Windmill disassembling in order to move

I recently found a Heidleberg Redball in a mans basement. He will give it to me for practically nothing, but as usual, the catch is getting It out of the basement. In order to get it up the stairs, I must be taken somewhat apart. The doorway is 3”5”, and 7 or 8 steps up! The door frame is 6”3” tall.
I was wondering if this is something that would be worth it? I am located in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
I am not aware of what it would cost to have someone take it apart enough to get it out, and then reassemble it?? Has anyone had this done, or Is there anyone in the Philadelphia region that would able to help and teach me? Please let me know!
Thank you.

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Anything is possible…Whether or not its a good idea is a whole other issue. I’ve never moved a Windmill, but if it were me, in my current under-employed part-time status, I would rip it apart and haul it up the stairs. I like a good mechanical project.

I’ve got 3’11” X 5’3” as the factory dimensions from the manual. 2300 pounds with the motor stripped, though that only cuts length, not width.

So…You gotta trim 6 inches off the side of the press…If you decide to do it, let us know how its done.

I see red balls go on Ebay for the mid 4 figures. If you can get it for that, it’s probably worth it from a resale/investment point of view. Like the Vandercooks out there, I doubt windmills will ever fall in price again.

most of my spare parts came from a heidie that had to be stripped down to get out of a basement, i never saw a press stripped down like this one, everything was off. after two years the man gave up trying to put it back together. if you can get a rigger with a crane to lift it out you might be better off. good luck dick g.

What is the guy going to do if you do not take it? If he is just going to scrap it, then I would probably take it apart— if that is the only way to get it out! You could try to find someone to help you put it back together, try yourself ( extremely hard/long project), or worst comes to worst, and all else fails, you could sell the parts?? Just my thoughts. Good luck. Let me know how it goes. I am from the Philly area, so if you need a hand, let me know

http://www.briarpress.org/14517 and
http://www.briarpress.org/17238 link to Windmill-moving, too. Sorry for not posting the photos yet. Got to move mine soon again, I hope, I can stay for longer this time.

I added an image of the basic principle of lifting a press. I heard, someone moved a Windmill even without hydraulic lifters, just with heavy bars and steel pipes beneath.

Removing the feeder should be not a big problem, it will help getting through the door.

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and here we go

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I suspect the previous messages noted will let you know about the holes in the side of the casting that will take steel rods so you can lift the press with a common rolling automotive jack.
Your biggest challenge will be to get the press up the stairs. You will need to reinforce the stairs and have the use of a heavy duty winch/tow truck to be able to pull the machine up and out. You should certainly ask the owner how he got it into the basement in the first place.

Basements are a death trap for machinery. Good luck, if the price is right, and you have friends who are comfortable with the work—go for it.

Ball color doesn’t mean anything for sure because they can be easily changed. Any press made after 1954 is good….look for a serial # over 100,000.
The main table (front of press) can be removed. I’ve never done it tho.

When moving my Windmill, no bars were used in those four press-base-holes. The assemblyman used a hydraulic lift directly under the table. At the rear side he lifted it with the bar near the motor. I’ll try to post the photos this week.

Thank you for the great response, diagram and everything.
The owner told me it was delivered and moved into the basement in a few parts. I really can’t go wrong with the price. I am also able to get an 8x10 C&P out of the deal.

I’m going to have to figure out how to remove the front table, make a few measurements, and go from there I guess. The man is not pressuring me to move them, just wants to make sure I am able to do so.
Any other suggestions, tips, photos, or anything is more than welcome and appreciated. You guys are great.

When the time comes, I will document everything.

Go to Boxcarpress, press manuals and check the windmill’s parts list for hints on removing the table, but I think, it is only held by a few large bolds.

I uploaded the photos here

UPDATE
I need some expert advice… The door frame in which I have to get the windmill through is 33.5 inches wide. Do you think there will be too much disassembling? Suggestions of who I could possibly hire to help me properly take apart and reassemble?
I am paying practically nothing for it, so I thought it would be worth a try. Now i am just trying to decide if it is worth it.

try graphic repair in leominister, massachusetts, they specialise in heidleburgs and are very good with windmills, they are reasonably priced . good luck dick g.

Thanks, I will try them if I have to, but I would absolutly love to find someone who has some experience in the Philly/NJ/Delaware area. I might also need some help moving it out of the basement. The guy used a company in Camden, NJ, but I was unable to find info on them, and now forget the company name.
Any suggestions? I would love to get started this weekend!

I plan to move a Windmill through a 34” door next month. My solution - bust down the wall around it. It’s a hell of a lot easier to fix carpentry than it is to fix a disassembled press.

I have used TG Rigging in Camden. 856-541-1885 (office) or 609-706-2215 (cell). Tim moved a lot of my equipment…including windmills. Some of it twice. He’s a pro! Reasonable rates, too. You’d probably have to disassemble it yourself, though.

Oh, forgot to mention. You’re definitely going to want to get some metal bars for those holes in the frame once the things on a pallet. If you’re not lifting with them, you can just use iron pipe. The idea is to give the press “outriggers” to keep it from falling over. Once the pipes are through, jam some wood between the pipes and the pallet, and then use ratchet straps or metal shipping strap to hold it down. I use these for that purpose: http://www.amazon.com/C-H-Steel-Strapping-Tools/dp/B002SWHRAE.

If you do this, it wont flop over when it’s on the forklift.