I assume that the windmill was operating a pump, and while I am not  
familiar with this particular technology, you are fortunate to have  
someone in the Texas Tech history department who likely is: Professor  
T. Lindsay Baker is an international authority on historic  
windmills.  I'd suggest you try looking him up for advice.   Perhaps  
you might start by looking at some of his publications, such as "A  
Field Guide to American Windmills", U of Oklahoma Press, 1985.

On Mar 1, 2007, at 12:48 PM, Hatchett, Jennifer C wrote:

I am new to the HISTARCH list, but I am hoping someone out there can  
help me out.  My master's thesis is on a mid-nineteenth century  
evaporative salt works on the Texas coast (near Rockport).  I am  
looking for reports on other evaporative salt works from the same  
time period.  Also, if anyone has heard of a "Johnny Armstrong arm"  
windmill, it would answer a question for me.  The windmill name may  
be a local thing, since I have not been able to find anyone who has  
heard of such a device.  It was apparently used in the operation of  
the salt works, although in what capacity I do not know.  Any  
responses will be most appreciated.
Jenni Hatchett
Texas Tech University


Patrick E. Martin
Professor of Archaeology
Department of Social Sciences
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI  49931
phone 906-487-2070,email [log in to unmask]
www.industrialarchaeology.net