Eighty-five years ago, the March 1941 issue of Practical Mechanics showed how to build a wind generator.  It used a propellor left over from the last war, and the axle from a Peugeot.  But with some ingenuity, it was made into a working unit.  The windmill managed 180 RPM, and since most car alternators required 1200 RPM, a 7:1 gear ratio was required.

I think of wind generators as an American phenomenon, since any respectable farm in the last century sported a windmill.  But the wind also blows in Britain, and was capable of being harnessed.

These days, wind generators such as this 1200 watt model are available on Amazon at a surprisingly low price.  Looking at the reviews, this particular one looks like a very good value, although one reviewer points out that the instruction manual is somewhat incomplete.  Our readers, of course, don’t need instruction manuals.  Also, a couple of parts needed some modification to properly mount it, but we have faith that our readers can deal with that issue as well.

Britain was at war when this article was written.  And this article serves as a reminder that wind power might play a role for some in providing electrical power in an emergency.

Some links on this site are affiliate links, meaning that this site earns a small commission if you make a purchase after using the link.