Weißensee tower windmill
Weißensee tower windmill
An inscription on the mill gives the year of construction as 1862. The windmill near Weißensee is a small peculiarity. In contrast to the trestle windmills that are otherwise common in Thuringia and those with a round ground plan, the tower windmill near Weißensee was built on a 16-sided foundation. In addition, the masonry is less conical at the top than in many other mills, which means that a slewing ring diameter of 8.5 m is still possible under the cap. The cap could be turned from the inside using a hand crank to align the mill in the direction of the wind. Later, a six-bladed wind rose was installed for this purpose. Also unusual for mills of this time, the grinding gear was already one floor below the cap floor and the wooden spur wheel of the king shaft was on the middle floor.
The mill probably worked in this rather classic way until 1929. Then an auxiliary diesel engine was installed, which still exists today. The Königshütte foundry in Bad Lauterberg supplied the necessary parts for the conversion.
The mill remained in operation until around 1970.
Details
Germany
Weissensee
99631
Günstedter Straße