My 1920's GE fan is ready to go for summer.

[beekeyknee]

A few years ago I restored an old GE fan that was my Great Grandfather's. I didn't get it quite right, so I decided to fix it before it got hot.

Here is a front view. The shutter speed is a little slow and you can see through the blades as they were turning.

 

[beekeyknee]

A rear view while running.

 

[beekeyknee]

Over-head view.

 

[beekeyknee]

Side view.

 

[beekeyknee]

Front view while running. Please ignore that print on the wall.

 

[beekeyknee]

Here was my mistake 8 or 9 years ago (?). The bearing cap was missing and when ever I ran the fan on high, the heat from the shaft would pull the turbine oil up the wick and out of the cup. Since there was no cap on the back to return it to the cup via the little orifice hole it would run out the back of the fan and all down the base.

 

[beekeyknee]

I ordered this cap and banged it on the back of the fan, soaked the wicks in kerosene, dried them, refilled the oil cups with new oil, put the spring and wick down in the cup, screwed it back on and no more leak. Yea.

 

[beekeyknee]

Not running.

 

[Ultramatic]

Beautiful!

<span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for sharing!</span>

 

[beekeyknee]

Showing off it's Pullman Green color.

 

[beekeyknee]

Yes, I know it has a toaster cord on it, but I like it. I don't like those dual conductor twisted fan cords. Besides, this cord has a nice gold fleck in it that I think goes nicely with the fan. I broke the bakelite plug that I put on it years ago and I was lucky enough to find and original GE Pony Cap Plug. It's much nicer than the old one. It has a ridge to grab hold of when you're trying to unplug it. You have to be careful with those bakelite plugs. Bang them on a hard surface and they're gone. When my Great Grandfather worked for the railroad he had to sleep during the day and work at night. He slept under this fan in the daytime.

 

[washernoob]

Beautiful!

I have a similar fan in Ivory white. It doesn't get used too often, but I adore it!

 

[washernoob]

back

 

[washernoob]

The plug. Not sure if the plug is original. The Cord is from Sundial wire.

 

[beekeyknee]

Brandon,

That is a very nice fan also. I wonder how many colors they came in? I know mine is the original paint. You're lucky to have the original bearing cap. Did you know the cap was more than just decorative?

Brian

 

[washernoob]

Thanks!

I bought mine as is. It was completely restored by the previous owner who collects fans. They did a pretty good job. The fan color is representative of what it originally would have looked like, so I was told.

I did kind of know the rear brass cover had a purpose. I have never had a need to open up the fan yet!

 

[beekeyknee]

You probably won't. Dump the turbine oil out of the cups before start up every spring and replace it with new oil. Blow out the vent holes if you notice them getting dusty.

 

[washernoob]

What is the best kind of oil to use for these fans?
Thanks!

 

[beekeyknee]

I use Zoom-Spout. You can also use Royal Purple too, I think. Just don't use any oil with detergent in it. It will varnish the shaft and bushing and cause it to bind. Check this out.

http://www.fancollectors.org/

 

[washernoob]

Thanks!

I used to be a member at the AFCA,,,, I need to renew my membership. Its been a while. I have been to a local fan meet. Had a great time. Met lots of people, and saw some amazing fans for sale, and in use in a friends house.

My friend in Lincoln is the Treasurer for the AFCA, Dick Boswell. He has an incredible fan, car, pump organ, and vacuum collection.

 

[beekeyknee]

Darryl Hudson helped me out with my parts. He's a nice fella. If you ever try and contact him, do it by email. You'll get a much faster response. He gets his mail on his cell and usually gets back to you in the same day or the next. He has an order form you can print off his web site and mail in. He only takes money order, check, or cash.

 

[beekeyknee]

Sounds like you have someone in your own back yard though.

 

[autowasherfreak]

Beautiful GE fan!

 

[beekeyknee]

Brandon,

Our fans will be around 100 years old in 2020. Properly taken care of, these fans should last many generations. I'm the forth generation for this fan.

 

[beekeyknee]

Thanks Jim. I suppose you were talking about mine. LOL.

 

[beekeyknee]

Brandon,

If you keep the fan properly oiled with the right kind of oil, keep the wick at the proper length and keep the vent holes open where the oil cup screws in, your fan shouldn't cause any problems. After you have removed the cups to change the oil you can turn the fan up side down and you will see little holes above the cup where it screws into the head. These are the oil return holes. The fan sucks up the oil out of the cup, oils the shaft and bushing while running and returns the oil to the cups to be recirculated again. The heat from the shaft will suck up the oil from the wick. Then it collects in a reservoir and returns via the orifice.

If you suspect an orifice might be clogged a pipe cleaner pushed through the orifice will clear it. Just make sure you don't put anything in there that sheds.

 

[mixguy]

Dayton Fan

I had a Dayton fan very much like the first GE fan pictured! starter windings stopped working then the speed control (rheostat) the final blow was a seized bearing, lasted 40=45 yrs!

 

[kimball455]

Beautiful restoration.

Harry

 

[gansky1]

Beautiful 1920's fans, guys.  I had a very similar black fan at one time but it was in rather rough shape so didn't keep it for too long.  Seeing these beauties reminds me what nice and quiet stream of air those fans put out.  I had a lot of compliments on the fan, mostly for looks but mechanically it was pretty rough.  Never knew what that cap was for on the back, I don't think mine had one.  Good to know!

 

Brandon, we'll have to make a trip up to Grampy's and do some fan shopping.  That Manning Bowman fan I found a while back is a ghastly loud thing I can hardly stand to turn on.  But it's cute...

 

[washernoob]

I love Grampys. He's the man for that kind of stuff. I always forget about his shop. I don't get down there very often.