This very significant mill was the first successful widely distributed self-oiling windmill in the history of American industry. Unlike almost all the other windmills available at the time, the oil-bath Wonder did not require regular lubrication on a weekly basis, but only a change of oil once a year.

About 1924, the Elgin Wind Power and Pump Company became the Elgin Windmill Company. It was also about this time the Wonder Model A mill was replaced with an improved design, the Wonder Model B. Instead of having a cast-iron hood, the Model B bears a galvanized sheet-steel hood. The earlier Model A mills were made in 8', 10' and 12' sizes, while the Model B mills were made in 6', 10', 12' and 14' sizes.

The Wonder windmill is one of the most significant innovations in the history of American windmill manufacture. Within only about a decade and a half after the introduction of this fully enclosed oil-bath mill, virtually every American windmill maker had developed its own self-oiling mill. Today a surprising number of Wonder Model A windmills have survived to be observed in the field, while even a larger number of later Model B Wonder mills, manufactured at least into the the late 1940's remained scattered across large parts of the United States.

Denton FFA's Wonder B Windmill

The Denton FFA Chapters are restoring a 10' Elgin Wonder B Windmill to be erected beside the T.J. Jones AG Barn on the campus of John H. Guyer High School.

The windmill was a generous generous donation by Chuck Rickgauer of Tolar, TX.  He and his wife operate the Windmill Farm Bed & Breakfast.  Visit his website and see his collection of windmills. ( www.TheWindmillFarm.com )