I found a similar fastco box fan in the same color, It was a three speed on a tall wheeled stand and it worked when i got it, but the wiring was falling apart. I rewired it but I guess the rewiring was unsuccessful, it ended up shorted inside the case... Bummer
Hello, just started watching your vids and came across your fan vid. I have a westinghouse fan almost identical to yours with the exception that mine has brass blades. Yours has bakelite blades and is pretty rare. I don't know if the value for bakelite is more than brass or even steel blades, but, someone with more info could tell you. My fan blades are identical and I know of one mention of bakelite blades on a westy fan so it's right. There are plenty of box fan and old fan vids on Youtube
I remember our family had a Marvin fan similar to the one you showed in this video. Ours was gray in color and it was a screen type that could be adjusted for the window it was placed in. Worked for many years, my father oiled it on regular basis. No idea what happened to it, but I often had it in my window as a kid to keep me cool. The sound would put me right to sleep, too.
I wish I could find one similar to that Westinghouse fan you have for use around here.
@ngtflyer I wouldn't be surprised if it was still around somewhere. Keeping these green ones up has been a bit of a battle. It would have helped if the previous owner had taken any care of them at all.
Old table fans aren't that uncommon, but you might have to rewire any examples that you find.
@uxwbill Good to see somebody else who collects old fans. I don't have that many due to a lack of space, but I remember when I was a kid we had one like the McGraw Eskimo box fan you were showing. My dad let me take it to school because back in the late '60s, early '70s classrooms weren't air conditioned yet and it gets mighty hot along the TX/LA Gulf Coast....LOL. But it was a good old fan and lasted a lot of years. I wish I knew where it was now. Probably in my mom's attic somewhere.
@pinoyALLmotorEVOIXMR Maybe. However, some microwave fans will have exposed electrically live parts that you won't want to touch if you do attempt to use it. Most are shaded pole motors and will run directly from the AC line. Just be sure you have it mounted or secured in some way other than holding it, so you don't get a BIG surprise.
@uxwbill yeah it's open. I mean I see wires exposed. I'll definitely nail it down on a wooden board. I'm just going to experiment on it. I love experimenting with fans and fan motors. It's amazing how fans work and it's fascinating that's why =P
The black table fan's blades are made of a material called Bakelite. This material was popular on table fans from the late 30's until the early 50's due to the shortage of metal during WW2
Looks to me like you're hooked! I too, have several boxfans now and it is great to rescue them and put them back into service! Your yellow Lakewood/Dayton looks just like my Lakewood/JC Penny 9705, same color same "wood-grain" backing around the control knob. I love the "thrum" of the big 20" metal bladed boxers.
didn't know people were into fans but then again like you. I some how ended up with 3 reel to reel tape recorders I didnt want to become a collecter and if I hadn't kept hold of myself I could have had more by now.
Once you have one, it seems that others are (magnetically?) attracted to it. As they used to selling when selling potato chips--you can't have just one!
Well I got a few more McGraw edison fans, one I got at a flea market for 5$, and a Maning Bowman metal bladed fan, same as the Eskimo series in the trash, the only thing it needed was maintenence and a new power cord I ripped of a cheap box fan that quit, runs perfectly.
Thats some nice fans. It always good to see things from the trash being saved and put back into use. I myself have picked some up off the curb on some of my garbage runs. Once I found this big 50's 16" Diehl table fan which will be restored soon. BTW The blades on that Westinghouse are made of a material called Micarta.
My Favourite fan is that little westinghouse table fan, my vintage frost fan has a similar looking motor housing except it seems to have a slightly larger motor, although i did quite like that little marvin window fan
what lovely fans, if you keep the motors lubed and cleaned, they should last you another 50/60 years, i just found a vintage table fan with a missing power cord :-)
I've just recently stumbled across your channel and i have to say, you can make pretty much ANYTHING interesting. great video. I look forward to a new one, no matter what the subject is.
How do you clean fan motors in a box fan? I have to get mine out soon, and I usually clean them, but not the motor since I don't want to get it wet. I wipe the blades with a cloth and spray the grilles with a hose.
I would recommend compressed air from a clean source, such as a well maintained or filtered air compressor. Moderate pressure will shake loose dust bunnies pretty well.
Most of the motors may be taken apart with care, and you could use a stiff brush (such as a small paint brush) to clean things up.
Just be aware that some motors are more fragile than others. Some will take about anything, others may have fragile fine magnet wire in place that will break if disturbed.
Nice finds uxwbill you might be able to get those box fans restored . That Dayton fan made by lakewood you could probably get new blades and grills for it of a Lakewood parts fan thats similar.
