16" Emerson Electric Oscillating Fan Model 29648

[rp2813]

This fan was free on the "Buy Nothing" site.  I haven't done anything to it other than fool with its oscillation adjuster, which is one of its interesting features.  It runs and oscillates smoothly and quietly.  It's far quieter than my 12" GE Vortalex, which is about 20 years newer and a lot less complicated.  I'm not interested in doing a complete restoration, but will give it a cleaning and touch up the missing paint and rust spots on the base after I've checked for proper lubrication.

 

From what I've read on line, this Emerson was likely produced sometime in the very late 1920s.  I'd like to find a user manual as well as a service manual.  I accessed the Vintage Fan Forum or whatever they're calling themselves these days, but just as I had remembered, it wasn't a very welcoming scene there.  If there are any members here, I'm hoping someone can advise on whether there is literature on this fan available for downloading or in hard copy form.  Better yet, if any fan collectors here on AW can provide information on how to open the worm gear case and using the pull-out thingy below the oscillator adjuster, I'd really appreciate it.  I saved a YT video, but it didn't even address the oscillating system.

 

Today's high temperature was around 80 and the living room got a little warmer than I thought it would, so I'm testing out the fan for a while this evening on its highest speed.   The speed switch needs work, as it doesn't click into place, but I saw a simple fix for that.  The head wire looks recent, as do the AC cord and plug, which are replicated properly for the period.  I don't want to get too deep into things with this fan, as a few on line sources advised that Emersons can be really fussy about going back together properly after disassembly. 

 

Any guidance is welcome.

 

 

[circlew]

Nice fan, Ralph. It reminds me of one my grandfather in Mississippi had. They didn't have electricity in their house until around 1947, so doubt he bought it new. It may have belonged to his parents, as they were well to do, and had electricity at their house in the 1920's.

 

[maytag85]

I have a couple myself, use them when the weather begins to warm up out here in the spring months. Ironically, vintage fans is where it all started for me back in 2009/2010 in terms of vintage appliances. Didn’t have any luck acquiring any back in the early 2010’s, but it seems they are much easier to come across on Facebook marketplace these days.

 

[rp2813]

Well Tom, if there's anything I've learned by reading about Emerson fans is that they are way over-built and seem to run forever.   

 

The other thing I learned is that as a result of their precise but complex engineering, any disassembly or full tear-down should be done by an experienced collector.  Way too many critical moving parts for me to want to try and open anything up.  It ain't broke, and it won't see hard use.  Patina and touch-up will be it for now.

 

What amazes me is that Emerson produced a lot of fans over the years, and many fans that were produced 100 years ago are still working flawlessly today.  I've heard the term "plentiful" used when describing antique Emersons, not only for their industrial strength build quality but also because they were ubiquitous.   It's surprising that a reprint or downloadable version of an owner's manual can't be found on line.

 

[maytag85]

Don’t really know if there’s any manuals that exist anymore for these particular fans. I’m sure it was mainly for cleaning and lubrication, as well as a guide for what speed to be used when sleeping. Probably could have just been a tag on the fan when it was bought over the counter with such instructions.

These fans were over-built for a reason, was the days before air conditioning was a thing, don’t think air conditioning existed in the 1920’s, was still in the development stages. Wasn’t until GM Frigidaire began introducing air conditioning systems in the 1930’s, but had to be rich to afford one of those in the 1930’s, even then rich people at that time thought it was ‘too expensive’.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Gearbox removal

Is very easy on that fan. Remove the screw holding the arm to the adjuster wheel under the gear box. Then the three slotted screws holding the gear box to the back of the motor and just slide it off. Turn the gear box upside down and theres a few small slotted machine screws that hold the top and bottom halves together. Split open over a shallow pan. Notice the arrangement of the removable brass gear and shaft with the smaller spur gear on the bottom. This shaft assy usually has a TINY fiber washer on the bottom hiding in the grease you dont want to lose. Get some denatured alcohol and an acid brush and wash all that caked up grease out, getting under the main brass gear in the case. Once all the parts are degreased take some Zoom Spout or 3in1 oil in the BLUE can and oil the shafts then reassemble the gear box. Once thats done I like to inject the grease through the hole the worm drive off the motor goes through and pack it pretty good. Then just reassemble the fan and add several drops of oil under the flip top cap in back. The oil and grease job are a must even if used sparingly because the grease is hard and waxy and wont lube the soft brass gears and theyll eventually wear smooth.

 

[qsd-dan]

I own and restored a bunch of Emerson fans and don't find them any more difficult or picky about the restoration process. I also have 2 16" bladed GE Vortalex fans with PSC motors, a 1940 with dual bearing oil cups and a later one with only a front bearing oil cup and rear bearing I re-grease every year (a shame they didn't keep the rear oil bearing cup).

