4th Gen Martin Fan wrote:Its longevity was built into the design.
So true Mark.
J.L. Wade had some very talented mechanical engineers (complete with pocket protectors and drafting tables ) that designed all of the components that made up their housing systems.
Arthur Vail was the main one.
Here is some of his work: https://www.google.gg/patents/US3367632?dq=arthur+vail
Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony. I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas. When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle. When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming. Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs. Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Matt,
The Patent US 3367632 for "Raising and Lowering Mechanism for Birdhouse" dated Feb. 6, 1968 and submitted by Arthur E. Vail, designated as assignor for Trio Manufacturing Company is very interesting. Image 1 clearly shows the tube which protects and guides the steel cable in the Trio Castle.
Thank you for the interesting link to the original patent: www.google.gg/patents/US3367632?dq=arthur+vail
Mark.
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
turned out real good had to take a file and make more room for pole. thanks. they make some plastic trim for metal, that I'm going to try to put on top of hub [house roof] then no metal should touch while going up and down
I also did a lot to my Alamo, plastic slides, added tunnels, brake winch, cable upgrade, added a round steal pipe inside the pole and lined inside with cork!
be sure to file the edge of the metal tube where the pulley stub sticks in. The cable rubbed the edge of the metal tube. After I filed on it it was better and alot less rubbing.
DornCounty wrote:be sure to file the edge of the metal tube where the pulley stub sticks in. The cable rubbed the edge of the metal tube. After I filed on it it was better and alot less rubbing.
thanks there is a touch of work to get the Alamo on the pole. Looks like it should be pretty good once you fix it lol.
DornCounty wrote:be sure to file the edge of the metal tube where the pulley stub sticks in. The cable rubbed the edge of the metal tube. After I filed on it it was better and alot less rubbing.
thanks there is a touch of work to get the Alamo on the pole. Looks like it should be pretty good once you fix it lol.
I also file the joint where the top and middle section goes together, as the house will catch on that when you raise it if it is not smooth.
I'm going to use my existing pole, it's a one piece. I picked up a d&l 350 break winch for it also. {hope it works with the little cable] I haven't used one of these before but the one that come with my Gemini seems pretty good, don't know if the worm gear winch is worth the extra money or not. But I called lonestar and they are proud of there winch, that turned me away from there winch.
Guess I should of asked about the worm gear winch before, I need to get one more for my other gourd rack [24] do you know anything about the worm gear winch? Or which would you recommend
Last edited by warbird on Wed Jul 06, 2016 10:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
Rick B wrote:I also did a lot to my Alamo, plastic slides, added tunnels, brake winch, cable upgrade, added a round steal pipe inside the pole and lined inside with cork!
Great improvements Rick!
I noticed your PVC venting system, with what appears to be a straight-up chimney, with each compartment tapping into it.
Open at the bottom, so rainwater goes straight down and exits without getting in the compartments - nice feature.
I'll bet that tall chimney also creates a nice stack effect, helping to draw the hot air out of those compartments.
Thanks for posting!
warbird wrote:I'm going to use my existing pole, it's a one piece. I picked up a d&l 350 break winch for it also. {hope it works with the little cable] I haven't used one of these before but the one that come with my Gemini seems pretty good, don't know if the worm gear winch is worth the extra money or not. But I called lonestar and they are proud of there winch, that turned me away from there winch.
Guess I should of asked about the worm gear winch before, I need to get one more for my other gourd rack [24] no you know anything about the worm gear winch? Or which would you recommend
Joe,
Keep in mind the DL brake winches are designed to work with loads of approx 50 lbs or more.
Anything less, and they are quite jerky and bouncy on the way down.
The Fulton brake winches have adjustable brakes, so you can set them to lower nice and smooth, even with lighter weight systems that fall below 50 lbs.
Something to consider since the Alamo itself is only about 30 lbs.
I was hoping the nest trays would add enough weight with birds. Might end up with the gourds too. If its jerky that won't be good. I'll look at that Fulton winch as well, are you talking about the 1000# winch?
warbird wrote:I was hoping the nest trays would add enough weight with birds. Might end up with the gourds too. If its jerky that won't be good. I'll look at that Fulton winch as well, are you talking about the 1000# winch?
The specific model is the Fulton K650 0101
I think even with nest trays, and gourds, you'll still be under the ideal weight for the DL.
I was using the DL that came with the MPP winch upgrade from the PMCA store, and even the weight of 2, three-story Trios, 4 gourds, and the large hub that everything mounts on, was still not heavy enough to keep the DL brake from jerking when lowering.
ok thanks it almost seems like they don't make the 650 any more, I can find the 1000. ill let you know how it works lol. I should of checked on this earlier. I did a search on this forum and now see that the fulton is the way to go
) that designed all of the components that made up their housing systems.
