Brass Blade Fans?

[hosman321]

So, I've been eyeballing this fan at the antique shop for weeks. I couldn't wait any more and had to bring it home. Problem is, I know nothing about them. All the sites I can find aren't very helpful with dating. They say it is very hard to date these based on the numbers on the fan. Which I find hard to believe. And the sites that claim to be able to date them either ask for money or you have to order a catalog to join their site. Forget that. This one still has the original cord with tags and the original label on bottom. I am wondering if the "7-27-14" on the label is the approximate date? Is this even a date?

I know from a few sites that this style was made in 1914 but it was also made up until the 40's, I believe. So the label doesn't help much. Does anyone know where I can go to lookup exactly when this particular one was made? Also, what kind of oil/grease am I supposed to use? The grease in there looks extremely old, and I want to keep this thing working properly! Thanks for any advice, I'm just not having much luck finding info.

[Vrillon]

looks too good for its age, I know that much.

I wonder if this was restored or it was setting unused for all that long?

[Dean Perdue]

Looks original to me.

[hosman321]

I can tell it's original in person. As always, my camera is making an antique appear nice and new. It's color is fairly dull and the cord is kinda faded in color. One of the wires on the cage is broken. The labels/tags are very brittle and yellow. I think it sat somewhere for a very long time indoors and wasn't thrown outside or into a garage like many of them.

[sapphire]

hosman, would this be the same as yours?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-GE-GENERAL-ELECTRIC-1911-BRASS-BLADE-FAN-/230435177910#ht_1411wt_941

[sapphire]

Same one here.........

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/treasure-hut/item/RL-89?gbase=1


This estate find is an Vintage 1911 GE - General Electric Brass Blade Table Fan. It is a Black color & stands 15 1/2 inches tall, is 8 inches front to back, has a 13 ½ inch cage with a 7" diameter base, 12" diam Brass Fan Blades, 2 Brass Oil Resavoir Covers, Brass GE emblem on the front, Brass GE Cap on the back of the motor & its original Brass Name Plate on the base. This is a stationary fan & has a wing nut & an thumb screw which allow it to be adjusted Up - Down & sideways for direction of air flow. It is marked on the inside of the base Pat. Nov. 21, 1911 & 55636 (see pix )
Testing & Functional Notes: I plugged it in & it runs well, switch on base works

Name Plate Reads:

N.P. 16652 Off - High - Medium - Low - Type - AUU Form - V 2 Spec - 271098-1 Cat. 34017 Volts -110 Cycles -60 General Elec, Co. USA Condition:

Runs Well, No Cracks, Brass shows Toning, Scratches, Iron Parts show Wear, Paint Loss, scratches from Age, Use & Storage. Do Not know if the cord was replaced or not


Asking price is shown at $225 USD

[sapphire]

Have you checked inside the base for a Patent No.?

[sapphire]

Might want to check out this forum........

(this link is brings you in on a thread about a brass 'plated' blade GE fan)

http://afca.mywowbb.com/view_topic.php?id=12027&forum_id=1

American made fans listings (membership required to view info)

http://www.fancollectors.org/gallnew9.htm


Page from Sterling Electric Co.  catalogue ( ? ) showing GE fan specs. (located in above thread)

[railman44]

I'm somewhat of an expert on Emerson brass cage/blade fans.  Your's is a General Electric.  Restoration of brass fans doesn't harm the value, in fact, it increases it. 

[sapphire]

GE fan FORM #'s   (taken from the same site I gave the link to above)

I believe this is your date.

