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Posted (edited)

Geoff,  when time permits, could you please check your stamp steel base Century 6 wing to see if it has the earlier S3 cast iron motor housing with the casting to mount the centrifugal switch contacts as seen in the other later serial drawn steel base example images provided?

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Edited by Russ Huber
Posted (edited)

Your S3 motor housing could be one of two pictured. Matthew Albach I am sure would love to know if your housing has the earlier cast motor housing for the centrifugal mount contacts.

 

 

 

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Edited by Russ Huber
Posted

After a little bit of study I found the castings (unused) for the centrifugal switch start motor appeared at least here in Arkansas on the 12" 4 & 6 wing and the 16" 4 wing oscillators with the spun steel base and the 1st S-3 oscillator mechanism.  Recently was able to pick up a Century oscillator 6-wing from Doc. Hoehn's collection which sported the 2nd S-3 oscillator assembly and the casting had changed. This was consistent across all the fans with a 2nd generation oscillatorthat I have looked at. Same was true of the 3rd generation S-3 oscillators.  An interesting side note about the debated 6-wing blade, Welsbach gas & lighting CO. had produced and patented in 1911, a natural gas powered fan of which there are several examples surviving. In all the pictures I've seen of this fan including patent drawings and one example here in Arkansas,the 6-wing blade is the same as the one sported on all the 6-wing Century fans that I've had a chance to look at. So did Century outsource their blade to Welsbach or did someone else outsource 6-wing blades to both parties ??

Posted (edited)

Thanks for your effort and time, Geoff.  My bet, you're on target about outsourcing the 6 wing blade. 1914-16 electrical trade supports Century with a 12" residential desk fan. However, 1916 electrical trade while supporting a residence fan motor, does not support a 6 wing blade. Before 1914 so far, I have found nothing to validate the Century 12" residence 6 wing desk fan, yet examples exist to support them on the market 1912-13 cast base.

Like the Menominee 4 pole motor 6 wing 12" residence AC fan motors, Century offered a 12" 6 wing residence fan motor it appears starting with 6 pole(cast base models with + design pivot) to remain competitive in the fan motor market. 

If one finds this cast iron motor housing pictured below on a drawn steel base Century, you found a transitional model shifting from centrifugal start to phase shift using up remaining cast motor stock starting 1914-15.

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Edited by Russ Huber
Posted (edited)

What appears to be later(12-13) valid S4 cast base oscillator 6 wing residence model. 

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Edited by Russ Huber
Posted

In 1914 electrical trade, the Electrical Record sported to separate listings of standard desk fans and residence desk fans. Beyond 1914 they consolidated them on one listing of various fan manufacturers offerings. I believe it is safe to state Century Electric Co. marketed along with their standard 4 wing 4 pole models 12" 6 wing residence models from at least 1913-1916. And there remains the possibility of 1912. Cast base models were still on the market validated in 1913.

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Posted

1917 electrical trade does NOT support Century 12" 6 wing residence models on the market.

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  • Russ Huber changed the title to Geoff Dunaway Century Fan Details
Posted

 Hey Russ, is there any literature that dates the changes and improvements in the S-3 oscillator gearbox?

Posted
5 hours ago, Geoff Dunaway said:

 Hey Russ, is there any literature that dates the changes and improvements in the S-3 oscillator gearbox?

Century fan motor bulletins 1911-15 "could/would be" a major plus to validate desk fan construction changes. For now, this is the best I can do with electrical trade article/images.

These are 1913 Century desk fan advertisements. They support the cast base models still on the market 13, but nothing to support casting/component changes since their introduction in 1911.

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Posted

1915 Century desk fan POSSIBILITY based on the 5/15 patent filing from Century. Typically, the patent filing date is the introduction of the patented fan or patented component(s). The 1915 electrical trade image shared if you notice uses the same image as the 1914 electrical image above.

