I just got one of these fans. Do you know how to get the plastic motor cowling and the cage off? Mine has pretty bad paint, and I'd like to repaint it. I'd also like to try to fix the bad spacers in it.
@LNERMallard - I've not done that with this fan. From what I understand there are two screws towards the rear of the motor casing (back by the motor), you'll need a long screwdriver to get to them.
You might consider joining the DT Vintage Fan Forum, we just discussed one of these little fans.
I have one of these in my collection,I have several GEs this style but one is identical to this,these really are great fans,for being a throw away it is very well made and well engineered too,it's silent and blows a steady stream of air,not too powerful but not under powered which is good for a one speeder,excellent fan
Nice video and great fan. I have two or three of these. One has to be "helped" to get it going. I think the grease needs to be replaced as once it's warmed up it works fine. Can you recommend a type of grease for the gear box? Today I picked up a very nice four bladed 12 inch Vortalex---3 speed in excellent original condition. Just needs to be cleaned up. Is there a forum for fan collectors other than AFCA which requires a membership fee to join? Thank you.
@dgmarkham - For grease, I'd recommend a light duty general purpose type grease. I use LubriPlate General Purpose White Lithium Grease. I'd also recommend a little oil on each bearing, then put a dab of grease around it.
As to the forums, I'd recommend going to DT Vintage Fans. I'll send you the link since YouTube doesn't allow links here.
@crystalscan2002 - I haven't taken this one apart yet, it still runs well so I'm not going to risk breaking it. The other big pitfall on these is the "rubber grommet of doom" that holds the blade, if that gets ruined it's Game Over Man (said like Bill Paxton in "Aliens".)
Very nice fan! It will make a great addition to your office. I have a restored mint 1956 G.E. model W-4 20inch box-window fan. Its a 3speed electrically reversible model with push buttons and round thermostat dial on the side. When summer comes I put it in the window and people have actually stopped to ask me if I would be willing to sell it. I tell em No Thanks. Good Luck with yours.
Update - I'm now using this fan in my cubicle. It works great there, very powerful and quiet. I'll mainly run this during extreme heat periods (when the A/C here can't keep up). I've gotten a lot of positive comments on it from my colleagues, especially the older ones who remember when fans like this were new.
still has that "Vintage Flair" for you! i got thinking the other day. i remeber seeing on ebay a few times an 8" version of my early 1940's ge queit fan on ebay. just the 8" model i dont belive ever had an oscillator. that would be a great desk fan for someone. maybe thats what ill use someday!
i use a special wrench from my dad's vintage cox baja bug gas powerd car. it is made of steel and looks like a dull ended two prong fork. stickit behind the blades one fork on echside of the shaft and pry. pop it's off undamaged. it's almost as if this tool was made for this. i love these ge fans they are still cheap esy to find reliable quiet and efficiant. not to mention stylish. just dont blow your office away these ge's tend to be a tad powerful you will lose anything not nailed down .
Yep, a tool like that would work well for that. The idea is to place the leverage where it'll do the most good. Most people tend to pull on the blades, which stresses the rubber part (as well as bending the stamped blade).
This fan is, as you noted, very efficient. I checked it on the Kill-A-Watt and it only draws 35 watts. As to the power, I plan to run the fan so that it blows the air over and near my head so as not to mess up my desk.
they sure are great although the john m witt collectors guide to electric fans does not think a whole lot of them. i dont know why there great little fans. i got to get me one of those kill a watt meters the unit i have is a sencore power meter. it is a vintage unit it self something like heathkit i guess. it's not very accurite. it tells me my ge uses 50 watts. but i know my meter is not accurite. it says my 6" ge's use 30. hah try more like 15-20 watts if that much.
Witt's guide looks at it from the collectors standpoint. The thing is, I prefer to have vintage fans like this one to use. These fans are great daily runners. Plus, I just like the jet-engine styling.