Emerson are the 1970's Maytag washers of fans. Overbuilt, quiet, efficient, elegant, and last forever even with abuse. If you think this fan is quiet (it isn't by any means), get a 77648/77646 with a nice balanced blade and experience the pure bliss of silence. It's startling how quiet they're for the air they move! The PSC motor versions use less than half the electricity of your 29648, making them just about the most efficient fans (besides their AP-G units) in existence based on wattage use vs CFM output.

J-man accurately explained the process of cleaning the gear box out. Be very carful digging around the old hardened grease (if it's original) for those fiber washers, there's a few of them in there, at least in the 1940+ units I have restored. The lack of these washers is what makes them chatter a bit in oscillation mode. I'd say that's the only picky issue with these fans. In a lot of these fans, the washers are lost and thrown out with the old grease when not carefully removed.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks for the input guys.

 

It's those tiny parts that can be easily lost and their precise placement that concerns me.  I don't have a good work bench scene currently, so any work at all will need to wait for a dedicated space.  For now I just want to learn more about these impressive fans.

 

And Dan, your mentioning those 776 series fans has piqued my interest.  I'll do some reading up on them.

 

 

 

[qsd-dan]

If the fan works and spins down well (no abrupt stops), then the grease is probably okay to keep using for now. Just feed the oil port some turbine oil and enjoy. This is a shaded pole motor so no capacitor to keep an eye on or replace. I rebuilt many fans on the kitchen counter so don't overlook that space.

The very first iterations of the 77 series fans (late 30's if my memory is correct) has shallower pitched blades so it runs faster, a bit noisier, and throws out less air. From about 1940 on, the pitch got steeper, the noise is quieter, and they move more air. If you stumble upon one that tickles your fancy, either post it here or shoot me an email. A trained eye makes them easy to spot. I believe the very last batch of 77 series fans used shaded pole motors rather than PSC so I would avoid those, too. The earlier open cage design moves more air and are quieter but they were more susceptible to having objects get through them and knock the blades around. The later versions have tighter cages that are nosier and moves less air but the blades are much less likely to be off balance.

With washers, their quality generally peaked in the 1970's. Dishwashers peaked in the late 1970's/1980's depending on the manufacture. With fans, most their designs and quality peaked in the 1940's and 1950's.

 

[maytag85]

I think fans are a fine example of how they don’t build them like they used to. Been over a decade since quality fans have been made, last good box fan was the Lakewood P25 around 2007/2008, were discontinued since Lakewood was having financial troubles, eventually were bought out and is basically a name just like everything is these days.

Lasko did make a metal box fan about 10 years ago but were discontinued, more than likely was from the complaints about them being on the noisy side, blades had a shallow pitch to them which explains that.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

Emerson fans in general

Right up to the early 50's were built like tanks. I think Emerson was just about the last fan company to stick with cast iron while the rest switched to pot metal or stampings. The AP-G govt issue fans qsd-dan mentioned are all I run from May till Sept on a 24/7 basis. They were all gone through by me when I got them so its just routine oiling and cleaning for the next couple of years until I have to change out the grease again. I have two 16" and one 12" running and they throw lots of air and are quiet too. The motors run cool as a cucumber unless its over 90 deg then they get a little warm, unlike my chrome Diehl you could fry eggs on if it ran all day. On high the 16" draws 48 watts. Plus they're very industrial looking with their wrinkle finish and galvanized cages. I think Emersons were the robust king of old fans

As far as needing bench space for the gear box service. You can do it right on a small area of a bench or table. I bought a Healthy Choice Beef Merlot meal and it came in a small plastic dish with a collander tray that sets in it. Its perfect for washing small parts because even if they fall through the holes they dont go far. And you can use LA's Awesome to degrease those parts and it wont attack the plastic

 

[rp2813]

Dan, I was comparing Emerson fans to GE Monitor Tops, but I think your Maytag reference is more appropriate.

 

I appreciate the suggestions from you and J for a makeshift work bench, but the logistics just aren't workable for the time being.  This could become a project I can pursue in a few months' time, though. 

 

For now, I still need to learn how to best make the oscillation adjustments.  I've attached a sideways (grrrr) picture of the sort of pin-like component that I think controls the engagement of the oscillating mechanism.  The collar that it extends from is a very loose fit around the neck between the head and the tilt adjustment.  Is this normal?  The "pin" pulls out and pushes back in to select stationary or oscillating operation, but the "pin" is very loose.  Could the loose collar be to blame for this condition?  Any suggestions on how to address this?  I can take more pictures if needed.

 

[qsd-dan]

Sorry, I don't have experience with that type of oscillation system. The newest Emerson desk fan I have is a 1930's 73648AK which I believe was the replacement for your 29648 that simplified the oscillation design.