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Fans areone of the unsung electric innovations of all time. They cool computers, lasers,lighting, all motorized vehicles, including electric. Modern homes andbuildings would be uninhabitable without HVAC systems. First developed in 1886,the electric fan was patterned after water or steam turbines. Add an electricmotor and a base and you were in business, especially on a hot summerafternoon. Oh, and a cage around the blades would be nice, to protect fingers.
From aninauspicious start, electric fans became important appliances in home, office,factory, and farm. The major players in the early 20th century wereGeneral Electric and Westinghouse, but AT&T\'s Western Electric subsidiarygot into the market as well. Founded in 1869, Western Electric was better knownfor its telephones, telephone components and devices, vacuum tubes, andnumerous other electrical products. It tried mightily to monopolize its marketand did so with telephones. AT&T would not allow other manufacturer’sproducts to be used in their networks and charged rent rather than sellingproducts like telephones. When you moved from one house to another, the phonestayed and was picked up by a Bell Telephone employee. Not yours.
That wasnot the case with fans. We think this model dates around the 1910s, when thecompany adopted a new italics logo. The four fan blades cut the air in an awkward way and made alot more noise compared to modern models. Overlapping blades, which were introducedin the latter 1920s and are used in modern fans, quieted the noise and greatly increased performance withoutincreasing energy consumption. That puts this fan sometime between 1914 and1929. Its motor is alternating current and 60 hertz cycle, standard NorthAmerican power specs. It is all black and comes with a cord and plug that arestill in good condition. The cage is 9 inches in diameter and 1.5 inches wide.The fan stands 11 inches tall and 5.75 inches wide (22 x 28 x 15 cm). It isheavy, weighing in at 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg). As shown in the photographs, there isa scratch-like mark on one side of the motor, but it is otherwise in excellent shapewith a nice patina on the motor, base, and blades.
The bottom felt pad has acouple of discolorations and scratches but is in very good condition as well. Amust for fan and AT&T and Western Electric collectors. Not many of thesearound in this kind of condition. Would make an interesting fashion statement in a vintage officesetting, as a desk accessory for a recreated country, general, or drugstore, oras a piece of beaux art or early art deco decor. Check out our other advertising collectibles at www..com/str/agitpropshoppe
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