If I ever got ahold of something like a bead or media blaster to clean their cases and get the rust off, I'd have a shot at repainting one or two of them.
For now, though, I'll settle for keeping them in good running condition and worry about looks later.
The little black one is enamaled and if it's in fair shape try degreasing it then waxing it with paste wax - if you take the 80 yr old enamel off to make it look good you kill the antique value of the unit. We have an 1898 Singer treadle machine I I cleaned with dishsoap and waxed and it looks like it's 1898 again. One bobbin plate had to be recoated with nickel plate but that's it. Runs great too especially back when our power was out for 10 days due to the ice storm in late Jan.
Fan is likely 1930's and bakelite was the plastic around at that time, same as outlets and switches of the period. My 1950's Lionel steam locomotive body was bakelite as well.
Seems like they made everything out of Bakelite then! Given that it seems to be stable (unlike some other early plastics) and reasonably durable, I'm surprised it doesn't seem to be used any more.
(Although I had heard that formaldehyde (sp?) was used in making it, so perhaps that is why it doesn't show up much any more.)
Bakelite is still used, mostly for insulation items like receptacles, switches, standoffs, etc although common household outlets and switches use different thermoplastics now. I believe it was the first real "plastic" and dates to 1909 I'm pretty sure. They also make retro items from it like new versions of classic radios, jewelry, etc. It's got wood flour, formaldehyde and some other organics in it but it's safe (ot sure of the wastes though). Old shift knobs and handles were made of it too.
Growing up, we had a Zero brand box fan which looked similar to your Eskimo fan. It was reversable with 3 speeds in each direction. Bought sometime in the late 60's. We used it to cool the upstairs of our house, and usually ran it on exaust to pull the air thru. Lots of service thru the 70's into the early 80's when it finally gave out.
If they were added, then the previous owner sure did a good job of doing it.
There are "holes" in the back side of each blade where they attach to the hub that is then attached to the motor. If weights didn't really belong there, it would have been impossible to tell--as they looked absolutely like they did.
didnt think there were videos about fans! now youll stay cool for sure if it ever gets hot. just keep the blades dust free. they tend to not blow as far as they should when they get dusty, but you probably already knew that.
Yor Westinghouses fan blades are made out of Bakelite fan circa 1930 to 1937
MrVintageFan 2 months ago
How dare you ask is it a good idea to microwave all those fans ?
MrVintageFan 2 months ago
ESKMOS FAN
UmbrellaCorp23 6 months ago
is it a good idea to microw wave all thos fans?
UmbrellaCorp23 6 months ago
Your Westinghouse fan's blades are made out of micarta, a material similar to fiberglass and plastic, and it looks like a 1925-1935 model.
LNERMallard 10 months ago
I found a similar fastco box fan in the same color, It was a three speed on a tall wheeled stand and it worked when i got it, but the wiring was falling apart. I rewired it but I guess the rewiring was unsuccessful, it ended up shorted inside the case... Bummer
queenofyeay 11 months ago
Hello, just started watching your vids and came across your fan vid. I have a westinghouse fan almost identical to yours with the exception that mine has brass blades. Yours has bakelite blades and is pretty rare. I don't know if the value for bakelite is more than brass or even steel blades, but, someone with more info could tell you. My fan blades are identical and I know of one mention of bakelite blades on a westy fan so it's right. There are plenty of box fan and old fan vids on Youtube
queenofyeay 11 months ago
I remember our family had a Marvin fan similar to the one you showed in this video. Ours was gray in color and it was a screen type that could be adjusted for the window it was placed in. Worked for many years, my father oiled it on regular basis. No idea what happened to it, but I often had it in my window as a kid to keep me cool. The sound would put me right to sleep, too.
I wish I could find one similar to that Westinghouse fan you have for use around here.
ngtflyer 1 year ago
@ngtflyer I wouldn't be surprised if it was still around somewhere. Keeping these green ones up has been a bit of a battle. It would have helped if the previous owner had taken any care of them at all.
Old table fans aren't that uncommon, but you might have to rewire any examples that you find.
uxwbill 1 year ago
@uxwbill Good to see somebody else who collects old fans. I don't have that many due to a lack of space, but I remember when I was a kid we had one like the McGraw Eskimo box fan you were showing. My dad let me take it to school because back in the late '60s, early '70s classrooms weren't air conditioned yet and it gets mighty hot along the TX/LA Gulf Coast....LOL. But it was a good old fan and lasted a lot of years. I wish I knew where it was now. Probably in my mom's attic somewhere.
