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Anyone Collect Antique Fans?

Started by BDM, July 05, 2009, 03:05:28 PM

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foots

"Ain't Worryin' 'Bout Nothin"

BDM

Quote from: Brinybay on July 14, 2009, 03:28:17 AM
Quote from: BDM on July 05, 2009, 03:05:28 PM
I have a few nice old ones from the teens and 20s. I'd hate to even consider what this would cost. Given the fact it has "Western Electric" tacked on.

Now look what you've gone and done, sent me searching for fans!  Wadaya think of this one, should I grab it?  I could use a small fan in my bedroom:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/1262664866.html

Grab it. Clean it up real nice. If you do, don't start off by taking it completely apart. Go here first
http://afca.mywowbb.com/

Talk with the folks about what you have before proceeding. This way you can avoid mistakes. You'd be surprised at the things that could go wrong. Some of those motors are hard to get apart. They call them stamped steel motors... Read the archives and see what I mean. Most won't need taking apart anyhow, if your motor headwire is good. Just a good blow out cleaning.

BTW, looks like a Westinghouse "Power-Aire" model. Good fan.
http://www.fancollectors.org/gallnew.htm
--Brian--

St Clair Shores, MI

Dennis Markham

Like BDM said, taking them apart can mean trouble.  It's like anything you've never done before.  Sometimes you learn how things go together after it's too late.  I did take apart my GE fan and was able to reassemble but I learned a lot about how it works by doing so.  I actually have two and made one good one out of two.  I found that the grease inside the gearbox gets solid and slows them down.  My GE model needs some help to get started but once the grease loosens, or warms up it works great.  I'd need to consult that site and determine what is the best grease to use inside the box.  Anyone have an idea?

BDM

Quote from: Dennis Markham on July 14, 2009, 11:31:48 AM
Like BDM said, taking them apart can mean trouble.  It's like anything you've never done before.  Sometimes you learn how things go together after it's too late.  I did take apart my GE fan and was able to reassemble but I learned a lot about how it works by doing so.  I actually have two and made one good one out of two.  I found that the grease inside the gearbox gets solid and slows them down.  My GE model needs some help to get started but once the grease loosens, or warms up it works great.  I'd need to consult that site and determine what is the best grease to use inside the box.  Anyone have an idea?

Light weight synthetic axle grease is fine for the gear boxes. They do not need to be packed so to say. Just well greased. For oil, only use a non detergent 20 weight. Such as 3 in 1 in the blue bottle (not the red bottle). The older fans have bearing cup oilers with wicks in them. Only use the latter oil mentioned. The wicks should be replaced. NEVER use grease in these parts of the fan. They have oil return holes that easily plug.
--Brian--

St Clair Shores, MI

Dennis Markham


BDM

Dennis, make sure you clean out all that old waxy grease.
--Brian--

St Clair Shores, MI

mienaichizu

grab it! grab it! I'd like to own one too, my fan is too bulky for my office

Greg G.

Quote from: BDM on July 14, 2009, 08:25:08 AM
Grab it. Clean it up real nice. If you do, don't start off by taking it completely apart. Go here first
http://afca.mywowbb.com/

Talk with the folks about what you have before proceeding. This way you can avoid mistakes. You'd be surprised at the things that could go wrong. Some of those motors are hard to get apart. They call them stamped steel motors... Read the archives and see what I mean. Most won't need taking apart anyhow, if your motor headwire is good. Just a good blow out cleaning.

BTW, looks like a Westinghouse "Power-Aire" model. Good fan.
http://www.fancollectors.org/gallnew.htm

Not to worry, my handy-man skills are limited, so as long as it works, I'm not tempted to fix it.  Cleaning and polishing the exterior is as far as I care to go.
The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to worthwhile knowledge is insane.
- Mike Row
e

BDM

Quote from: Brinybay on July 15, 2009, 12:16:09 AM
Quote from: BDM on July 14, 2009, 08:25:08 AM
Grab it. Clean it up real nice. If you do, don't start off by taking it completely apart. Go here first
http://afca.mywowbb.com/

Talk with the folks about what you have before proceeding. This way you can avoid mistakes. You'd be surprised at the things that could go wrong. Some of those motors are hard to get apart. They call them stamped steel motors... Read the archives and see what I mean. Most won't need taking apart anyhow, if your motor headwire is good. Just a good blow out cleaning.

BTW, looks like a Westinghouse "Power-Aire" model. Good fan.
http://www.fancollectors.org/gallnew.htm

Not to worry, my handy-man skills are limited, so as long as it works, I'm not tempted to fix it.  Cleaning and polishing the exterior is as far as I care to go.

Most of the time, the main power cord will need replacing. 6 out of 10 times the head wire to the motor may need replacing. Also, proper oiling is a must! Or it will suffer a bearing failure in short oder.
--Brian--

St Clair Shores, MI

Greg G.

#24
Ok fan experts, vas ist das?  Vintage or junk?  The plug looks easy enough to fix:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/for/1316807200.html ( dead link 04-19-21 )
The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to worthwhile knowledge is insane.
- Mike Row
e

Phonesrfun

Das ist ein Fan.

Doesn't look all that old, but I know absolutely nothing about fans, except that this is the time of year to use them. 

The plug is a piece of cake to replace.
-Bill G

Bill Cahill


"My friends used to keep saying I had batts in my belfry. No. I'm just hearing bells....."

bwanna

still looks neat, for 10$ you can't buy a new fan.
off topic, but this seller uses another term i despise.... "shabby chic"  uggghhh
donna

bingster

I bet you wouldn't be able to live without it if the seller had put "LQQK!" in the title.
= DARRIN =



rp2813

Interesting that I just came across this thread.  I am currently in the process of soaking the wick assembly and cup for my GE Vortalux fan that I'm guessing is from +/- 1940.  I'm using 91% isopropyl alcohol.  A friend was over and advised me about the wick situation, and I had honestly never done anything with it.  As soon as I turned the fan on and it made some noise, this guy nodded his head and advised that the fan definitely needed oil. 

This same guy said I should only use turbine oil.  The alternative if I couldn't find it would be the non-detergent 3-in-1 in the blue and white can.  My trusty ACE Hardware had paraffin-based, non-detergent turbine oil so I got some of that and am ready to go once the wick assembly is cleaned up.  I've been advised on where to find new wicks on line and will probably buy some, although the old wick doesn't seem to be all that deteriorated.

I'm looking forward to enjoying the silence once the wick is back in place.  Currently the fan makes noise on the two lower speeds but runs fine on high speed.  It can really move some air.

Ralph
Ralph