08/21/2025
Here is a little information I did find.
Aermotor, initially a windmill manufacturer, diversified into producing fire lookout towers around the turn of the 20th century.
Here's a timeline of their involvement:
Around 1905: Aermotor began manufacturing fire lookout towers.
1910s-1920s: They were the leading manufacturer of steel fire towers during this period.
1916: Aermotor introduced the standardized steel fire towers to New York State with the LL-25 model.
1926: Aermotor introduced "Bilby" towers, named for their designer Jasper Bilby.
Pre-World War II: Their galvanized steel structures were the standard for lookout towers, according to the Society for Industrial Archeology.
1949: They constructed the Deppe Fire Tower.
While they were a primary supplier in the early days of fire towers, especially those used in the U.S. Midwest and South, other companies also manufactured these structures, particularly later in the 1930s with the Civilian Conservation Corps.
