The turbine-generator in the Old Dundee Mill was built in 1935 as a power source for the Ford Motor Company plant which was soon to occupy the building.  Powered by the waters of the River Raisin, the turbine is capable of producing 192 horsepower at a speed of 138 R.P.M.  The James Leffel Company, builders of the turbine claim an expected life span in excess of 100 years for them if properly maintained.

The revolving turbine drives a General Electric Company generator with a rated capacity of 125 Kilowatts. This is roughly enough power for ten average homes.  The generator produces power at 208 volts, 600 amps, 60 cycles, three phases.  The generator is eight feet in diameter and ten feet tall, and of such massive construction that the foundations which support it are made of concrete two feet thick.  The generator, too, has a life expectancy of more than a century.

Besides the turbine and generator, the installation includes a Wooward hydraulic governor.  This device, divided into two units located near the generator, regulates the flow of water through the turbine by automatically opening and closing guide vanes located around the turbine circumference.  These vanes increase or decrease the flow of water allowing the turbine and generator to maintain a constant speed.

The governor device is not completely automatic.  To allow the operator to control the various functions of the installation, a control panel is set up in the adjacent room.  From this panel, it is possible to switch the generator onto the Edison Company power lines.  The control panel room once contained a steam engine and generator for use on days when the river level was low.

The Historical Preservation Society of Dundee holds dreams of restoring the generator to provide a power source for the building as well as hopefully to send power back into the Edison line so as to earn revenue to offset building utility and maintenance costs.