A Hi Brief History of Fans "A Residential Approach!."

A Hi Brief History of Fans "A Residential Approach!."

The earliest electric fans appeared in the early 1880’s. The fan was basically a blade attached to an electric motor. The development of the fields of Electrical Engineering and Aeronautical Engineering paralleled each other in the industry of electric fans.

The early electric motors were bipolar. They were direct current, with all exposed workings. The early blades were adapted from the windmill, with usually six pie shaped flat leafs of brass. Speed control was attained using resistance. In almost all cases resistance wire was used, and in a few cases, the light bulb was used a resistance. These early fans were either a novelty, or an expensive appliance, used in large offices or wealthy homes.

After Tesla’s work on Alternating Current motors, most makers moved toward that standard. In the early 1890’s, motors were becoming enclosed. Fan cages appeared. The cage was not there to protect the user, as much as to protect the expensive fan and blade from damage. The blade designs remained six wings. The Alternating Current motor was controlled using induction, rather than resistance.

Around 1900, blade designs began to change, along with increased competition. The earliest oscillating fans began to appear. First they were wind driven, and by 1904 the first mechanical oscillating fan appeared. By 1906, all electric motor theory was done. The only improvement on motor design would come in the 1930’s. The biggest improvement in motors was improved insulation for copper wires used to wind motors. Until the early 1890’s, these wires were wrapped with silk, and later cotton covered wire as insulation. An enamel insulation improved, smaller wires could be used, and thus smaller motors made.

By 1910, most fan makers were using rounded edge blades, if not designs they had patented themselves. All major manufacturers were making some form or wind driven, or mechanical oscillator. Motors were all enclosed by now as well as smaller in size.

The decade of 1910-1920 brought major changes. Around 1910, electric fans were being made for residential use. These “Residential Fans” were made for the bedroom. They had six wings, and ran at a slower speed for quietness. Fans were still a major appliance. By 1912, makers were able to “spin” brass housings on small fans. Shortly afterward, they could “spin” or stamp steel for motors as well as bases. As World War 1 neared, there were brass shortages, due to the need for brass in ammunition. By the end of this decade, brass cages had been replaced by steel cages. All blades were now rounded in shape. Motors shrank from 8” diameter down to 5”. Almost all makers used black as their color on the fan bodies, but General Electric went to a deep green color.

By 1920, refrigerated air was appearing in commercial buildings. Fan makers began to market fans more towards residential use, as the new refrigerated displaced their commercial markets. Makers began experimenting with design changes. Two competitors introduced fans designed as radio speakers, in a brown wood-grain finish. Late that decade, General Electric introduced the overlapping blade, which operated much more quietly. These early blades also were made of aluminum, rather than steel. Aluminum was being used more now in manufacturing.

Early in 1930, a young woman named Jane Evans came to St. Louis to do some interior design work. She was introduced to the President of Emerson Electric. She proposed a radical stylish design. In 1932 Emerson introduced the Silver Swan. 

It used a blade made of aluminum, but was based on a yacht propeller design. The design was a major success, and probably helped Emerson survive the Depression. More and more aluminum was used for blades and designs varied greatly. Many colors were offered including Ivory, Forest Green, Dark Brown, Chrome, Nickel, Motors received their last important change. Emerson introduced the capacitor start motor. 

These started faster, ran quieter and were much more efficient. Motors were now as small as 4” in diameter and could propel a 16” blade made of aluminum. Cast aluminum blades appeared, using the latest aeronautical designs.

In the 1940’s we were a Nation at war. Fan makers used their capacity to help with the war effort. Few if any electric fans were made for the market. There were no design changes. Production restarted after war ended, with the same designs as pre-war.

By 1950, air conditioning was becoming available for homes. A few makers offered fans for homes with wooden cases, to blend with the televisions. The introduction of residential refrigerated air, was the onset of decline for the table fan. During the decade of the 1950’s, not much changed in fans. 

Cost cutting took over design as a selling point. Cheaper fans were made. Some used nylon for gears, versus brass or steel. Colors introduced were Grey, Aqua, Turquoise, as well as wrinkled finishes in paint.

By the 1960’s, most makers began to phase out their fan lines. By the late 1960’s, the last of the good fans were being made.

- "Information Provided by Steve Cunningham."