Electric Fan Manufacturers
If you see a fan with a patent date of 1904, it probably means the maker was using a ball-type swivel joint. This type of fan could be tipped to become a bracket fan for wall mounting.
Often, these fans are referred to as radiator fans because they mount directly on the radiator. They are designed to move air through the cooling system efficiently.
Origins
The very first electric fans were nothing more than blades attached to a motor. The earliest of these fans were either simple or quite elaborate, often featuring filigree type fan cages. During the c.1903 period for example, Peerless offered both ornate and plain cage models that were very elegant. Peerless also made some of the earliest front oscillating fans.
Probably the most famous of these early electric fans was invented by the Greman-American, Philip Diehl. He is credited with mounting fan blades on an existing sewing machine motor to create the very first ceiling fan. He would continue to make improvements on his design.
In the United States, several companies started making electric fans in the late 1800s. These included the F.A. Smith Manufacturing Company of Rochester, New York which was founded in 1911 and later went by the name of FASCO. They made a wide range of fans from 8 to 16 inch sizes including stationary and oscillating models.
Another American maker was the Made-rite Electric Manufacturing Company in Mansfield, Ohio who produced a variety of electric fans from the 1930s thru the late 1950s. The most notable of these was their Type 150 model which was a very graceful, ornate clamshell type fan. The company also produced a more compact but less elegant, type 164 fan.
Types
An electric fan is a small motor that has blades that spin when the motor is turned on. It also has a cage or housing that helps to protect people from getting hit by the blades. The fan is powered by a motor that uses copper wire coils to produce movement in the blades. The motor is usually powered by an alternating current, which means that it has two speeds. The speed of the fan can be adjusted by using a switch.
Some fans have a base that can be swiveled to become a bracket fan for wall mounting. This allows electric fan manufacturer the fan to be used in places that would not have access to a power outlet, such as trains, ships, and businesses. These types of fans can also be used to improve ventilation in these areas.
During the early 1900s, fans had heavy cast iron or steel bases. The motors were prone to rust and had a tendency to lose alignment. To overcome this problem, Emerson redesigned the fan motors with a single-bearing design. This allowed the rotor to be centered more easily and prevented the fan from falling out of alignment.
GE also introduced several short-lived gear driven oscillating fans. These included the round back oscillator in both continuous and adjustable sweep models and electric fan factory the collar oscillator, which is referred to by collectors as a “star” oscillator.
Applications
A fan is a mechanical device that moves air to cool, ventilate, or blow debris away. A fan can be powered by electricity, gas, or other sources of motive power, such as steam. Historically, fans have been used for climate control and personal thermal comfort. They also have many industrial applications, such as vehicle engine cooling systems and machinery cooling. In addition, they can be used for ventilation, fume extraction, winnowing (separating chaff of grain), drying, and providing draft for fires.
The basic electric fan consists of an electrical motor, fan blades, and cage or housing that hold the blades in place and prevent people from accidentally contacting the spinning blades. The electric motor turns the current flowing through copper wire coils into mechanical energy/motion that causes the fan to turn and force the air to move. This mechanism is similar to that found in car engines, water motors, and some trains.
Today, electric fans come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from large tower fans to sleek designs that look more like sculptures than household appliances. Some are even powered by solar panels, which provide a clean and sustainable alternative to mains electricity. These solar-powered fans are a good choice for homes, because they use a renewable energy source that does not produce any carbon emissions.
Manufacturers
The first electric fans were essentially small motors with blades attached. They were powered by direct current and had all of their components exposed, making them bulky and potentially dangerous. Advances in motor technology led to the development of more reliable alternating current models that were much smaller and safer. As a result, these fans became a popular addition to household electrical systems.
In the early 1900s many companies began producing electric fans. Some of these companies were quite successful while others were short lived. When air conditioning came on the scene, however, most of these fan makers disappeared. Those that survived became known for their high quality and innovative designs.
While the majority of fans produced in this era were black, GE was one maker that offered fans with a deep green body. This color choice set them apart from other manufacturers and was considered fashionable at the time.
Several of these fans also had a swivel base. This allowed the fan to tilt and become a bracket fan for wall mounting. These swivel bases are a hallmark of the era and add to their collectability.
GE introduced their own line of oscillating fans in 1912-13. These were based on an earlier patent by Eck. Eck’s design used a split ball joint to enable the fan to swivel. This was a much more reliable mechanism than the swivel joints of earlier fans.
