Vintage Electric Fans

I haven't intended to become a vintage electric fan collector. Yet somehow it happened, because I let them follow me home. Featured in this video are fans from Fasco, Westinghouse, McGraw-Edison/Bersted (later Toastmaster), Dayton/Lakewood, W.B. Marvin and another from McGraw-Edison/Bersted.

All of these fans are functional and used on a frequent basis. They don't look showroom perfect, but then again they don't have to.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• vintage
• electric
• fans
• box
• fan
• Fasco
• Westinghouse
• McGraw-Edison
• Bersted
• Dayton
• W.B.
• Marvin
• run
• fix
• use

[ngtflyer]

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.

[uxwbill]

@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.

[pinoyALLmotorEVOIXMR]

so I can just plug an ordinary fan motor to an outlet and it's ok? I took it apart from a microwave

[uxwbill]

@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.

[potanda]

weird hobbie i likee it :D

[uxwbill]

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!

[MrVintageFan]

Yor Westinghouses fan blades are made out of Bakelite fan circa 1930 to 1937

[MrVintageFan]

How dare you ask is it a good idea to microwave all those fans ?

[UmbrellaCorp23]

ESKMOS FAN

[UmbrellaCorp23]

is it a good idea to microw wave all thos fans?

[ridgerunner721601]

@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.

[LNERMallard]

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.

[queenofyeay]

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]

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