Circa 1914 12" Century "Skeletal" Oscillator S3 - antiquefanparts

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Posted (edited)
On 6/26/2022 at 8:20 AM, Geoff Dunaway said:

After a little bit of study I found the castings (unused) for the centrifugal switch start motor appeared at least here in Arkansas on the 12" 4 & 6 wing and the 16" 4 wing oscillators with the spun steel base and the 1st S-3 oscillator mechanism.  Recently was able to pick up a Century oscillator 6-wing from Doc. Hoehn's collection which sported the 2nd S-3 oscillator assembly and the casting had changed. This was consistent across all the fans with a 2nd generation oscillatorthat I have looked at. Same was true of the 3rd generation S-3 oscillators.  An interesting side note about the debated 6-wing blade, Welsbach gas & lighting CO. had produced and patented in 1911, a natural gas powered fan of which there are several examples surviving. In all the pictures I've seen of this fan including patent drawings and one example here in Arkansas,the 6-wing blade is the same as the one sported on all the 6-wing Century fans that I've had a chance to look at. So did Century outsource their blade to Welsbach or did someone else outsource 6-wing blades to both parties ??

 

*THE WELSBACH GAS FAN* - Mar 11, 2022 | Dennis Auction Service, Inc. in NJ (liveauctioneers.com)

THE WELSBACH GAS FAN* - Mar 11, 2022 | Dennis Auction Service, Inc. in NJ

 

 

 

 

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Edited by Russ Huber
Posted

You opened a can of worms, Geoff. Funny thing, not one d amn picture in 1912-16 electrical trade of 12" Century residence 6 wing desk fan. Electrical trade supports Century had them on the market until 1916.  I guess if you want a 12" Century residence desk fan, go to your stash and pick out a 12" 6 wing blade of your choice with the correct diameter hub shaft hole, plop it on, and call it legit.

Posted

Randy's blade is now in the clear. 🙂

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Posted (edited)

You can thank Geoff Dunaway for the enlightenment. I until his posting had no clue of the Welsbach gas fan, or the 6 wing blade it sported.  The Welsbach gas fan it appears did not go to market until 1912-13. This would be the same time Century would have introduced their first cast base residence fan motor.

 

THE WELSBACH GAS FAN* - Mar 11, 2022 | Dennis Auction Service, Inc. in NJ

 

 

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Edited by Russ Huber
Posted

Compliments of recent contact with Brent Rowell it appears Welsbach had a predecessor "Thermal" going to market following shortly after patent issue. 

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Posted

Welsbach gas fan in the flesh. Owned by Brent Rowell. Photos and courtesy of sharing credited to Brent Rowell.  Special thanks to Geoff Dunaway for this information. Brent and I are one the same page the blades were more than likely outsourced by Welsbach and Century.

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Posted (edited)

Was the struts also outsourced....looks eerily similar to Feather Vane struts.  The cage looks odd.  The center, is is supposed to have a badge attached.  In any event, I love the fan.

Edited by Louis Luu
Posted
8 minutes ago, Louis Luu said:

Were the struts also outsourced....looks eerily similar to Feather Vane struts.  The cage looks odd.  The center, is is supposed to have a badge attached.  In any event, I love the fan.

It would take resurrection of the dead more than likely to find definitive answers to your what was outsourced questions. One thing for sure, that blade on Brent's Welsbach is a dead ringer for the 6 wing blades found on examples of the Century 6 wing residence fans. 

Enjoy the pictures Louis, Brent's Welsbach I am confident is going nowhere. Fact Jack. I am going to try and get your shipping box today...BTW.

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  • 2 years later...
Posted
On 6/25/2022 at 12:38 PM, Russ Huber said:

Your S3 motor housing could be one of two pictured. Matthew Albach I am sure would love to know if your housing has the earlier cast motor housing for the centrifugal mount contacts.

 

 

 

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Can you circle these residual mount holes you’re talking about? 

Posted
8 hours ago, Marc Sova said:

Can you circle these residual mount holes you’re talking about? 

The mounting holes for the centrifugal contacts aren't there. Century used up old stock centrifugal start motor housings for the newly introduced 1914 NON-centrifugal start models (3 wire head cord). 

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Posted

I know Emerson and others didn’t, but is it typical for the brass blades on century’s to have been painted gold at the factory? Mine is later I suppose than what you’re discussing here. I def see metallic bronze powder pigment up close. I guess they did this like some of the other manufacturers were doing at the same time (assuming mine is about 1917-18?). 
    

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