vintage electric fan

[jmirawm]

I have a galley kitchen with an open ceiling to the living rooom and dining room. It is in a corner of the house and the air seems to get the warmest in there.....no appliances running. I was thinking of a way to circulate the air. I did not want to do a ceiling fan. I like the light fixture as it is in the kitchen and it is a mate to the dining room fixture. <p> I was looking at fans on the net. Did not like the plastic. I looked up reproduction wall mountable fans. $400 for a crosley repro. Too much for me. Then I got the wild idea of looking on epay! I found one, and won the auction. Only 20 bucks. <p> Is there anyone out there with any suggestion as to what I can use to clean her up? I am not afraid to take her apart. I also need to replace the cord from the base to the motor. She runs and oscillates very well. She has two speeds and off, controlled by a toggleswitch. I love Toggleswitches !! She is going to look great on the wall. I just dont trust the cord from the base to the motor. It looks like there is a wooden base under the felt on the bottom. It appears to be riveted from the top of the base.<p> Here is a picture. She is leaning to the left, because the person that was doing the auction had not tightened her screw that allows you to change the position of the fan.

 

[westytoploader]

Very nice find! Looks like a 1930's GE Vortalex to me.

Fans are generally simple to work on, and the cords are easy to replace. Remove the felt base (if there is one) and go from there.

I wonder how you're going to mount it to the wall? This is a table model, BTW.

 

[jmirawm]

table model

There are holes in the base. I was planning on bolting it to the wall through those. The head tilts also.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

First, check for back and forth play in the motor shaft (in and out play is ok). If the bearings have no play you're ok but the motor still should be serviced. The motor should be taken apart, the bearings and shaft cleaned (lighter fluid is a good cleaner), the felt flushed (solvent) and re-oiled with 10W non-detergent motor oil.

If you don't want to take the motor apart, then oil it with Marvel Mystery Oil. This will melt the old gummy oil and it will not get gummy again.

Ken

 

[Designgeek]

Re. mounting a table fan on a wall: And also be darn sure it's screwed into a stud, because the constant low-level vibration of the motor plus the weight shifts due to oscillation, will rip it out of sheetrock or plaster, and aside from the question of a nice fan getting damaged, there's also the question of it falling on someone. Molly bolts and wall anchors don't count, they will eventually weaken; you want screws into a wood stud.

If you have plaster over lath, cut a piece of 1/2" or thicker plywood, 12" square; screw that through the plaster and into the lath with a minimum of six long (1-5/8") drywall screws, and then mount the fan to the plywood with suitable screws. Properly finished and painted, the plywood won't be noticeable or objectionable.

And of course, while you're mucking about with lighter fluid and suchlike, be careful of fire risk. No smoking or open fires or hot electrical items in the vicinity, and keep a window open for ventilation.

Replacing the cord should be easy, or any electrical repairs shop with a good reputation can do it for you.