Water Well Journal
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/692787
well received and beat out competitors' windmills at fairs including: • The World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 • The National Export Exposition in 1899 • The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905 • The International Exposition in 1923. As a result, the wooden windmill's design remained unchanged for 40 years. Early advertising published customer testimonials praising the STAR wind- mill's reliability. An Ohio-based cus- tomer wrote: The Star mill is a good one. I have (had) it now four years, and (it) works just as good as when new. . . . There is no doubt but what in a few years every farmer will have one; it is cer- tainly the best investment on a farm. I would not do without the Star for double the cost. David Walling also perfected two other inventions during this time—the single-acting three-way pump and the double-acting force pump—the com- pany sold under the Hoosier and Fast Mail trade names. The company was so successful it incorporated in 1886 for $90,000— a substantial amount of money at the time—under the name "Flint and Walling Manufacturing Co." An era of innovation The 20th century marked an era of innovation for Flint & Walling. It faced its toughest times during the Great Depression, but survived by hav- ing employees work just one day a week. During World War II, the company joined the call to arms by producing pumps for the Allies. These pumps were bolted to trailers containing lengths of fire hoses. The company also produced 20-millimeter shells and casings and rubber patterns for aircraft fuel cells. For their efforts, the Department of the Navy awarded Flint & Walling with the Navy "E" Award for Excellence. After the war, the company turned its focus once again toward innovation, pioneering the convertible jet pump in the mid-1940s. This improved method of well pumping was less expensive, more flexible, and more reliable than others of its day. During this time the company created the first: • Horizontal jet pump, an innovation in the shallow well market that incor- porated a horizontal jet and venturi into the pump head for optimum efficiency and size. • Four-volute design, a basic concept incorporated into the pump casting to substantially increase efficiencies. The design is still predominantly used by pump manufacturers. • Automatic control valve, a patented device for deep well pumps to pro- vide the best flow of water regardless of variations in pump pressures or water depths. • Cartridge seal, a feature that enabled pump disassembly without discon- necting from the plumbing lines. • Convertible pump, a design that al- lowed conversion between shallow and deep well operation for simple merchandising and stocking. Flint & Walling also became the first manufacturer to produce complete elec- tric jet pump motors and the first to in- corporate DuPont Delrin compound into domestic water pump components, which resisted abrasion and minimized wear. By 1954, the company ended wind- mill production and turned toward sub- mersible pumps. It released its first submersible pump in the 1950s. While product developments were modest dur- ing this time, the company's solid repu- tation helped sales of these pumps to grow. The company officially became "Flint and Walling Inc." in 1969 when it F & W from page 35 An illustration of the Flint & Walling building in Kendallville, Indiana, from 1898. A ribbon of participation from the 1899 National Export Exposition. waterwelljournal.com 36 July 2016 WWJ