Gaylord Electric Corp. - Russell Electric Corp. - Fresh'ND-Aire Co. 1934 to 2001

[Mike Kearns]

1934 -

 

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Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1935 -

 

Edited November 8, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1936 -

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The scent cylinders are lined with asbestos, here's what it would look with a scent cartridge in it:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The "FRAGRANCE" chain pull tag:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The "DEODORIZER" chain pull tag:

                                    Fresh'ND-Aire 35 inch direct current pedestal circulator - Atkinson Collection 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Foundry mark "No.3"

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Gaylord's partner, Colonel J.C. Bohan was a military man as well as a venture capitalist: Col. Bohan began his army career as a first lieutenant under Gen. Pershing in the Mexican campaign. In World War I. he was the youngest major in combat. At that time he was commanding officer of a 155th howitzer battalion in the 123d field artillery, serving with the 33d division in the Toul sector. Received Silver Star Col. Bohan was awarded the silver star for his part in the Meuse-Argonne campaign. After leaving the service in 1919, he joined the reserve corps, and was commanding officer of a reserve regiment in Chicago when he was promoted to colonel in 1931. During this time he also was affiliated with the building construction business. Col. Bohan returned to active army duty in the spring of 1942. He attended the field officers' school at Fort Sill, Okla., and served in the replacement center there until February, 1943, when he was transferred to Fort Bragg, N.C. Awarded Legion Of Merit At this post, Col. Bohan was commanding officer of the 4th regiment and trained thousands of soldiers under simulated battle conditions. He was awarded the Legion of Merit upon his retirement as regiment commander in January, 1946. He returned to the Chicago building construction business.    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         The Fresh'ND-Aire Junior makes it's debut: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Fresh'ND-Aire Model 22 Junior - Russ Huber Image Archive: 

                                                                                                                                                                                               This illustrates Fresh'ND-Aire's early attempt on their blades using a hard rubber insert to insulate vibration between the rotor shaft and the blade hub.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           December 1, 1936:

Edited October 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1937 -  Gaylord Fresh'ND-Aire still not a "conditioner" March 3 1937:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  "Electric Light & Power" magazine, Volume 15, author Ell C. Bennett - 1937 - "These Gaylord Air Circulators are manufactured exclusively for the Gaylord Company by the Russell Electric Company. There is a competent Gaylord sales and service distributor ready to serve you in each major market. ..."  - Information thanks to Russ Huber                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

From the trade journal "Electrical Contracting" October 1937 -                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 

In 1937, unfortunately for Gaylord, a big fish named E.L. Cord noticed the little fish was doing very well selling circulator fans: Errett Lobban Cord (1894-1974), aka E.L. Cord—a transportation magnate and dice-rolling businessman who would have made a fine golf partner for William Randolph Hearst and Howard Hughes.  Equal parts charming and ruthless, Cord owned a controlling share in dozens of different companies across his lifetime, including the likes of the original Checker Taxi Cab Company, Duesenberg, Cord Motor Car, Auburn Car Co. and American Airlines. One of his other pet properties was the Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company. According to Griffith Borgeson’s 1984 book, Errett Lobban Cord: His Empire, His Motor Cars, Chicago Electric was actually one of the young tycoon’s personal “favorite companies, one that he downright loved, and of which he was very proud. . . . There was something ingeniously catchy about its products, all of which gave excellent service and were, in addition, priced to give fits to the giants in the field, such as General Electric.” According to Borgeson, Cord used to tell his friends, “If you like a certain kind of soap, buy that stock. Don’t let somebody else tell you what to buy. Buy what YOU think is a good company, and then keep informed about the progress that it’s making.”                                                                                                                                                    He must have like what he saw in Ed Gaylord's endeavors. He bought the patents and rights to manufacture the entire catalog of Gaylord's circulator producer/manufacturer, Russell Electric. As if that wasn't bad enough, Earle W. Ballentine, the vice president of Russell Electric was also the president of Solar Industries,  the maker of the Ballentine motors that went into the Gaylord Fresh'ND-Aires, so now, no more castings, motors or assembled components: 

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Aerofan circulator made by Russell Electric Co. - Image thanks to Russ Huber:

                                                                                                                                                                          Another Aerofan pedestal, image credited to Joseph Sweetman and the Ann Arbor Historical Society-                                                                     Russell Electric Circulator 

                                                                                                                                                                                                Russell Electric is still using Ballentine motors. - Images courtesy of Ingrid Litten:

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Gibbs Manufacturing Corporation makes a one year appearance -1937- only

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  16 and 20-inch Gibb data plates - Thanks to Joey Katona  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Note the early, rubber vibration insulated blade on this 20 inch Gibb: 

Edited October 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1938 -

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Note how the motor tag for the 14-inch Fresh'ND-Aire Jr. is actually and overstamped 16-inch with a 14 inch blade on it:
 

                                                                                                                                                                                                   A Fresh'ND-Aire "Special" data tag for a 17-inch ornate based pedestal. Note, this example had a Bakelite blade and a no chain rheostat speed control knob. -                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                               14-inch Fresh'ND-Aire Junior and 20-inch Special circulators - Member's Collection 

                                                                                                                                                                             A Fresh'ND-Aire Special High Stand Model. The cast iron bases were copper-plated, then painted in an ivory enamel paint, but they do look nice when the copper can be seen. - Image courtesy of Robert Grathwol

                                                                                                                                                                       A Fresh'ND-Aire Model 18 Special pedestal, images thanks to Russ Huber:

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Note the overstamp on the model number panel, turning a "17" into an "18".

