any other vintage "fan" lovers ?

[tbolt25]

a fan like the one on the right on Post 70920 fell onto me o

A long time ago, when I was about three or four years old, in about 1977 or 1978, my Mom had a turquoise box fan similar to the one on the right on Post 70920, and I was fooling around with it and it fell over onto me, on its face, and the blades scraped the front grille and the carpet as they were coasting to a stop, and it really got me scared of that fan, I was afraid of that thing from then on, and I learned not to mess around with that fan from then on or probably any box fan. I'm still fond of those older fans myself. Where can you find(safe) box fans like this now for sale?

 

[westytoploader]

Wow, I just noticed that Greg's fab Kenmore fan looks somewhat similar to Jim's Dominion fans, especially the knobs. So I wonder if the Kenmore was Dominion-made? Jim, very fab turquoise Dominions as well!!

Fans have always interested me, beginning when I was barely able to walk, along with (of course) vacuums and washing machines. I remember looking at all the table and pedestal fans in the Montgomery Ward and KMart ads starting at age 2.

Right now, I have 3 "older" fans; a 1970's Champion box fan, 1980's Galaxy hassock fan, and another 1970's McGraw-Edison "Eskimo" box fan. The Eskimo is probably the most interesting because of the oscillating louvers, which are really quite effective--it can move air like nothing else!! Would love to have a restored 6-blade Emerson or pancake-motor GE, but outrageously high prices keep that from becoming a reality...

--Austin

 

[drmitch]

Austin, Just keep looking at flea mkts and yard sales, You`ll find one. There were thousands of them made. Most of mine were found for $12 to$5 each. Just have to paint and straighten, which I know you can do!

 

[jmm63]

Austin- I noticed too the similarities between Gregs Kenmore fan and my Dominions, very possibly could have been made by Dominion. I think its ironic how my Grandmothers fan on the left was bought in the Detroit area and how its twin (minus the baffle) was found in my friends attic here in NJ. How about posting a pic of your Eskimo, would love to see it. I'm going to post some more pics of some of my others as soon as i get a spare minute. Take care.. Jim

 

[veg-o-matic]

I don't own any vintage fans but...

I remember going to Woolworth's in the summer ('60s-'70s) and walking down the "fan aisle" with all the fans going at once. They all had those little streamers on the front grills that flapped so satisfyingly.

If I recall correctly (and that's only 50/50 at best) Woolworth's sold only Eskimo fans that were a great turquoise color and had three bigass aluminum blades. They made such a different sound than the plastic blades.

veg

 

[roto204]

Eskimo fans

Intriguing! I just scored one of the little turquoise Eskimo fans from a thrift store here in Tucson. (Made by McGraw-Edison, apparently.)

Mine is a little desk oscillator, but has the aluminum blades, and after a serious oiling (thanks to Roger) it happily goes like a champ now

I wondered where that Eskimo might have originated...

 

[wmlask]

Vornado Fan

I love fans. Have been interested in fans since I was a little kid. I remember putting my moms lipstick through the grill and making a big mess. I got slapped a few times for that! Here is a picture of a restored pedestal Vornado Fan that sits in my Family Room. Hope you all like it.

 

[drmitch]

Nice Vornado!

Welcome, Wmlask. Looks like your a serious fan collector. Great color! Do you have others?

 

[rinso]

That Westy fan brings back a lot of memories. My parents owned a mom and pop restaurant and grocery store. They used that fan to help dry carpets after shampooing. Ours had a lot of electrical leakage, and I remember getting shocked more than once while standing on a damp carpet and touching the metal switch to turn it on or off.

 

[jasonl]

The fan I'm most fond of is a Kenmore window fan from around the mid 60s. It had pushbutton controls for forward and reverse action. I love the round Vornado and Westy fans.

In the 70s I had a Superlectric osciallating fan that was probably the LAST of the all-metal fans right before the plastic junk came out.

 

[gansky1]

There are some beautiful fans in this thread!! I have a 1920's Westinghouse fan that desperately needs new bearings and a Westinghouse hassock fan from the 40's that runs beautifully.

