Who Invented the Windmill?

The windmill, an invention that changed the course of history has been around longer than you might think, on this episode we dive into the origins and the evolution of the windmill.Show more

The windmill is an invention created to convert wind into rotational energy. It was first used by the Persians in 500 -900 a d as a means to dry clothes. This invention spread across the middle east and central Asia around 1200 a d. Eventually this technology found its way to europe during the 14th century. The Dutch adapted the invention into a windmill to pump water from flooded fields.

Daniel Halladay invented the first wind powered turbine we know today within his machine shop in the US in 1854. It was highly successful invention as it allowed water to be easily pumped into farm fields.

This invention was instrumental in the construction of the railroad. During this time than 1000 factories opened up producing water pumping windmills, in fact one company sold more than a 100,000 in a single year. Over the course of a 120 years between 1850 and 1970, 6 million mechanical windmills were installed in the United States.

The first iteration of these windmills was constructed with 4 blades and a weathervane jutting out the back, sometimes referred to as a tail. This tail was used to turn the windmill into the wind. Later windmills where constructed from steel and had safety devices that controlled how fast they could spin, protecting them from damage.

Another interaction of this invention was done by Charles Brush in 1888. Charles created the first windmill to generate electricity. Around the 1900s wind powered generators were used to power ships, you'd have a hard time finding one of these today.

While the invention of the iconic windmill we know today was revolutionary it wasn't the first type of windmill ever invented. In the northeast part of Iran the Nashtifan windmill was created over a 1000 years ago. A constant source of wind blowing over the sandy hilltops provided the necessary natural power the people of those times needed to crush grains that would be used to make their staple foods. These windmill were vertical towers constructed from clay, straw and wood with a wood beam running down under the ground where grains would be milled. Today there is only 1 man left who looks after the area. This custodian of the Nashtifan windmills has no apprentice or children to take on the role. It's remarkable that after a 1000 years these windmills still stand and are completely functional. Can you name another ancient technology that is still functional today?

Footage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40SybexlGJI

Sources:
http://www.thirdplanetwind.com/energy/history.aspx

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Intro music thanks to Machinmasound:
Rallying the Defense:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruPk4RD19Nw

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