Vintage Graybar Electric Oscillating Desk/Table Fan

[rp2813]

Last week I picked up a little Graybar fan on a whim.  I think somewhere along the line it took a tumble, as the cage is out of whack as was one of the blades.  I got the blades as well-balanced as I could, but there's still a bit of shaking with the motor housing when starting up and winding down to a stop.  The fan runs and oscillates quietly, though.  No loud whine like my my 12" GE Vortalex makes.  I gave up on trying to get the cage shifted upward and tilted back as it should be.  That was a nightmare.  The blades clear it, so it's good enough for now.

 

I pulled out the armature and found a broken fiber washer, which I replaced.  I repacked the worm gear housing with new grease.  I was thinking about using this fan in my work shop, but it's kind of small -- < 10" across and only one speed.  The blades do move quite a bit of air, though.

 

Fan fans, what can you tell me about this one?  I know Graybars from this period are rebadged GE's, but have not found much beyond that on line.  Somewhere I read that this is the "Quiet Blade" design.  True that!  I like the throwback pancake style grille, which is what attracted me in the first place.

 

 

 

[polkanut]

That's a cutie.  I would keep it in your shop area if it moves a nice volume of air for your needs.

 

[circlew]

That's a nice fan, Ralph. Hope you get it back in A-1 shape.

 

[supersuds]

From my fan collecting days (AFCA cured me of that eventually) I have a copy of Collector's Guide to Electric Fans by John M. Witt. It doesn't cover Graybar, but it shows the GE version of your fan and dates it to 1932. The GE model number is the same, except that it ends with a B instead of G.

Witt says the Quiet Blades were the only new feature of the design, with the motor, oscillator, base, and switch carried over from GE's 1920s designs. The S-wire guard was ballooned out a little to clear the new blades.

GE introduced a more modern guard design circa 1936, so that would put the date of your fan between 1932 and 1936, assuming Graybar made changes at the same time.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks for the good information John, and yeah, I'm not about to sign in blood to join AFCA over this thing.

 

I can certainly cut it some slack for the minor quivering considering it's over 80 years old!  I was amazed to find that the wick was in great shape even though the reservoir was bone dry.

 

[supersuds]

Happy to help, Ralph. There are good people in AFCA, but the leadership was a mess for years (imho.)

I could never get the blades on my 10" Vortalex completely balanced. There are people who do balancing professionally, but it didn't seem worth it for a $10 fan.

 

[Ultramatic]

Really nice fan Ralph...congratulations!

 

 

AFCA...sheesh. Never seen such a arrogant, unwelcoming directorate.