Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1933 - Before air conditioning came along as we know it today, people relied on electric fans, the swimming hole, shade and ice to keep cool in the hotter summer months. A fan marketer was looking out on the street below during one of these hot summer days, watching people crisscrossing the street and going from store to store. He first figured it just happened to be a particularly lucrative month, but upon interviewing store owners and managers, he learned that the majority of people entering their businesses came in to get out of the sun and to cool off under the electric fans in the stores, not to buy goods. Also around this time, there were many bars and taverns, where there was a need to not only cool the establishment, but to also help circulate and remove cigar and cigarette smoke. Besides a cold beer or shot, there were vending machines designed to keep people in these road houses buying drinks and food, such as cigarette and candy vending machines, jukeboxes for music and pinball machines, to name a few. The jobbers leasing these devices were also in most cases fan salesmen, with sales and service routes ready to exploit. Many other designers and marketers saw the need in the ventilation market for a more powerful fan that would circulate the air around their respective establishments, bringing in customers and hopefully profits. Designer Max Weber was one of them... ------------------ . Edited July 2, 2023 by Mike Kearns 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1934 - Counter version Roto-Beam made by Motor Service Mfg. Co. - Images courtesy Osdene Collection - Type 1 pedestal in the wild, images courtesy of Russ Huber: This is an example of the single-speed model. I suspect the pole has been shortened. It has a simple on/off toggle switch: Air-Beam Corporation, of Chicago, makes it's debut. Marketing begins: October 14, 1934: November 29, 1934: Roto-Beams used to chill produce in rail cars, February 7, 1934 - Edited September 6, 2022 by Mike Kearns 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1935 - Courtesy of Russ Huber: "Canadian Patent Office - MAX WEBER, doing business under the name and style of MOTOR SERVICE AND MANUFACTURING CO., Chicago, Illinois, USA Word: " Roto-Beam." Wares: Electric Fans, Pressure-type Fan Wheels, Suction-type Fan Wheels, Fan Guards, Fan Stands, ..." "Air-Beam", a four-winged circulator produced by Roto-Beam , officially incorporates in 1935: But at present there is not much more other than a 1935 advertisements for a movie theater: July 21, 1935- July 21, 1935 - Edited October 28, 2023 by Mike Kearns 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1936 - Type 2 Roto-Beam residential pedestal, "watered-silk" texture silver paint, one "shot-glass" base ornaments: Type 3 Roto-Beam residential pedestal, "watered-silk" texture silver paint, no "shot-glass" base ornaments, motor, cage, blade same as type 2: June 10, 1936 - Edited September 7, 2022 by Mike Kearns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1937 - Drawings to a 1937 British Roto-Beam patent: Roto-Beam marketing July 1937 "Telephone Engineer" - Ideal Commutator expands, "Electrical Contracting" October 1937- Edited October 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1938 - Two 10-inch Roto-Beam variants from 1938: Bad news for Max: Weber's wife files for divorce citing "mental cruelty". 1938 seems to be a transitional design year for Roto-Beam, larger circulators are redesigned, using motors no longer made by Century as in past years, but by Ohio Electric. Example shown from the Osdene Collection: Edited October 28, 2023 by Mike Kearns 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1939 - Roto-Beam Marketing, January 1939 edition of trade journal "Electrical Merchandising": Close-up of pedestal base unique to this year: Edited October 28, 2023 by Mike Kearns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1940 - Fairbanks-Morse, famous for industrial scales, markets Roto-Beam in 1940: A Fairbanks-Morse labeled Roto-Beam example from the late, great Jim Daggs Collection: Here's an example of a 24 inch Roto-Beam circulator, three-speeds, AC motor: The rear motor view reveals the motor to be a General Electric, a run capacitor, a start capacitor and a speed coil and Model 473 McGill Levolier switch, three speeds: The base is black porcelain covered cast iron. The casting foundry mark data plate indicates this base is specifically for a 24 inch Roto-Beam: Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1941 - Roto-Beam becomes a division of Peerless of America, 30. Courtesy of Russ Huber: "1941 - Snippet view MH, 30 S. Broadway, Yonkers, N. Y. 140 Roto-Beam Air Circulators Roto-Beam Air Circulators have been completely redesigned and are reported to be particularly suited for use in ... 373) Roto-Beam Division, Peerless of America, Inc., Dept." What appears to be sideways is a rare window mount Roto-Beam Model 116W, shown in above catalog. Brought to our attention by Stephen S. Dempsey: This is a rare example of an Roto-Beam direct-current circulator: Peerless Roto-Beam 10-inch: Peerless Roto-Beam 16-inch: Model H-10 Roto-Heat-Beam August 20, 1941 - Edited December 15, 2023 by Mike Kearns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1942 - Another direct-current model: Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1943 - Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1944 - During the war years between 1941 to 1945, Weber applies for and is granted utility and design patents for Roto-Beam residential box fans, which as of this writing, have yet to surface. Edited December 15, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1945 - Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1946 - Postwar, Roto-Beam is shifted yet again and becomes a division of Climax Engineering Co. of Clinton, Iowa, information courtesy of Russ Huber: Electrical Construction & Maintenance - Volume 47 - Page 270: Max Weber, designer and patent- holder of the Roto-Beam air radiant circulators, has announced that he will personally direct the manufacture