The Tower Windmill is more than a mechanical puzzle. It's an exciting adventure into the history of old England. The model is based on the Chesterton Windmill, a 17th-century cylindrical stone tower windmill built outside the village of Chesterton, Warwickshire, in around 1632-33. The Windmill was restored between 1965 and 1974 and today stands as the earliest tower mill in England to retain any of its working parts.

It's presumed the unique construction, with an arched base, was conceived by a prominent figure of the period, Sir Edward Peyto, who owned Chesterton Manor at that time. Sir Edward was an enthusiastic mathematician and astrologer, so it's thought the tower mill was initially designed as an observatory. 

This Ugears model designed in Victorian steam-punk skeleton style is based on a prototype from Chesterton. When spinning rapidly, the aerodynamic twist sails create a fairly strong wind. It also can work the other way around: air blowing at the sails will make them spin. Use a fan to demonstrate to your kids how real windmills operate. A double planetary gear reducer with differently shaped gears provides the necessary speed.

The model is powered by a removable rubber band motor. With the motor removed, the windmill works in manual mode allowing you to observe the fascinatingly complex mechanism in detail.

The rubber band motor drives the sails by means of a screw conveyor (worm feeder) and gear transmission. The design of the gear transmission includes a flexure link, a type of chain drive assembled out of many small links. Resembling a spiral staircase, the rotating base of the arched tower is part of the screw conveyor mechanism that drives the model.

While drawing inspiration from England, the Ugears model also celebrates the Spanish classic Don Quixote - including the figures of the ingenious nobleman Don Quixote himself, and his quirky companion Sancho Panza.

Made of high quality plywood. Assembly requires no glue or cutting.

Number of components: 585