Beautiful Circa 1890's Chicago Water Motor.   The design of this motor falls under a patent by the Backus Water Motor Co.  I believe this example still retains its wonderful original finish or was refinished many many years ago.  It is a very rare water motor and an excellent example to power a belt drive setup or equipment demonstration. 

Russ Huber of the AFCA has done some extensive research on the relationship between Backus and Chicago, below are his findings:

"Here is what makes sense. Backus WAS making water motors. Right before our very eyes on this post is a Chicago Water Motor & Fan Co. BRANDED water motor.....WITH a BACKUS patent. It is CONFIRMED Chicago Water Motor...is a western agent for NJ Backus. It sure appears Chicago Water Motor & Fan Co. was making belt driven fans. They would need a water motor in some applications to drive them.

It is logical being Chicago Water Motor...being a western agent for Backus, sold water motors made by the Backus Company in NJ. Being the Chicago Water Motor & Fan Co. sold their own line of belt driven CFS, they would need in some applications a water motor. I think it would be more appropriate the water motor Chicago Water Motor...used to drive their line of CFS had THEIR name on it. Thus Backus holding the patent for the water motor cast their own brand, and their western agents brand. Not fact....but this makes a lot of sense to me."

Dimensions

Height: 20"

Width: 15"

Depth: 14"