, it was ready for exhibiting at that year’s IWTF.
Jantzen believes he may own the only completely restored Norton All Steel windmill. “If anyone knows of more, I would love to know about them,” he told Gillis.
Jantzen encourages FARM SHOW readers interested in windmills or restoring one to attend the traveling IWTF. The 2025 and 2026 trade fairs will be held in Texas, but previous ones have been as far north as Manitoba and east to Indiana. The 2024 event was held in Pipestone, Minn. Information can be found on the IWTF Facebook page and at www.vintagewindmillforum.com.
Jantzen admits to more than a few parts already. “I have a dozen fully restored windmills and, according to my wife, perhaps 100 in various states of repair,” he says with a laugh. “I have plenty to work on and keep me out of trouble.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Terry Jantzen, 38 18th Ave., Moundridge, Kan. 67107 (ph 620-386-0716; trwindmill@mtelco.net).
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Rare Windmill Featured Welded Gear Case ENERGY Wind Power When Terry Jantzen came across a Norton All Steel Windmill it was the end of a search and the beginning of a major challenge Jantzen collects windmills manufactured in Kansas and had heard of the Norton For several years he was unable to find one or even learn much about the company In 2009 he saw the name on the tail vane on a trailer at the International Windmiller’s Trade Fair IWTF in El Dorado Kan Dave Johnson Fort Morgan Colo had rescued the windmill from a hedge row in Norton County where it had been built The windmill had a bent main shaft two broken pitman arms and a fractured large gear The gearbox sheet metal hood and two blade sections were missing However what mattered to Jantzen was the windmill’s construction The All Steel referred to the gearbox Traditionally gearboxes had been cast iron with sheet metal hoods The Norton with its arc-welded 3/16-in thick steel plates and patented self-oiling system was a less costly alternative Norton Manufacturing began making the windmills around 1933 and continued until 1940 While the factory largely shifted over to war materials parts for the windmill continued to be made until 1957 This past spring Jantzen shared his story in an article by Christopher Gillis in the Windmillers’ Gazette While Jantzen had found his long sought-after windmill he still had no luck finding trade literature or other reference material “The biggest challenge was replacing the broken parts ” says Jantzen He started the restoration by cutting up and removing the bent shaft That revealed the need to replace three Hyatt bearings He turned to a local machine shop to make a replacement gear shaft and main shaft using the pieces for a pattern To get replacements for the cast pitman arms and gear Jantzen contacted Johnson who operates a small foundry in Fort Morgan Colo Jantzen welded the broken pitman arms together to serve as a pattern for Johnson who also poured a replacement for the fractured large gear Windmill restorer Patrick Hunt of Findlay Ohio fabricated the missing blade sections Jantzen notes that specialists like Hunt and Johnson and the entire windmill collector community are terrific resources for restorations “Windmill collectors are very good about loaning parts for use as patterns for recasting or fabricating ” he says Jantzen riveted modern brake lining material to the original windmill brake band and had a replacement hood for the windmill made at a local HVAC shop He had traced a hood on a Norton All Steel on display at a museum in Almena Kan At the time he noted it had several non-Norton parts After final assembly Jantzen mounted the windmill on a short tower made from previously salvaged 2-in windmill tower angle iron By 2011 it was ready for exhibiting at that year’s IWTF Jantzen believes he may own the only completely restored Norton All Steel windmill “If anyone knows of more I would love to know about them ” he told Gillis Jantzen encourages FARM SHOW readers interested in windmills or restoring one to attend the traveling IWTF The 2025 and 2026 trade fairs will be held in Texas but previous ones have been as far north as Manitoba and east to Indiana The 2024 event was held in Pipestone Minn Information can be found on the IWTF Facebook page and at www vintagewindmillforum com Jantzen admits to more than a few parts already “I have a dozen fully restored windmills and according to my wife perhaps 100 in various states of repair ” he says with a laugh “I have plenty to work on and keep me out of trouble ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Terry Jantzen 38 18th Ave Moundridge Kan 67107 ph 620-386-0716; trwindmill@mtelco net
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