                                                                                                                                                                                An example of a 20-inch Fresh'ND-Aire "Special", the Bakelite blade begins replacing the cast-aluminum blades in production:

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                       Another 20-inch example of a restored Fresh'ND-Aire "Special", in factory chrome plate -                                                                                                                                                                 
The early cast-iron bases were made under contract with a neighboring firm, Mitchell Manufacturing Company, a firm known for manufacturing electric lamps. In 1955, J.W. Alsdorf will buy Mitchell Manufacturing Co., valued at $3,000,000.00.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Another example of a chrome base is shown here, note the foundry marks:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Federal Trade Commission - October 27, 1938 - 

 

Edited March 20 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1939 - This should settle once and for all what material Fresh'ND-Aire blades are made from. Here is an award plaque won by Fresh'ND-Aire: 

                                                                                                                                                      An interesting variation of the Fresh'ND-Aire "Special" has just come to light, courtesy of Jim Kovar. An eighteen-inch direct current model having a three speed, 115 volt motor by Bodine Electric Company. Please note the "18" stamped over the previous "17" on the motor housing tag depicted below:                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                               Jack Delaney's Saddle Bar, Greenwich Village, New York - Postcard variants, can you find the early circulator?:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Now sadly, a Starbuck's coffee shop:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Only the ceiling tiles remain of the old interior..

                                                                                                                                                                                              Where the Gaylord was. Somebody hopefully took them home with them...

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Three different base styles represented here, Grathwol Image Collection:

                                                                                                                                                                                                         And the 35-inch base. The trim ring is item 135 in the patent drawings below: 

 

                                                                                                                                                                 "Hardware Age" 1946: "Fresh'ND-Aire" Line For 1946 will include models, 14R, 17R, 20R, 23, 26, and 35.." - Information thanks to Russ Huber. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     "Elektra" The Electric Eel exhibit demonstration at the 1939 Worlds Fair, behind the display is a Fresh'ND-Aire Model 35 pedestal circulator:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Ballentine is still designing circulators for Russell Electric:

                                                                                                                                                                                       Circulator made by Russell Electric to be marketed by DeVry Corporation, a company who manufactured, repaired and marketed movie projection equipment with ties to movie theaters, auditoriums and similar large, public venues: 
 

Edited March 6, 2023 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1940 -

Russell Ozonator for circulators, "Air Conditioning & Refrigeration News", March 20 1940 -

Edited October 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1941 -

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The "beaver-tail" blade is seen in advertising:

                                         A Fresh'ND-Aire 14-inch pedestal - Image courtesy of Robert Grathwol:

                                                                                                                                                                                                               A Fresh'ND-Aire 20 inch pedestal - Image thanks to Russ Huber:

Edited May 30, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1942 - J.W. Alsdorf apparently buys into a controlling interest of Fresh'ND-Aire in 1942, from the Lebanon Daily News, August 5, 1971:  

                                                                                                                                                                                        Robert Devore has more or less divested himself of the Fresh'ND-Aire Company, having been bought out of company and patent rights by Fresh'ND-Aire's new owner, J.W. Alsdorf. So, he does what any red-blooded American would do, buy a ticket on the company dime and go to the football game. He's at the second to bottom, left column of this list:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The last vestiges of Russell Electric's Aerofan:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Edited September 14, 2023 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1943 - Actress Bette Davis enjoys the breeze from a Model 26 Fresh'ND-Aire: 

Edited May 30, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1944 - The president of the company contracted to chrome plate for Fresh'ND-Aire dies:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     E.N. Mimms markets Fresh'ND-Aire: 

Edited May 30, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1945 - Member Dan Wyatt brought a previously unknown to me Fresh'ND-Aire address to my attention, 325 North Wells Street, Chicago, Illinois. Fresh'ND-Aire circulators manufactured between 1942 to 1945 have been observed with the N. Wells Street address on the data plate.                                                                

Edited May 31, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1946 -

Edited April 5, 2023 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1947 - D.B. Huggard, Cory sales manager for Fresh'ND-Aire dies in a plane crash returning to Chicago from Los  Angeles, California: 