D   1896   10" Stick
E, E2   1896   12" Trunnion
A   1896   12" DC Trunnion, (Flat style motor)
F   1897   10" Stick
E3   1897   12" Trunnion
B   1897   12" DC Trunnion, (Flat style motor)
F2   1897-1898   10" Stick
E4   1897-1898   12" Trunnion
B2   1897-1898   12" DC Trunnion, (Flat style motor)
E5   1898   12" Trunnion
F3   1898   10" Stick
G   1898   14" Stick (Same windings as Form E5)
C   1898   12" DC Stick
C2   1898   14" DC Stick (Same windings as Form C)
A   1899   16" Trunnion (Wall bracket fan)
E7   1899   12" Trunnion
F4   1899   12" Stick
F5   1899   12" Stick (6-pole, one speed)
G2   1899   14" Stick
K   1899   12" Trunnion (Wall bracket fan)
A   1899   16" DC Trunnion (Wall bracket fan)
C3   1899   14" DC Stick
D   1899   12" DC Stick (Ball style motor, three speed)
D2   1899   12" DC Stick (Ball style motor, one speed)
E   1899   12" DC Trunnion
F   1899   12" DC Trunnion (Wall bracket fan)
E9   1900   12" Trunnion
F   1900   Pancake (One example seen)
F9   1900   12" Stick
A   1901   Pancake
B   1902   Pancake
C   1903   Pancake
D   1904   Pancake
--   1905   Form numbers discontinued for unknown period.
Q   1913-1914   Ring Osc, Kidney?
R   1915   3-Star
S or T   1916-1918   2-Star
V   1919   2-star, 2-cond headwire
V   1920   New crank wheel, no stars, wrapped steel cage
W   1921   .
AB   1922   .
AC   1923   .
AD   1924   .
AE, AE1   1925   Riveted Handle, 1st stamped motor, bell crank
AE   1925-1926?   Stamped motor, cast base, solid handle (some riveted)
AF   1927-1929   Smooth Badge, Stamped Base, Switch mounts to base plate
AK   1930-1931   Aluminum blades
AL   1930-31   Graybar was Form AL
AN   1932   Rounded edges on cage
AQ   1934-1935   Tilt screw is flatter, sintered bearings
AQ1   1934   1st "Quiet Fan"
AR   1935   Motor screws slotted instead of hex-head
AS   1936   Deco grille, 3 horiz, 3- vert wires
AS1   1936   10" 3-blade, 1st pedestal fans - copper w/ivory blades
AS   1937   Switch Sticks at a 60 degree angle, last of dark green color
AT   1938   -
AU   1939   -
--   1940   Ended use of Form Numbers!

[Dean Perdue]

Amazing work Sapphire.Great research skills.

[sapphire]

Thanks Dean......my memory skills are no good, so searching is the only thing I can offer

Wish I had found the last part first.......it would mean that '1911' fan in the first two links is not correct.......more like 1919/1920 according to it's Form No. 

[hosman321]

Thanks for the great research! Kinda disappointed it's not closer to 1914 but still a cool fan anyways. I took the base plate off and all I saw was a ton of screws, bolts and part of the cord. I'm definitely not mechanically inclined enough to take it apart and look for patent dates! It would never be the same again. I guess I'll just accept that it's from the 30's, at least now I know. Thanks for finding that stuff!

Oh, and the one on ebay. He's asking a bit too much for that fan, in my opinion. I didn't pay anywhere near that. I think mine is in better shape and it also has the original cord. Of course if you plan on using it, a new cord is best for safety. But in my opinion, the old cord makes it much more desireable for looks and being period correct. Also, his has a brass plate for the different speeds. The speed settings on mine are pictured below.

The other one is a bit overpriced as well.

[cogar]

Also, what kind of oil/grease am I supposed to use? The grease in there looks extremely old, and I want to keep this thing working properly! Thanks for any advice, I'm just not having much luck finding info.

Hosman, ya don't use grease, .... use 3-in-1 oil will do just fine. If it has "oil caps" or "oiling holes" just squirt some oil in them.

One thing you have to worry about with old fans, or even new ones, is that the bearing ends of the motor armature will get a "varnish" on them which will cause the blade to start turning slower n' slower until it finally quits turning. When that happens you have to take the motor apart and clean that varnish off the ends of the armature, re-oil it, re-assemble it and it should run just fine.

[syl]

I think you can get 'new' power cord that looks like 'old' power cord and a new plug that looks old as well.