Who here collects fans?

[alexkerhead]

Ok, I know tgunner and myself are into vintage and antique fans, but are there any other fanboys(pun intended) here at AK?

I could post some pics of some of mine if anyone is interested.

 

[Scorpion8]

I don't collect them, but I've been my own biggest fan for 46-some years ...

<Sorry, couldn't resist ....>

 

[theblackknight]

I dont collect them--my Dad is one of those "very safely concerned" people. He would have such a fit if I brought one into the house.

go ahead and post pics though.:yes: Id like to see your collection.

 

[jwrags]

TWantiques (Terry) is a fanman.

John

 

[alexkerhead]

Here are some pics everyone.
I have a few more I will post pics of later.
Thanks for the interest.

I got all of them running fine, but haven't had time to sandblast and paint all of them yet.

 

[Scorpion8]

Alex -- so what makes a fan "collectible" rather than just old junk? Specific brands or models, age, etc?

 

[alexkerhead]

Alex -- so what makes a fan "collectible" rather than just old junk? Specific brands or models, age, etc?

Quality, appearance, and such. :yes:

If it looks nice and is quality(just the design, not restored) it is a good colelctible.

I like solid cast iron, cast steel, cast aluminum, etc fans.

 

[thedelihaus]

Nice collection!

I've been lucky- a few of my "finger choppers" survived the move- the favorites a solid turquoise automatic oscillation fan, and a smallish desk fan, metallic turquoise, and rebadged with an automotive name on it.

 

[John in MA]

I have a brush-motor Polar Cub, a large old Emerson, and a '50s-60s Hunter. The Hunter is used daily, the Cub stays on the shelf, and I need to overhaul the Emerson.

Used to have a few older GEs and Westinghouses.

 

[Kamakiri]

I used to have a few antique fans, including a 1918 Diehl years ago. Diehl made some of the finest fans around IMO.

The only one I still have is a 1940 Emerson, which used to cool the whole upstairs every summer, until we got a second windowshaker.

 

[soundmotor]

The only fan I've kept is a GE that is the match to ones I've seen wall-mounted on WWII Navy ships. I keep picking them up when I find them trying to make the uberfan from the sum of parts.

 

[TWantiques]

TWantiques (Terry) is a fanman.

John

John is right. I collect early fans and try to keep a couple of nice ones in my inventory (I am an antique dealer). Generally what I have are earlier than those Alex collects.

Thought you might enjoy seeing some pics.

The first one is a Menominee bankers fan. Designed so it blows air straight out so as to not blow papers from a desk.
One of my favorites. Restored.

A DC (direct current) railroad fan used on their RR cars, made by Diehl.
Hard to find.

3 pics are of a 1904 GE pancake fan. So named because of its flat motor.

Next is a very rare GE wall fan with a brass blade & cage. This one is in my collection, last one I saw sell sold for over $3000.

Robbins & Myers 6" brass blade & cage. The only model made by any mfg. with a 6" brass blade and cage.

R&M Lollipop fan. If you look closely you'll see a round brass disk on a brass rod inside the cage. When the fan is on this disk moves from side to side causing the fan to oscillate. Scarce, collectible and expensive.

Diehl chrome fan.

Hope I haven't bored you with fans. If you have any questions about them let me know.

Terry

 

[alexkerhead]

Thanks for sharing your images TW, I love that pancake, I want one very badly..lol(who doesn't)
Reason I cannot collect the brass stuff is because of lack of funds.

 

[Kamakiri]

An R&M!!! Holy crap!

 

[jpdylon]

Those are some gorgeous looking fans Terry. Alex's stuff looks good as well. I used to collect fans about 13 years ago when i was just getting into vintage stuff, but I really couldn't find anything older than the early 40s.

I have three from my original collection. A 40s big 18" GE desktop fan, a 50 vornado, and a 50s McGraw "Zero. Both the GE and vornado are quite powerful.

 

[alexkerhead]

Kamakiri, you didn't notice the R&M logo on the 4th from the last fan in the pics I posted?

The R&M is one of the highest quality units I have ever seen. It had been in a barn for 40 years before I got it(you can tell from the image), even with original cord it ran like new, spun free without fresh oil.

Of course I put new grease(lithium grease) in the oscillator and removed any gunk and oiled each rotor end. It spins to full speed quicker than any other fan I have. It will soon be fully repainted and I will put a nicer cord on it, probably a original asbestos(sp?) cord. I want to restore all of them, but I cant do more than one a week.

 

[radiotvnut]

Although I don't have many, you can add fans to my collecting interest. Here's a picture of a Robbins & Myers list number 1204 three speed oscillating fan that I bought off epay. The seller claimed it was from the '30's; but, who knows. I also have a large Emerson oscillating fan from around 1940 that works. I used to find old metal fans as a kid and usually all they needed was oiling and a new power cord. These old fans are MUCH better than the plastic models currently available. The motor does not even get hot on this old Robbins & Myers even after it's been on for an hour or two.

If anyone has any information on this fan (is it really from the '30's), I'd appreciate it.

 

[TWantiques]

I would say, for sure, your R&M is from the 30's.

Keep it oiled and cleaned and chances are it'll give you years of trouble free service.

Terry

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

I have a 40's era Hunter Zephair (black and chrome) oscillating fan that I use every summer. (Sorry about the pic size!)

 

[MudPuppy176]

My wife fans me, call me lucky