I came across this laying in a creek far from civilization.

[tidefan888]

I came across this wood fan blade-looking object in a creek this past summer. Would it be from a grist mill? If so, why would they make it from wood? There is no metal in it; it's pegged together with wood. I don't think it can be moved without damaging it. If anybody out there has seen one, your help would be appreciated.

 

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[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I honestly don't think its a windmill either. I just added that as an optional possibility. Especially considering that tidefan888 labled his picture "fan blade." And if it is in fact from the mill upstream, it would be interesting to know some history on and how old the mill is. Because of the low water that tidefan888 mentioned, it sounds like it may have been covered up for a really long time. Otherwise someone would probably have stumbled onto and salvaged it years ago.

SBB

Here's one variation of those all-wood windmills I was thinking of. Based on some brief research I did, a 6' foot diameter sounds like a fairly common size. But then again, I really don't know all that much about such things.

 

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[SODABOTTLEBOB]

tidefan888 ~

I'm still not clear on and would like to know if the "man-made" center piece is stone or wood?

Thanks.

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[stevemc]

That looks to me like the square hole for the big square axle of a grist mill, and the center that you see is the sand bottom of the creek with a few inches of water over it. That sure looks exactly like a water wheel. That would be a fantastic piece if it was possible to get it on a raft and float it out. Several 1100 x 24 truck inner tubes, and some rope and a hand tire pump and you might get it out of there. Bring a buddy and a 10' long 2 x 4 or 2 to use as a lever, work it carefully under and lift. If you have a buddy, use 2 levers. Then when wedged up, slide an inflated tube under and tie several together, and try to float it out. Make it so it wont tip, like tie 3 or 4 tubes in a triangle or square and have this in the center. Maybe have the 2 x 4s between the tubes and the wheel so it doesnt pop them. Maybe bring a hand saw to cut them in 2 pieces just to do that.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

stevemc ~

In post #9 tidefan888 said ...

"the square center is man-made"

I'm sure he will be along shortly and clairify what he meant. I just assumed he meant the center was made of either stone or wood, and was not referring to the "hole" itself.

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[baywalker]

I think the Nora mill in Helen G.A. has one like that?

Jonnie

 

[littleneckhalfshell]

I think it may be a 'Tub' wheel or impeller.

"Tub water wheel- a horizontal water wheel mounted in a tub, constructed of wooden blades, the water enters from a tube or chute, at an angle striking the wheel, which then rotates in a horizontal plane."

see this page for various 'Tub' water wheels and an idea of how they work http://www.tidemillinstitute.org/27.html

 

[tidefan888]

Sorry for the slow post. Away for the weekend. I wrote that the square was "man-made" to answer a question about the photograph. It was squared by the builder, just as it appears in the photo. I plan to retrieve this object in the spring as soon as the creek is low enough. I don't look forward to the trip. We shot 6 mocassins the day we found this and found no arrowheads. I'll post updated pics after we get it. We checked it out that day and would have tried to take it if we had brought a boat, but we hiked in and had to go down a 30' bank to get in the creek. We'll have to take a jon boat in from the bridge on our next trip. I'll have to figure out a way to get my buddy to go back.

 

[NOLA_Ken]

That's a pretty cool discovery! It's in pretty good shape too considering how long it's probably been there. We found the wheel shaft of a mill in Tanyard Creek in Atlanta years ago, but it was in pretty poor condition, but considering the mill was blown up in the Civil war it's amazing there was anything left at all.

That's definitely worth trying to recover and preserve.

 

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

The more I consider things, the more I like Lnh's idea about it being a horizonal water wheel that operated on its side. (maybe). Because if it is, it might only be part or half of the entire wheel. The illustrations below suggest a wheel of that type had two similar parts like the one found, plus a wrap-around edge that tied everything together. And if it is like the ones shown, the wrap-around edge and one main part is missing. Its so hard to say for sure based on the one picture of it. But whatever the construction may be, its worth rescuing.

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[Ramitt]

very cool find

 

[AtochaFan]

Rushing creeks could carry something like this 6 miles downstream, no problem. Our creek has carried away blocks of concrete about 3/4 that size.