Defintely get a Kill-A-Watt, they're very handy and easy to use. Mine cost $20, got it off eBay.
my meter my not work great but it does tell me how inefficient shaded pole motors are. i have a 7in holmes oscillating fan. it uses 45 watts exactly if you use the formula amps times volts. my 6" fans from about 1924 use universal motors. very very efficiant fans. i wish i could find a modern fan i liced as much as my 6" ge's there great you should invest in them. i need two more to complete the set. an ivory model h and g and i will have the set. funny thing the ge 6" h,g,f are identical.
I just got one of these fans. Do you know how to get the plastic motor cowling and the cage off? Mine has pretty bad paint, and I'd like to repaint it. I'd also like to try to fix the bad spacers in it.
LNERMallard 9 months ago
@LNERMallard - I've not done that with this fan. From what I understand there are two screws towards the rear of the motor casing (back by the motor), you'll need a long screwdriver to get to them.
You might consider joining the DT Vintage Fan Forum, we just discussed one of these little fans.
dburrigh 9 months ago
I have one of these in my collection,I have several GEs this style but one is identical to this,these really are great fans,for being a throw away it is very well made and well engineered too,it's silent and blows a steady stream of air,not too powerful but not under powered which is good for a one speeder,excellent fan
eh4891 1 year ago
I'm a fan of fans.......they don't make em like that any longer. Average life of a plastic fan is about 3 seasons.
SolarTrail 1 year ago
Nice video and great fan. I have two or three of these. One has to be "helped" to get it going. I think the grease needs to be replaced as once it's warmed up it works fine. Can you recommend a type of grease for the gear box? Today I picked up a very nice four bladed 12 inch Vortalex---3 speed in excellent original condition. Just needs to be cleaned up. Is there a forum for fan collectors other than AFCA which requires a membership fee to join? Thank you.
dgmarkham 1 year ago
@dgmarkham - For grease, I'd recommend a light duty general purpose type grease. I use LubriPlate General Purpose White Lithium Grease. I'd also recommend a little oil on each bearing, then put a dab of grease around it.
As to the forums, I'd recommend going to DT Vintage Fans. I'll send you the link since YouTube doesn't allow links here.
dburrigh 1 year ago
Nice! That one looks to be a bit newer than my GE. As for taking it apart, I ain't gonna try it.
eskiewolf76 1 year ago
i use to have one of those :( util i was cleaning the motor and fucked up couple of wires :D
crystalscan2002 1 year ago
@crystalscan2002 - I haven't taken this one apart yet, it still runs well so I'm not going to risk breaking it. The other big pitfall on these is the "rubber grommet of doom" that holds the blade, if that gets ruined it's Game Over Man (said like Bill Paxton in "Aliens".)
dburrigh 1 year ago
@dburrigh glue :D fixes the rubber thingy :D
crystalscan2002 1 year ago
Careful if you're gina put your fan in your office-everyone will be jealous and might try to steal it.
Tabby266 2 years ago 2
@Tabby266 - It's been there for two years, still in my cube. I did let a friend borrow it during a company breakfast.
dburrigh 2 years ago
Will you put the Sears-Kenmore fan in there like you said?
Tabby266 2 years ago
Very nice fan! It will make a great addition to your office. I have a restored mint 1956 G.E. model W-4 20inch box-window fan. Its a 3speed electrically reversible model with push buttons and round thermostat dial on the side. When summer comes I put it in the window and people have actually stopped to ask me if I would be willing to sell it. I tell em No Thanks. Good Luck with yours.
myboylollipop09 2 years ago
lovely video !
BeedieMobility 2 years ago
Great fan. Sure beats some of the cheapo stuff made today. Thanks for sharing.
maxischannel 2 years ago
These fans are really quiet. I use mine while I sleep. I love the color!
