Today, the wind-powered battery charger has nearly passed into obscurity. David Ballinger, though, is doing his part to spread the Wincharger story.
David's created a display on a 16-foot trailer that he shows at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (where three Winchargers belonging to the MOTR are on permanent display). He uses a Delco gas-powered light plant with one 8-volt and two 12-volt automotive batteries to run one unit.
David's display includes seven different complete 6-volt Wincharger units, six of which are in running condition. Due to space limitations, David only demonstrates one of those units. It's on a 10-foot stand, and is often used at shows as a power source for antique radios. He also displays 12 32-volt units, but they aren't in running condition. "The 6-volt size is a handy size to store and work on," David says.
"This is one of those collections where you have to be very patient," David says. "It's only been in the last five years that I've started to do much with them. They're pretty hard to find. You may only find a couple of pieces a year. There aren't very many people who collect these, and there are a lot of people who have just one."
If that one Wincharger is complete, he adds, it's a real prize. "It normally takes two buys to make one working unit," David says. "When you do find one, everybody's looking for the same parts. Everybody wants props and governors."
Occasionally, David locates a Wincharger that's been stored in a barn. "Those are the ones in the best shape," he says. "If they've been left outside, they're pretty pitted, pretty weathered."
Restoration begins with sandblasting, followed by the search for parts. Sometimes David finds substitutes for small parts, and every now and then he encounters New Old Stock parts. Basically, parts are in such short supply that the collector needs a strong start. "You want to buy the units as complete as you can," David suggests.
Each Wincharger unit came with a propeller, air-cooled generator, autotype brake and instrument panel. The storage battery for the Wincharger came in a variety of forms - everything from an automotive battery or two, to high-capacity cells enclosed in heavy glass jars.
The 6-volt Wincharger was typically roof-mounted atop a black, four-legged tower. The 32-volt Wincharger was sometimes roof-mounted, but generally stood on a galvanized, three-legged tower high enough (anywhere from 40 to 80 feet) to clear obstructions like trees or buildings. That tower came in 10- and 20-foot sections, with a 5-foot topper.