and distribution of this line in the future. Mr. Weber takes over from Climax Industries, Inc., Clinton, Iowa, former licensee under Mr. Weber's patents. The new address of Roto-Beam is 17SS-S7 N. Keelcr Ave., Chicago, 111. ] Roto-Beam 8-inch - Abernathy Collection Courtesy of Russ Huber: 1946 - Snippet view Climax Engineering Company, Clinton, Iowa, acquires all manufacturing and selling rights to the “Roto Beam" radiant air circulators from the Roto Beam Company, Chicago. The following history of the Climax Engineering Co. is based on information from a variety of sources. Based on these sources, the company was founded in 1900 by James Dwight Lamb, as the Lamb Boat & Engine Company. By 1905 the company was building 2 and 4 cycle engines from 1.5 to 60 HP. In 1916 a fellow named George DuLaney re-organized the company as the Climax Engineering Company and was Chairman of the Board from 1920-38. By 1929 the company was being run by offices in Chicago. The records indicate that in 1933 Climax and the Chrysler Corp. were jointly building gas engines. In 1942 the General Finance Co. of Chicago took over the company. Liberty Products Mfg. Co. of Liberty, MO ran the company for a short time. During WWII the company also manufactured military grade hydraulic pumps. After the war, Climax also manufactured Max Weber's Roto-Beam Air Circulators (fans), the TillMaster rotor tiller and refrigeration equipment. In 1952 the company reverted back to General Finance which then sold it to the Eversharp Corp. and became its Climax Engine & Pump Division. There is the story about trying to machine Eversharps' razor blades at the Climax plant, but the plant's foundation on the "bottom land'' along the Mississippi River wasn't stable enough to machine the razor's razor thin edge. Eversharp got out of the razor business in 1957 and sold the company to Waukesha that same year. "Air-Beam"- branded circulators manufactured by Roto-Beam Corp. are being marketed again in late 1946: Roto-Beam Climax Engineering from Radio-Retailing - 1946 - Image Courtesy of Andy Hackman, with thanks. Square Cage Roto-Beam - Image courtesy Tomas Trujillo Edited April 16 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1947 - "Air-Beam", produced by Roto-Beam Corp. seems to be heavily marketed in 1947, possibly to be rid of old stock: Air-Beam 16-inch example - Abernathy Collection: Of special note: While often missing, the center of the Air-Beam cast-aluminum blade hubs were plugged with a for want of a better term "Hershey's Kiss" shaped plastic insert, shown here: Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1948 - Courtesy of Russ Huber: 1948 - Max Weber, designer and patent- holder of the Roto-Beam air radiant circulators, has announced that he will personally direct the manufacture and distribution of this line in the future. Mr. Weber takes over from Climax Industries, Inc., Clinton, Iowa, former licensee under Mr. Weber's patents. The new address of Roto-Beam is 17SS-S7 N. Keeler Ave., Chicago, 111. Courtesy of Russ Huber: "1948 - The motor cover housing for the Roto-Beam and the base of the table model are molded of the same high-impact Durez material as the propeller. Designer: Max Weber, Roto-Beam, Chicago, III." Durez Plastics (originally named General Plastics) was established in 1921 by Harry M. Dent in North Tonawanda, New York. Durez was a chemical and plastics factory that manufactured plastic molding compound, which it then sold to other manufacturing facilities. These facilities used the plastic molding compound supplied by Durez to make a wide variety of products that included hard plastic handles for irons and other small appliances, as well as a variety of automotive parts. Durez gradually grew to accommodate the growing demand for plastic molding compounds. At the North Tonawanda facility, the phenol plant was built in 1940, and in 1947, construction of the formaldehyde plant began. In 1955, the Kenton, Ohio plant was established in order to duplicate manufacturing efforts at the North Tonawanda plant. In the same year, Durez became part of the Hooker Electrochemical Company. During its peak production years, Durez was one of the world’s largest manufacturers of phenolic resin and molding compounds. This is the 10-inch version: One cast in black: And one cast in brown: Edited October 29, 2022 by Mike Kearns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1949 - Image of counter and pedestal production models are courtesy of Andy Hackman. Edited August 10, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1950 - Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1951 - Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1952 - Durez ten-inch example: On August 16, 2010, AFCA member Mike Mirin shared this Roto-Beam 32-volt anomaly with us, a Roto-Beam made for use on boats: Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) 1953 - See it run: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQFVWow55Wo Roto-Beam 10-inch circulator - Mirin Collection Edited May 19, 2022 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) Since the last write-up of this subject, a new and exciting anomaly surfaced, a Roto-Beam ozone fan and ozonizer attachment for Roto-Beam circulators: 1936 - 1937 - Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Kearns Posted May 20, 2022 Author Share Posted May 20, 2022 (edited) Things that look like Roto-Beam, but aren't Roto-Beam: Edited May 20, 2022 by Mike Kearns 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louis Luu Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 Very cool! Mike, how does Air Beam fit into this? Was it a knockoff of Roto Beam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Andersen Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 1 hour ago, Louis Luu said: Very cool! Mike, how does Air Beam fit into this? Was it a knockoff of Roto Beam? I found this in his Roto-beam thread on the old forum. It appears it was licensed to them by Roto-beam. They first appear around 1934-35 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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