A few days ago I decided we were past any more hard freezes so it was time to hook up the windmill. The lines to and from the windmill are less than a foot deep and the cylinder is completely exposed, so I need to drain the whole system each winter. I do this using two valves, one by the foot valve in the pond and the other one at the bottom of the upper line going up to the tank. I take all of the leathers out of the cylinder in the fall and keep them in a container of water to keep them from drying out, and then I can use them the next year. If they dry out, they are no longer any good. Years ago my brother found some 3 inch stainless steel pipe that we use as a cylinder using both ends of an old cylinder that had the threads rusted and striped out. This is all held together using three threaded rods going through some rings on each end of the cylinder assembly. It does make it easier to get into the cylinder this way. When I have it all together I prim the whole setup using the fill pipe and valve coming off of the pipe under the cylinder extending up over the cylinder with a valve to cut off the air from entering below the cylinder, yet letting me add water by opening it.

East Pool Mine, Taylor's Shaft Pumping Engine A huge 90" cylinder beam engine commissioned in 1891. Designed by Nicholas Trestrail, built by Harvey & Co. of Hayle. Originally at the Carn Brea Mine, but brought to East Poll in 1913. This engine is of epic proportions: Bob 33ft long, weighing 42 tons resting on 80" thick granite walls. Timber and iron pumping rod descending into a shaft 1,700 feet deep. Total weight of water in motion on each stroke, 85 tons - the engine pumped 27,000 gallons per hour (92 gallons per stroke). Taylor's shaft was closed in 1945, but the engine continued in operation until 1955 to prevent flooding in the nearby South Crofty mine.