Help identifying 16” GE pancake Type and Form

[Curt Davis]

This GE pancake doesn’t have a plate. So need help to properly identify Type, Form, Year, etc.

Bonus points if anyone can tell me if cage and blade are correct for the mystery type and form.

 

[Dave McManaman]

I’d guess 1901-1902 with that base and connection point to a proper guard at the bottom front. Guard is not right with the reverse curve.

Here’s a prior thread on 16” cakes. http://www.afcaforum.com/view_topic.php?id=29583&forum_id=1&highlight=16”+pancake

And an excellent source of info from Steve Stephens. https://earlyfans.blogspot.com/2011/02/ge-pancake-1894-1908.html?m=1

Edited December 27, 2022 by Dave McManaman

[Steve Rockwell]

     I'm not a Pancaker, so I just looked at the catalogs quickly...

2 hours ago, Dave McManaman said:

connection point to a proper guard at the bottom front. Guard is not right with the reverse curve.

     You want to end up with a 10 s-wire cage when finished, and check the switch.....

[Steve Stephens]

1901 pancakes are the last of the two speeds and 1902 ushered in the new 5 speeds.   I do know that some GE catalogs are not dated to match the year model offered.

The restored fan below is a two speed 1902 model.  My original 1901 16" fan is the unrestored one and is Type AA, Form A.   1902 would be Form B but I don't know what the Type is. 

[Russ Huber]

1 hour ago, Steve Stephens said:

1901 pancakes are the last of the two speeds and 1902 ushered in the new 5 speeds.  The restored fan below is a two speed 1902 model.

Thank God for the handful or two that do make a diligent impressive attempt to make sense out of their same year model variants and timeline. 

Edited December 28, 2022 by Russ Huber

[Curt Davis]

All,

Thanks for the help. Yeah I figured the cage was wrong given it didn’t connect with the hook at the base.

I double-checked my switch and it is a simple on/off switch, i.e. no speed settings.  The examples shown above all hav a knob for the speed control. My switch is a simple lever that moves only left/right. Pic below shows the underside view. So does this make this pancake earlier than 1901; it just another variant not shown in the 1902 catalog?

 

[Kim Frank]

Type AA form B. You might compare it to the fan in the background of the second picture. As mentioned, Cage is not correct. It would have the larger center badge found on the 16 inch fans 1899-1903 and would not have the inverted curve at the bottom. Hence, the small clamp on the base at 6 o'clock. While the '01/02 solid frame fan replaced the 1900 16 inch trunnion, there was some carryover into 1903 with the type AA form C, which ran concurrently with the type AK/AD 16" trunnion. The blade is correct to the fan.

[Curt Davis]

Thanks Kim.

So does the on/off switch a distinguishing feature that makes this Form B? Or anything else?

[Ted Kaczor]

TYPE AA, FORM A - on the pic. is a 2 speeds 1901, other then this and the markings on the name plate they're the same.

[Russ Huber]

This 16" stump is/was in someone's stash not too far from me. Too long ago to recall tag info. If someone is in need message me.

Edited December 28, 2022 by Russ Huber

[Kim Frank]

The "OFF" switch made it's appearance with the introduction of the 6 position switch in 1902. The type designation identifies which model the fan is and the form letter identifies the year of mfg. This only applies to GE fans made from 1901-1904. With earlier GE fans, 1894-1900, the type letters identified type of voltage and the form letter(s) and/or number identified which model and year of mfg. After 1904, there were no type or form letters assigned to the fans, just serial numbers. Every GE fan has certain characteristics that identify it to a year of manufacture. Looking at your fan, we know that because it is a 16 inch stationary fan, it will be either 1901 or '02. Because it has the telltale OFF tag, we know it is 1902. So with that said, we know the tag would read type AA form B. Looking at the fans in the GE pancake survey, I would venture the voltage is 100/115 and 60 cycles. The serial number would fall somewhere between 100,001 - 146,500. It probably wouldn't have had a spec #. It would have a 10 wire cage with the large badge. Blade would be four wing with the cast brass hub. If you are looking to complete your fan, Donald Coleman can make the tag. Ted can make the correct cage for you. You can get a switch from Antique Fan Parts (Chad Baker) and you can get the 16 inch speed coil from Sartron (Tim James). If you decide to do a badge, contact me and I can give you a safe serial number to use.

[Curt Davis]

@Kim Frank

Thanks for the detailed explanation.  Very helpful to know these details b/c I have several other pancakes in various states that I am trying to get presentable for sale. 

What are the odds that someone might have the correct cage for this Type AA Form B for sale or trade?  I have lots of extras cages and blades that I probably won't need that would be good trading material.

Can you post the GE survey or send to me in a DM?