Newest purchase- C.A. 1920 Ivory GE Brass blade fan!

[washernoob]

Here is my most recent (as of like 10 minutes ago) purchase.

This is a circa 1920 General Electric brass blade fan, non-oscilator. I believe this is a type AUU. 3 speed.

Its been fully restored by the fan-atics at FanAffairs in California.

Thats a beautiful powder-coat ivory paint. New cloth covered wire too!

 

[washernoob]

A little bit of a different angle of the front.

 

[washernoob]

Side.

 

[washernoob]

Rear. Love the brass accents!

Oh I cant wait till it gets here!

 

[cfz2882]

G.E. fans

nice one there! i have 4 vintage GE fans:
-1902,the style just after the 1890s"pancake"style,it is the
same size as the one you have pictured and almost the same
style but has a flatter,bigger round motor and the guard is
brass.
-ca.1925-30,really close to yours but dark green finish
including the blade(aluminum blades with brass spider)
also the motor housing is steel instead of cast iron.
This one occilates.
-ca.1935-40 vortalux,all original-works great
-ca.1965,1950s style but has 5-blade plastic fan instead of
the 4-blade stamped fan seen on earlier '50s versions

 

[washernoob]

Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE PANCAKES! lol. My dream fan of all time is any form of a GE pancake. Or a westinghouse cake style.

Are you a member of the AFCA? (Antique fan collectors association) I happen to be one. Awesome group of people.

I have also always wanted a vortalex. One of the greatest designs of fans ever! (next to the pancake of course!)

So this makes 4 vintage fans for me! This ones now my oldest.

 

[washernoob]

This style of cake is my favorite. WIth the yoke, and ribbed base.

Just simply, a gorgeous fan.

 

[rp2813]

It's interesting how similar a lot of things are on that ivory fan compared to my Vortalex.

 

[cfz2882]

that one is the 1890s style-i'd sure like one too,but hopefully
can find one local as the ones i have seen on E-bay always go
for high amounts-some over $1000...
the 1902 one i have has the exact same blade as yours.
Besides the GEs i listed,i have quite a few other brands too;
century,westinghouse,polar cub,superlectric,hunter, to name a
few...
Also industrial fans too;rotron,IMC,howard industries,EBM,
papst,nidec,dayton,multifan,etri,400hz aircraft fans...
I am about to update my computer,so hopefully soon can post
up some pics and create a thread on these fans...

 

[washernoob]

Would love some pictures of your fans too!

I currently have a c.a 1925 Dayton 367 16" that I started to restore, but its too far gone, so I am going to part it out. It has the pizza wedge blades. It has the shattered pot metal pivot, so it no longer oscillates or stays vertical. Ran GREAT before I thought the stator could be dropped in Purple power and be alright afterwards... NOT!

That fan was a mess. Ill miss it, but I am sure to find a nicer one in the future.
____
Next is my daily (well nightly) driver, a mid 50s Westinghouse 8" desk fan. Its a metallic pink and chrome color. The cage is corroded, and a crack in the blade, but it sure does run great!
_____

And finally I have a little green round all metal hassock fan from the 50s or 60s. By some weird not so well known company, but it works fantastic!

 

[austinado16]

Those are so nice looking!!

Looks like they did a great job on the restoration. I've got a big GE pedastal fan, but would love a table-top model like these too.

 

[volvoguy87]

Vortalex.

I love my 12-inch Vortalex. There's also a 16-inch Vortalex in the house. Ultra quiet but they move some very serious air. The earlier Quiet Blade is also very good. The QB may be a little louder on low, but slightly quieter on high.

Read the section on fan lubrication on the AFCA's website, these old fans will run forever if they are PROPERLY lubed.

Congratulations,
Dave

 

[washernoob]

Thanks Dave! I will be sure to check that out.

If I ever need some serious help, there is some serious help about 45 minutes from me!

Dick Boswell is a bigtime fan, car, pump organ, and vacuum collector (and treasurer for the AFCA) He has hundreds and hundreds of fans. Mostly older brass blades.

Hes also the fellow who has the extremely rare 1908 Spangler Suction Sweeper, also known as the predecessor to the Hoover model O.
In other words, its the very first hoover vacuum cleaner ever!

Here is a little bit of some of his fans. (he has more!)

Pictures are really large. I can post individual ones if someone wants a larger view of one.

 

[austinado16]

Holy Cow!!!! Now that's a serious fan collection!

 

[cfz2882]

UNREAL!!

that guy has more brass fans than i have fans period-even
including my boxes of spare"muffin"and other electronics/
industrial,and vehicle related fans!
A couple of my brass fans,including my 1914 century,originally
had the brass blades painted black-one of the reasons for the
brass blades is brass transmits vibrations and noise from the
motors bushings and (if equipped)commutator much less than
aluminum and steel does.

 

[washernoob]

Curse you FedEx!

Its probably for the best, But since I was not home today, FedEx left me a note for my fan that I must sign a sheet for delivery.

Means I gotta make a call and pick it up after school friday.

I want my fan now!

OoooO. Cant wait for Friday.

 

[washernoob]

Yay! Its here!

I LOVE THIS FAN! Its such a super runner. Not the most powerful, but certainly whisper (low is silent) quiet and does what it was intended to.

 

[washernoob]

The new cord is just beautiful. A little short, but not too bad. The plug is awesome bakelite. The design didn't show up with the flash though.

 

[washernoob]

Side.

 

[beekeyknee]

That is a nice one. I have one like it in Pullman green that I completely restored 6 or 7 years ago. The only problem I have is the bearing cover on the back is missing. When I run it on high speed the Zoom Spout oil runs out the back. I thought it was only for looks, but it actually does something. If anyone knows where I can get a replacement, it would be perfect. Thanks.

 

[beekeyknee]

Base

 

[beekeyknee]

Back view.

 

[beekeyknee]

Side view.

 

[beekeyknee]

Missing bearing cap.

 

[beekeyknee]

Shaft nor bearing is worn. No slop between bearing and shaft.

 

[beekeyknee]

I could also use a new bakelite plug. If anyone knows a source or contact, please let me know. Thanks.

 

[washernoob]

Nice fan! I believe the original color of mine was a similar green.

As for the cap on the back. Ill ask my fan friend in Lincoln if he knows where to find one, and I will let you know!

I need to felt the base too. Any tips on how to do that?

Sundail Wire should have plugs just like that for sale. Id check them out!

http://www.sundialwire.com/plugs-1.aspx

 

[gansky1]

Beautiful fans, guys.  That white is just stunning, Brandon!

 

[beekeyknee]

Felt for fan base

Brandon,
From looking at the pictures of your fan, if I'm not mistaken, the base is no longer on your fan. Looking at the close-up pictures of the switch, I believe I can see the color of the cloth the fan is setting on through the switch hole. If the base was there, I don't believe I would be able to see that color through the hole. Tilt the fan back a bit and look underneath. If you can see up inside the base, the plate is gone.

When the base of the fan is off you can see the big spring wire that fits around the inside lip of the base. You take the spring wire out, take off the old cloth and use it for a pattern. Get some thin felt and cut out a circle big enough to wrap around, up and over the lip and then back down inside. Replace the spring wire and pull the fabric tight and evenly around the perimeter, trim off the excess, and replace the base. That's it.

You probably already know this, but don't turn you fan upside down when there's oil in the cups. It will make a mess and probably isn't good for the fan.

 

[washernoob]

Nope its there!