Pipe Raymond Vaneless Windmill

The introduction of windmills into arid country allowed settlement to occur and ranching and agriculture to prosper. Windmills pumped deep water to provide water for livestock, crops and people. They also became landmarks and symbols of life for travelers.

Althouse Wheeler Co. produced the Pipe Raymond Vaneless Windmill from 1912 through the 1930s. The blades face away from the wind and fold back as wind speed increases, enabling the mill to turn at a constant rate. The mill had red cypress blades dipped in white paint and trimmed in red. This mill was fitted with a vertical steel mast pipe made as its main casting. The manufacturer noted that the mill wheel would fit onto all makes of windmill towers without any alteration of the tower. The need for this interchangeability of mills on towers was an advantage since, according to the manufacturer, “over 50% of our windmills go to replace steel mills which have worn out or blown to pieces.” It was the most frequently seen vaneless mill on the Great Plains. Also called a Wadpole, or Waupon, this windmill was originally located on the E.B. Williams farm and ranch in Grant County, Kan. It was then moved to Petersburg, Texas, when Williams gave it to Ronald Weaver. Weaver donated the windmill to the newly opened Ranching Headquarters museum.