Dafanmon2500 3 years ago 13
Nice fan! Looks new too!
burtoncharlessmith 3 years ago 10
I have that same fan sitting by me in my computer room running right now, how cool! I love mine it is really quiet.
brad135642 3 years ago 23
Update - I'm now using this fan in my cubicle. It works great there, very powerful and quiet. I'll mainly run this during extreme heat periods (when the A/C here can't keep up). I've gotten a lot of positive comments on it from my colleagues, especially the older ones who remember when fans like this were new.
dburrigh 3 years ago
so how about another update? has it been reliable and quiet for you?
1944johndeerel 3 years ago 17
Yep, it's been cooler recently though so I haven't used it much. We did get a few hot days last week though and the fan worked great.
dburrigh 3 years ago
still has that "Vintage Flair" for you! i got thinking the other day. i remeber seeing on ebay a few times an 8" version of my early 1940's ge queit fan on ebay. just the 8" model i dont belive ever had an oscillator. that would be a great desk fan for someone. maybe thats what ill use someday!
1944johndeerel 3 years ago 14
Update - Using the fan today with the Santa Ana condition, warm and dry weather.
dburrigh 3 years ago
your not near the fires are you?
1944johndeerel 3 years ago 8
Not this group. The fires are to the north and south of me.
dburrigh 3 years ago
those fires sure are scary i feel for the people in there path.
1944johndeerel 3 years ago 7
wow, that looks just like mines. thanx for da response! i might just cheat my way of lubing and cleaning mines.
vinylman86 3 years ago 20
Try putting a few drops of oil right into the shaft, where it goes into the gearbox. I actually did that with mine, just to give it a little TLC.
dburrigh 3 years ago
I've seen the video of the fan you restored, it looks really good.
dburrigh 3 years ago
i use a special wrench from my dad's vintage cox baja bug gas powerd car. it is made of steel and looks like a dull ended two prong fork. stickit behind the blades one fork on echside of the shaft and pry. pop it's off undamaged. it's almost as if this tool was made for this. i love these ge fans they are still cheap esy to find reliable quiet and efficiant. not to mention stylish. just dont blow your office away these ge's tend to be a tad powerful you will lose anything not nailed down .
1944johndeerel 3 years ago 18
Yep, a tool like that would work well for that. The idea is to place the leverage where it'll do the most good. Most people tend to pull on the blades, which stresses the rubber part (as well as bending the stamped blade).
This fan is, as you noted, very efficient. I checked it on the Kill-A-Watt and it only draws 35 watts. As to the power, I plan to run the fan so that it blows the air over and near my head so as not to mess up my desk.
dburrigh 3 years ago
they sure are great although the john m witt collectors guide to electric fans does not think a whole lot of them. i dont know why there great little fans. i got to get me one of those kill a watt meters the unit i have is a sencore power meter. it is a vintage unit it self something like heathkit i guess. it's not very accurite. it tells me my ge uses 50 watts. but i know my meter is not accurite. it says my 6" ge's use 30. hah try more like 15-20 watts if that much.
1944johndeerel 3 years ago 19
Witt's guide looks at it from the collectors standpoint. The thing is, I prefer to have vintage fans like this one to use. These fans are great daily runners. Plus, I just like the jet-engine styling.
Defintely get a Kill-A-Watt, they're very handy and easy to use. Mine cost $20, got it off eBay.
dburrigh 3 years ago
my meter my not work great but it does tell me how inefficient shaded pole motors are. i have a 7in holmes oscillating fan. it uses 45 watts exactly if you use the formula amps times volts. my 6" fans from about 1924 use universal motors. very very efficiant fans. i wish i could find a modern fan i liced as much as my 6" ge's there great you should invest in them. i need two more to complete the set. an ivory model h and g and i will have the set. funny thing the ge 6" h,g,f are identical.
1944johndeerel 3 years ago 19
nice ive never seen a green one with a red badge
mylesgifford123 3 years ago 9
These are kinda rare, especially the ones with the white guard. I remember seeing these when I was a little kid, so I was after a red badge model.
dburrigh 3 years ago
i was looking at that on ebay like what happend to the badge so whay is the year diffrence between yours and mine
mylesgifford123 3 years ago 14