Chris Argentino Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 I have an Emerson 73648 (no capacitor). That thing runs and runs and runs. Probably the most dependable fan I own. I love how simple it is. I recently bought a freshnd air fan but I found out it’s more than I can chew. Assembly and disassembly isn’t really easy and the fact that it has a one of a kind switch and an unreliable transformer for speed settings, it’s wayyy different than my Emerson. It got me to thinking: what 5 brands or specific fans do you find the most simple and dependable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Zapf Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 MY GOODNESS YOU ARE GOING TO GET A LOT OF OPINIONS HERE ! ... FOR DESK FANS THE EMERSON 12 & 16" WIDE PETAL BLADE 1940 OSCILLATORS ARE BULLETPROOF, ...DITTO FOR JUST ABOUT ANY GE OR WESTINGHOUSE FROM THE 1930S ALL THE WAY IN TO THE LATE 1950S.... I HAVE A 1909 PEERLESS THAT STILL GOES ...........FOR A BOX AND WINDOW TYPE A WELL CARED FOR EMERSON OR GE OR WESTINGHOUSE OR LASKO OR FASCO OR FRIGID OR MATHES COOLER WILL GO FOREVER . FOR HIGH VELOCITY THE MIMAR DYNAFANS, WESTINGHOUSE RIVIERAS & MOBILAIRES ARE GREAT ...FRESHNDAIRE 2 WINGERS CAN HAVE DELICATE SWITCHES BUT THE FANS ARE JUST AWESOME. AN EMERSON 18"ROLLABOUT PLUS THE SEARS ROLL-A-MATIC FANS AND LASKO BREEZEMAKERS ARE ROBUST. HOMART, VIKING, KENMORE BELT DRIVERS ARE LONG LASTING. NUTONE, ILG HOMART BERNS AIR KING THROUGH THE WALL EXHAUST FANS STILL RUN TODAY IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT TIME ERA AND WHAT TYPE ....I COULD LIST DOZENS AND DOZENS MORE OF EACH KIND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Argentino Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 42 minutes ago, Tom Zapf said: MY GOODNESS YOU ARE GOING TO GET A LOT OF OPINIONS HERE ! ... FOR DESK FANS THE EMERSON 12 & 16" WIDE PETAL BLADE 1940 OSCILLATORS ARE BULLETPROOF, ...DITTO FOR JUST ABOUT ANY GE OR WESTINGHOUSE FROM THE 1930S ALL THE WAY IN TO THE LATE 1950S.... I HAVE A 1909 PEERLESS THAT STILL GOES ...........FOR A BOX AND WINDOW TYPE A WELL CARED FOR EMERSON OR GE OR WESTINGHOUSE OR LASKO OR FASCO OR FRIGID OR MATHES COOLER WILL GO FOREVER . FOR HIGH VELOCITY THE MIMAR DYNAFANS, WESTINGHOUSE RIVIERAS & MOBILAIRES ARE GREAT ...FRESHNDAIRE 2 WINGERS CAN HAVE DELICATE SWITCHES BUT THE FANS ARE JUST AWESOME. AN EMERSON 18"ROLLABOUT PLUS THE SEARS ROLL-A-MATIC FANS AND LASKO BREEZEMAKERS ARE ROBUST. HOMART, VIKING, KENMORE BELT DRIVERS ARE LONG LASTING. NUTONE, ILG HOMART BERNS AIR KING THROUGH THE WALL EXHAUST FANS STILL RUN TODAY IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT TIME ERA AND WHAT TYPE ....I COULD LIST DOZENS AND DOZENS MORE OF EACH KIND Wow! You have quite the knowledge here. What year Emerson’s are the best? My current Emerson is a 1934. I’m thinking of picking up another Emerson. It’s an Emerson type 2450-B 10 inch for $30. I included the pictures. Some people say they are good little workhorses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Cunningham Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 In my opinion, the Emerson 77 is the best fan ever made. Very quiet, very efficient. The Silver Swan is also. The GE Quiet Blades are excellent too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Argentino Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 9 minutes ago, Steve Cunningham said: In my opinion, the Emerson 77 is the best fan ever made. Very quiet, very efficient. The Silver Swan is also. The GE Quiet Blades are excellent too. How does the 77 series stack up with the 73 series. Also have you had experience with the 2450-b 10 inch Emerson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven P Dempsey Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 LOL, won't burn down the house . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjun Saini Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 I’m my opinion the ilgwind circulators won’t let ya down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven P Dempsey Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 We run the Freshy all night for 12 years - - GE motor The 77646 (1950) we also run every night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Argentino Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 28 minutes ago, Steven P Dempsey said: We run the Freshy all night for 12 years - - GE motor The 77646 (1950) we also run every night Wow you got quite a few 77s. How do they compare to the 73648? It seems that people side with the 77s for some reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Cunningham Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 The 77s had overlapping blades. Very quiet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Zapf Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 STEVE DEMPSY HAS A PHOTO OF THREE TOGETHER OF THE EMERSON BIG-PETAL 12" BLADE FANS I LIKE UP ABOVE ...ALTHOUGH I AM ABOUT TO COMMIT A SIN HERE...THAT GREEN SEARS OSCILLATOR FROM THE 1970S IS A DARN GOOD FAN AND NOT COMMON (IN GREEN) BUT NONE OF THE FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE VINTAGE IRON & BRASS WE LOVE... THE PLASTIC YELLOWS AND DISINTEGRATES TOO....BUT STILL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Argentino Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 35 minutes ago, Steve Cunningham said: The 77s had overlapping blades. Very quiet. other than quietness, they both seemed to have similar long lasting motors, switches, and bodies. The 77 is a more refined and *neat* if you will fan. The 73s seemed more barebones strong air Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Smith Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 (edited) Chris for $30 that 10” Emerson is a great fan, the 77646/648 Emerson fans are