ridgerunner721601 8 months ago
so I can just plug an ordinary fan motor to an outlet and it's ok? I took it apart from a microwave
pinoyALLmotorEVOIXMR 1 year ago
@pinoyALLmotorEVOIXMR Maybe. However, some microwave fans will have exposed electrically live parts that you won't want to touch if you do attempt to use it. Most are shaded pole motors and will run directly from the AC line. Just be sure you have it mounted or secured in some way other than holding it, so you don't get a BIG surprise.
uxwbill 1 year ago
@uxwbill yeah it's open. I mean I see wires exposed. I'll definitely nail it down on a wooden board. I'm just going to experiment on it. I love experimenting with fans and fan motors. It's amazing how fans work and it's fascinating that's why =P
pinoyALLmotorEVOIXMR 1 year ago
The black table fan's blades are made of a material called Bakelite. This material was popular on table fans from the late 30's until the early 50's due to the shortage of metal during WW2
Organplayer30 2 years ago
Looks to me like you're hooked! I too, have several boxfans now and it is great to rescue them and put them back into service! Your yellow Lakewood/Dayton looks just like my Lakewood/JC Penny 9705, same color same "wood-grain" backing around the control knob. I love the "thrum" of the big 20" metal bladed boxers.
NathanH5 2 years ago
@NathanH5 .
yepp, wev got another collector
djfjgfhgh 2 years ago
didn't know people were into fans but then again like you. I some how ended up with 3 reel to reel tape recorders I didnt want to become a collecter and if I hadn't kept hold of myself I could have had more by now.
RadioInStereo 2 years ago
if i ever find a awesome vintage fan ill totally tell u and send it ur wayy
potanda 2 years ago
weird hobbie i likee it :D
potanda 2 years ago
Once you have one, it seems that others are (magnetically?) attracted to it. As they used to selling when selling potato chips--you can't have just one!
uxwbill 2 years ago
i have one at work they i buy for 4.99
bengtson21 2 years ago
The westinghouses blades are made out of a material called mycarda, it was invented by westinghouse to cut costs during the crash in the 1930's
MrMoterKid 2 years ago
Well I got a few more McGraw edison fans, one I got at a flea market for 5$, and a Maning Bowman metal bladed fan, same as the Eskimo series in the trash, the only thing it needed was maintenence and a new power cord I ripped of a cheap box fan that quit, runs perfectly.
MSNIMSM 2 years ago
Thats some nice fans. It always good to see things from the trash being saved and put back into use. I myself have picked some up off the curb on some of my garbage runs. Once I found this big 50's 16" Diehl table fan which will be restored soon. BTW The blades on that Westinghouse are made of a material called Micarta.
RyanTheHermVixen 2 years ago
That may be Bakelite and not plastic.
aybesee123 2 years ago
My Favourite fan is that little westinghouse table fan, my vintage frost fan has a similar looking motor housing except it seems to have a slightly larger motor, although i did quite like that little marvin window fan
MrMoterKid 2 years ago
what lovely fans, if you keep the motors lubed and cleaned, they should last you another 50/60 years, i just found a vintage table fan with a missing power cord :-)
MrMoterKid 2 years ago
You are absolutely right. And it's so hard to find good fans today.
uxwbill 2 years ago
The only reasonable ones left are the retro ones, but they are very pricey
MrMoterKid 2 years ago
Those are good fans you found their. =)
I got one of those Eskimos, they are monsters, got mine for free at an Estate sale.
I got a Lakewood branded as Pencrest 100 through I am guessing Target or JCpenny. It is an even bigger monster than the Eskimo.
MSNIMSM 2 years ago
I love 'em. Penncrest was JC Penney's store brand. I've seen it on window air conditioners as well.
uxwbill 2 years ago
Cool! I love my vintage fans too. They are tanks, it's sad to see what the companies are churning out today.
MSNIMSM 2 years ago
I recently had to curbside drop my thirty year old mint green Torcan- the motor finally gave up the ghost
mythumps 2 years ago
I've just recently stumbled across your channel and i have to say, you can make pretty much ANYTHING interesting. great video. I look forward to a new one, no matter what the subject is.
MCRmechanic 2 years ago
Hey, thanks for watching. I enjoy reading all the comments I receive and do my best to respond to anyone who's got a question or something like that.
uxwbill 2 years ago
Very nice fans!
Definitely built to last.
spatsbear2 2 years ago
How do you clean fan motors in a box fan? I have to get mine out soon, and I usually clean them, but not the motor since I don't want to get it wet. I wipe the blades with a cloth and spray the grilles with a hose.
pcdoctor2 2 years ago
I would recommend compressed air from a clean source, such as a well maintained or filtered air compressor. Moderate pressure will shake loose dust bunnies pretty well.
Most of the motors may be taken apart with care, and you could use a stiff brush (such as a small paint brush) to clean things up.
