"Primitive" Gears for Water & Wind Driven Grist Mills

I have an old book somewhere and will try and find it. The amazing thing about the book (if remembered correctly) was that most of the equipment were described as modern.

Not sure what your application is, but the engineer at the Weald and Downland Museum in Sussex, England is very knowegeable. I met him quite a few years ago after he had reconstructed a water mill. The original pillow bearing for the main wheel axle was applewood. He decided to replace with phosphor bronze. It promptly wore out within a couple of years. He then replaced using the original applewood and it had - at the time of meeting him - been used with less than 1mm of movement in 15 years.

Try contacting...

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/

This has nice animations

You could also search

De Re Metallica (no specific drawings here , but youll find other links), Hero of Alexander for inspiration.

I have a copy of the book, "The Practical American Millwright and Miller". It was written in 1870. It would probably be a very good reference if you can get hold of a copy. Here is a link to a description. http://www.angelfire.com/journal/pondlilymill/craik.html

I recall going round Saxtead old mill (a wind mill) in Norfolk or Suffolk 40 years ago and being told that the replaceable gear teath were made of apple wood. There are still about 1000 wind mills in the Netherlands, most probably with wooden gears, but I am not sure which wood.