Experience the Life
: Trades
: Miller (Windmill)
Sails in the blades of the windmill
are ready to harness the power of the wind.
Click image to enlarge |
Robertson's Windmill is not currently open to the public.
Giant structure with simple purpose
A colonial windmill was a large and complicated machine built for
the simple purpose of grinding small grains.
William Robertson's windmill closely resembled the one located
in Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area
today – a narrow, two-story house balanced on an oak post
and fitted with four 26-foot frames rigged with linen sails. When
the wind rose – a 20- to 30-mile-per-hour breeze was best
– the miller pivoted the house to harness the power of the
wind.
System of gears drove mill to grind grain
The sails spun a shaft mated to a geared wheel of 51 teeth called
a "rack." The rack drove a perpendicular wooden cage gear
called a pinion. The pinion turned a shaft that spun a running millstone
against a fixed bed stone below. Wheat and corn fed through a hopper
between the stones emerged as flour and meal.
Keeping everything running smoothly – the running stone had
to turn from 105 to 110 times a minute – was tricky and dangerous.
For his skill and trouble, the miller received one sixth of the
grain he ground.
For further reading:
| 
)
)
)
Historic Triangle