Just be aware that some motors are more fragile than others. Some will take about anything, others may have fragile fine magnet wire in place that will break if disturbed.
uxwbill 2 years ago
I forgot about micarta, made by the same inventor as bakelite but has fabric inside plastic to reinforce it
rhblakeman 2 years ago
Nice fans! Keep 'em oiled and they'll run forever. That Westinghouse fan has blades made out of Micarta, it's likely from the 1930's.
I'm the same way in that I like equipment that runs good and is mechanically sound.
dburrigh 2 years ago
Nice finds uxwbill you might be able to get those box fans restored . That Dayton fan made by lakewood you could probably get new blades and grills for it of a Lakewood parts fan thats similar.
TheCoolmaster100 2 years ago
If I ever got ahold of something like a bead or media blaster to clean their cases and get the rust off, I'd have a shot at repainting one or two of them.
For now, though, I'll settle for keeping them in good running condition and worry about looks later.
uxwbill 2 years ago
The little black one is enamaled and if it's in fair shape try degreasing it then waxing it with paste wax - if you take the 80 yr old enamel off to make it look good you kill the antique value of the unit. We have an 1898 Singer treadle machine I I cleaned with dishsoap and waxed and it looks like it's 1898 again. One bobbin plate had to be recoated with nickel plate but that's it. Runs great too especially back when our power was out for 10 days due to the ice storm in late Jan.
rhblakeman 2 years ago
man I need one in my garage !
uscar17 2 years ago
I saw an antique fan at an antique store that had blades like the one you mentioned. They felt like some kind of brittle plastic.
tghbenz99 2 years ago
vould the blades in that fan be bakelite?
popmomcorn 2 years ago
Fan is likely 1930's and bakelite was the plastic around at that time, same as outlets and switches of the period. My 1950's Lionel steam locomotive body was bakelite as well.
rhblakeman 2 years ago
I would say it's probably Bakelite as well. Sort of the plastic before the modern plastic we have today.
alienc3 2 years ago
Seems like they made everything out of Bakelite then! Given that it seems to be stable (unlike some other early plastics) and reasonably durable, I'm surprised it doesn't seem to be used any more.
(Although I had heard that formaldehyde (sp?) was used in making it, so perhaps that is why it doesn't show up much any more.)
uxwbill 2 years ago
Bakelite is still used, mostly for insulation items like receptacles, switches, standoffs, etc although common household outlets and switches use different thermoplastics now. I believe it was the first real "plastic" and dates to 1909 I'm pretty sure. They also make retro items from it like new versions of classic radios, jewelry, etc. It's got wood flour, formaldehyde and some other organics in it but it's safe (ot sure of the wastes though). Old shift knobs and handles were made of it too.
rhblakeman 2 years ago
3:59 I have the dual fan version of that fan, its neat, the switch has 3 positions, 1 fan, both fans, and off. Very reliable little fan.
moldymac 2 years ago
We got a bunch of old fans laying around. The older ones seem to last longer than the new ones.
Righty736 2 years ago
Growing up, we had a Zero brand box fan which looked similar to your Eskimo fan. It was reversable with 3 speeds in each direction. Bought sometime in the late 60's. We used it to cool the upstairs of our house, and usually ran it on exaust to pull the air thru. Lots of service thru the 70's into the early 80's when it finally gave out.
JeffN727 2 years ago
Comment removed
JeffN727 2 years ago
hey bill for that fan at 5:50 use golf club stick on weights. They work perfectly. Just put some on the back until its all balanced
902120 2 years ago
nice fans the blades on your westinghouse are made of micarta a material used on alot of westinghouse fans since the mid 20's
mylesgifford123 2 years ago
Thanks for the information--I'd never heard of micarta before. I did some research on it, and the composition is interesting.
uxwbill 2 years ago
bill that fan didnt come with weights i own that exact model the old owner added them to it.
the orginal blade set did not have any place for weights on it
itscool1968 2 years ago
If they were added, then the previous owner sure did a good job of doing it.
There are "holes" in the back side of each blade where they attach to the hub that is then attached to the motor. If weights didn't really belong there, it would have been impossible to tell--as they looked absolutely like they did.
uxwbill 2 years ago
it is made by lake wood for dayton.
its the dayton p25
itscool1968 2 years ago
didnt think there were videos about fans! now youll stay cool for sure if it ever gets hot. just keep the blades dust free. they tend to not blow as far as they should when they get dusty, but you probably already knew that.
Ronsky89 2 years ago
i got the same one at 2.40. Puts out way more air than my Lasko
RocketFast321 2 years ago
Holy crap, my grandfather had a box fan just like the first one He kept it in his barn.I never realized it was that old.
mgospeed31 2 years ago