For centuries, weathervane manufacturers have used the same principles when designing these functional, yet decorative ornaments. There are only two basics when it comes to making a weathervane: the ornament's mass must be equal from the center, and its area must be unequal from the center. As long as these physical properties are met in the design, the weathervane will point whatever direction wind is blowing.

Of course, there are other design characteristics that weathervane manufacturers use to achieve the desired function. The ornament is made to attach on a rod with a ball bearing inside--this allows the piece easy rotation when pushed by the wind. Weathervanes often have directional lettering (north, south, etc.) on the fixed rod to show which direction the wind is facing.

Evolving Weathervane Manufacturers

The first evidence we have of weathervane manufacturers is from the ancient Greeks, when people believed that winds held divine powers. Throughout history, weathervane function remained the same, although styles evolved tremendously. Traditional weathervanes often use an arrow with some type of design, but many weathervane artists began using interesting shapes of objects, animals, people, and other scenes.

In the 1900s, silhouette weathervanes (flat, two-dimensional shapes) became extremely popular. These are still common today, and examples could include fish weathervanes, witch weathervanes, or a horse and rider weathervane! Some weathervanes are three-dimensional representations of objects made with great detail and accurate proportions!