Here are some pics that I took while touring the Kregel windmill factory. A little background, the factory moved into this building in 1902 and was owned and operated by the family until the last of them died in 1991. In 2008ish the community was able to (somewhat) bring the building to code and turn it into a museum. Great pains were taken to not disturb the artifacts that were there. There is 30,40, 50 year old sawdust on the saws and swarf on the lathes. Foundry patterns:
Andy, Here is a link to a video of the factory, before being converted to museum. I happen to know T. Lindsay, listening to the story from him in person is something else.
That's really cool. I think Aermotor was built in my town. Correction.. is STILL being built today near me. Now I've got to take a spin by there. S.O.B.
That is a cool video It reminds me a great deal of the Soule Museum, where they manufactured steam engines, and other things. It is the same way at the Soule museum; ie: everything is left as if they just decided to walk out one day and leave everything laying around on the tables, such as all parts to make a steam engine, all the tools, the entire machine shop, and the foundry with cupola, etc. You could start making steam engines again in no time at Soule. All the patterns are there, and the cupola would run again for sure. They still have a mountain of coke to run the cupola. The massive line shaft is fully functional, as is all the machine tools that run off of it. Its great when these places get saved. It makes for such interesting technical history. .
Great video Ed. The Knight Foundry in Sutter Creek had the same feel. I've wrecked a lot of abandoned factories, and what is amazing about this one is that there was no vandalism. Most of my experience was on the left coast, so there is that.
