Etter’s Detachable Gear Windmill Pump

The Arctic cold in February iced up the water lines in the Rhoneymeade farm pump house. We spent a few days thawing pipes and re-insulating the 10’x12’ building. It was merely a nuisance but the silver lining in the disaster-that-almost-occurred was refocusing on the Etter’s Detachable Gear Windmill Pump still in-situ, in the pump house.

We found the scanned patent on the internet which dates from 1906. Apparently thousands were made in the Shippensburg factory.

We will never be sure that it was used on site with a windmill but more likely a hit-and-miss engine. We have the Antique Machinery Association interested in coming out for a look. It is still connected to a 20’ well that has a steady 5’-6’ of water. We will try to get it running this year and post up our progress.