                                                                                                                                                                                The cage badge appears in late 1947, as does the new Fresh'ND-Aire line:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Word Mark FRESH'ND-AIRE
Goods and Services (EXPIRED) IC 011. US 034. G & S: AIR CIRCULATORS. FIRST USE: 19350301. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19350301
Mark Drawing Code (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number 71532809
Filing Date August 29, 1947
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 0503902
Registration Date November 16, 1948
Owner (REGISTRANT) CORY CORPORATION CORPORATION DELAWARE 221 NORTH LA SALLE ST. CHICAGO ILLINOIS
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Prior Registrations 0338102
Disclaimer NO REGISTRATION RIGHTS TO THE WORD "AIRE" ARE HEREIN CLAIMED APART FROM THE MARK IN ITS ENTIRETY.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL-2(F)
Affidavit Text SECT 15.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 19681116
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD                                                                                                                                      
The top of the snippet reads "The General Electric Company supplies 70 per cent of the electric motors...                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Commercial & Financial Chronicle 1947 -

Edited May 30, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1948 - Ed. Gaylord's partner and finance backer, Col. John Bohan, dies: 

                                                                                                                                                                                    "Model 1700 air circulator, which replaces manufacturer's former model 17R, has a one-piece plastic propeller and all-chrome base and guard. ... Fresh'nd- Aire Co., Div. of Cory Corp., 221 North LaSalle St., Chicago 1."

            "Public utilities fortnightly New Fresh'nd-Aire Model 1700 Air Circulator Introduced Fresh'nd-Aire Company, a division of Cory Corporation, Chicago, announced their new model 1700 air circulator during the recent Atlantic City Housewares Show. This new unit, according to J. W. Wallace, Fresh'nd-Aire sales manager, will replace the former model 17R, Fresh'nd-Aire Circulator. The new unit has a newly designed one piece ..." - Snippets credit to Russ Huber.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The Model 14 makes it's appearance known:

                                                                                                                                                                                         A Fresh'ND-Aire Model 14, referred to by collectors as the "Mickey Mouse" bladed model.

         

Edited May 30, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1949 -

                                      

                  

Edited May 30, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1950 -

 Here's a little biography of J.W. Alsdorf, who will own Fresh'ND-Aire outright with big money he made selling coffee-makers, courtesy of Russ Huber: 

Edited August 3, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1951 -

Edited May 30, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1952 -

                           An ivory and gold Fresh'ND-Aire Fanette with factory box - Image from Russ Huber

Edited May 31, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1953 - "Marketing", a trade journal J. Thomas Cannon, Jack A. Wichert - 1953 - 627 pages. "All these were purchased from a number of different suppliers. The General Electric Company supplied 70 per cent of the electric motors used in Fresh'ND-Aire products. The Redmond Company, Inc., supplied the balance of these items."

"Four new Fresh'nd-Aire chrome circulators, complete with special safety guard grilles, were recently introduced by the Fresh'nd-Aire Company, a division of the Cory Corporation, 221 North La Salle Street, Chicago 1, Illinois..."

                                                                                                                                                                                                       An as new model 1700 Fresh'ND-Aire in factory box:

Edited May 31, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1954 -

                                                                                                                                                                                         Fresh'ND-Aire Fanette having an advertising insert from Kopelove Department Store. 

Edited May 31, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

 1955 -

                                            Word Mark FRESH'ND-AIRE Goods and Services(EXPIRED) IC 011. US 034. G & S: AIR CONDITIONING DEVICES-NAMELY, HUMIDIFIERS, DEHUMIDIFIERS, COOLERS, AIR CONDITIONERS, AND AIR PURIFIERS AND DEODORIZERS. FIRST USE: 19350300. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19350300 Mark Drawing Code (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM Serial Number 71680520 Filing Date January 26, 1955 Current Basis 1A Original Filing Basis1AChange In RegistrationCHANGE IN REGISTRATION HAS OCCURRED Registration Number0618227 Registration Date December 27, 1955 Owner(REGISTRANT) CORY CORPORATION CORPORATION DELAWARE 221 N. LA SALLE ST. CHICAGO ILLINOIS Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED Prior Registrations 0503902 Type of MarkTRADEMARK Register PRINCIPAL Affidavit Text SECT 15. Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 19751227 Live/Dead Indicator DEAD

              

Having bought Cory outright, J.W. Alsdorf takes time out to shill for Lord Calvert whisky. Image courtesy of Russ Huber: 

Edited August 3, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1956 -  "Metal Products Manufacturing" - Volume 13 - Page 65
"CORY TO MERGE MITCHELL, FRESH'ND-AIRE FACILITIES Production facilities of Cory Corp. divisions, Mitchell ... "We are going to manufacture all of our room air conditioners and dehumidifiers in one plant," J. W. Alsdorf, president of Cory Corporation....  " 

Edited May 31, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1957 -

Edited May 31, 2022 by Mike Kearns

[Mike Kearns]

1958 -

Edited May 31, 2022 by Mike Kearns