 

[powerfin64]

fond of box fans

Im very fond of the old metal box fans with 3 metal blades( like Gregm and jmm63 has)
I just bought today a new Lakewood box fan, that has a metal cage and 3 metal blades, but the grills are plastic (can't have everything)
I have always wanted a box fan with a thermostat, but those just aren't made anymore,( are they??)
This new lakewood(20") box fan is a real air mover! Love hearing the sound of the metal blades pushing the air, at any speed!
Does anyone remember the brand of "Air king"? A neighbor of mine when I was a kid, had a box fan that was a "Air King". I thought they were cool looking and sounding, for some reason. My new lakewood will have to fill my childhood memeories for now.

Rich

 

[petek]

today

I was poking around HD and Revy etc. Starting to see even more all metal chrome desk and floor fans, along with more and more chrome toasters etc. maybe metal is making a comeback. None of them were really premium priced either.

 

[wmlask]

More on fans

Greg: I remember seeing the 40's hassock fan in your living room. Does it have the ball shaped motor? I have one that looks just like it but it is maroon. If you need a source for repair on the old Westinghouse, let me know.

I have about 20 Vornados. 10 are fully restored, I have a few that are in such good shape they don't really need any help and there rest are in the queue to be restored. I have a small Canadian model that has variable speeds and a dial on the back of the motor that reminds me of the control for a Sunbeam Mixmaster. I have a bunch of other fans but the Vornados are my favorites.

Getting anxious to find and restore an old washer after the visit to Greg's.

 

[tolivac]

power fin64-"Air King" is still around I am sorrounded by several "Air King" fans at the transmitter site. They are keeping me and other workers and equipment cool.We have several sizes of them here.They are sold thru WW Grainger.The complete line of them is listed in the current Grainger catalog.You could find them on the Grainger website-they have a website catalog.Ahh!!--the Air King fans sure feel good when it 95 degrees and humid outside-and the chillers are working to the max too!!

 

[powerfin64]

grainger site

Tolivac-thank you for the grainger info. We have a store here in town, Im going to be checking out! I didn't realize that grainger carried so much stuff!
Thank you!
Rich

 

[tolivac]

Powerfin64-Great you have a Graingers by you.You will have to buy thru a company name-say where you work-make sure its OK with them.I happen to know the manager at the one near me-Since I am a Govt employee-he passes those savings and discounts to me!!One time -even though I paid for what I bought-they sent its bill to where I work-the purchasing officer was VERY upset untill I explained to her I paid for what I got at Grainger that day.I like them better than SEARS-more selection-but on the tools-you can get better prices on those from Sears,Lowes,or HD.As you may know Grainger caters more to industrial commercial-contractor customers than householders.-Even though they may say in their catalog on an item-"ideal for use at home!"

 

[petek]

Graingers

In Canada they're Acklands-Grainger, they used to have here an employee discount card. Ask if they still have them. That way the bill won't go to the employer by mistake,it happens I know. You just pay upfront and the employer isn't on the bill.

 

[sambootoo]

Nice to see all these old fans. I don't know which I like most, old fans, old washers/dryers, or old air conditioners! I have more fans than any of the other appliances, about 10 that I can think of right now. I have a Westinghouse Mobilaire, Emerson oscillator, GE with Vortalex blades, Vornado, and an Air Castle with a blade made like an airplane propeller. Will try to borrow a camera and post some pictures.

 

[tolivac]

Unfortunately WW Grainger dosen't have the Employee discount cards here-would be handy.And make it easier for where I work.That only happened once thogh.didn't happen after that esp when I talked to the manager who is a good freind.I too like old fans-just have an old Emerson oscillating desk fan that a radio station gave me.Still works-but needs an orig cloth style cord and plug.Fans, radios,and lamps are said to be the most commonly collected small appliances.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Here's one..Deskair

These are nice, and very functional. You can adjust the center wheel to aim it up higher if you want. For a stuffy office, it really does circulate the air around the area you sit. We have air conditioning, but sometimes it gets stuffy in my office between air cycles. This does the trick.

I was thinking these were super rare when I picked this up, but I do see them on EBAY, and CHEAP!