Kregel Windmill Factory Museum: Pumped Up For a New Exhibit

After many months we are happy to announce the completion of a new exhibit here at the museum. In striving to provide a more inclusive experience for students of all ages we have been trying to add more hands-on activities to the museum tour. Visitors to the museum already have the ability to utilize the seven touchscreen kiosks through out the factory which contain videos and information about the machinery and history of the Kregel Windmill Company. Guests are also able to visualize how a water-pumping windmill is able to turn its wheel into the oncoming wind for more efficient operation through our miniature windmill exhibit featured in the front area of the gallery. Now, with the addition of our new pump exhibit, guests will be able to better understand how a windmill pump cylinder is used underground to bring water to the surface with each reciprocation of the sucker rod.

This new exhibit is constructed from clear acrylic tubing so that visitors can see the old style check valve, along with an original leather seal, move up and down inside the pump cylinder. This type of technology was used for many years as an efficient way to bring up groundwater. We are very proud of the fact that this exhibit was designed and built in house and that we are able to have it on display to better explain what can be a complicated visualization for some guests. Not being able to see the inner workings of a pump cylinder can make it difficult to teach about and with this new exhibit we believe we have solved that issue. The following is a progression of pictures from the design and construction stages of this exhibit. Please feel free to stop by for a tour and check out our great new exhibit.