the best use fan . My 77646 runs all fan season long & only gets shut off for a little oiling. From late 1930’s to 1950 a lot of quality fans were produced . The main issue is a good solid servicing of the fan, making it safe & go! I’ve had artic Aires (Fasco,) from that era that are wonderful, Hunter, R&m - there are lesser units such as Eskimo ( they run warm but oscillating is an issue) the key is buying a style you like & enjoy . Edited February 1 by Lawrence Smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Argentino Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 3 hours ago, Lawrence Smith said: Chris for $30 that 10” Emerson is a great fan, the 77646/648 Emerson fans are the best use fan . My 77646 runs all fan season long & only gets shut off for a little oiling. From late 1930’s to 1950 a lot of quality fans were produced . The main issue is a good solid servicing of the fan, making it safe & go! I’ve had artic Aires (Fasco,) from that era that are wonderful, Hunter, R&m - there are lesser units such as Eskimo ( they run warm but oscillating is an issue) the key is buying a style you like & enjoy . Thank you for the reply. He is 35 mins away from me so I will consider it if I am near the area soon. Aren’t the single bearing Emerson’s just amazing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Griffin Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Being the GE fan I am, I will have to admit the Emerson 6250 is the most reliable in the oscillating category. And, the Emerson Jr. is the most reliable in the non-oscillating category. Both are simple, very reliable, easy to restore and long lasting. Both can take a licking and keep on ticking. The copper blades on the 6250 are almost full proof when it comes to possible damage or becoming out of balance. Can chop banana too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Argentino Posted February 4 Author Share Posted February 4 On 2/2/2023 at 12:27 PM, Glenn Griffin said: Being the GE fan I am, I will have to admit the Emerson 6250 is the most reliable in the oscillating category. And, the Emerson Jr. is the most reliable in the non-oscillating category. Both are simple, very reliable, easy to restore and long lasting. Both can take a licking and keep on ticking. The copper blades on the 6250 are almost full proof when it comes to possible damage or becoming out of balance. Can chop banana too. That Emerson jr looks amazing. I’m assuming that the 6250 is a newer model of the jr? And is the jr a single bearing while the 6250 is a double bearing? the 6250 looks almost exactly like the 2450. Is the 6250 better than the 2450? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Wendel Posted February 4 Share Posted February 4 My 12" all-original Emerson Silver Swan in the bedroom has been running 8-24 hours/day, depending on the season, for about 20 years. I've oiled it a few times. I haven't had to change the capacitors yet. It is the most dependable fan in my experience. I'm sure many other fans would run just as well if I tried them. Emersons are easier to run a long time and keep maintained because there are no wicks/and oil returns to maintain, and adding oil is super-easy and mess-free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Argentino Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 19 hours ago, Doug Wendel said: My 12" all-original Emerson Silver Swan in the bedroom has been running 8-24 hours/day, depending on the season, for about 20 years. I've oiled it a few times. I haven't had to change the capacitors yet. It is the most dependable fan in my experience. I'm sure many other fans would run just as well if I tried them. Emersons are easier to run a long time and keep maintained because there are no wicks/and oil returns to maintain, and adding oil is super-easy and mess-free. Those silver swans are so nice looking but hard to find. It seems like everyone thinks Emerson’s are the best. I see why. They are so simple. I think the Emerson jr is my next fan if I can find one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Allen Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 I know there are going to be MANY opinions here! My idea of reliability is is mostly a combination of 1: running for the greatest amount of years before needing repairs combined with 2: Repairability of typical as-found nonworking examples. I do have my own opinions but they don't necessarily point to any brand; but rather to certain design elements. The most reliable fans are going to be the simplest. Non-oscillators come to mind, as do direct-drive exhaust fans. Oscillating fans have gears to go bad, as well as flexing of the head wire causing breakage and shorts which can burn the motor or speed coil. The bearings are a huge factor in the reliability of the fan. Fans with large oil reservoirs better sealed against dust getting in and absorbing the oil away from the oil wick, are more reliable. For motors... Capacitors go out and burn windings. Speed coil phase shift designs are often misunderstood and connected wrongly by previous repair attempts. Centrifugal switches wear out. The most reliable motors are shaded pole, since there is nothing to go wrong and the motor is very simple. So, a non-oscillating fan with a shaded pole motor having large bearing oil reservoir would be best. Something with a unit-bearing design possibly. I think there are several brands made along that line. So that's my musings on this. 🙂 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Olson Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 The top 5 in my book are: 1: Emerson 2: Emerson 3: Emerson 4: Emerson 5: Century 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Argentino Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 11 minutes ago, David Allen said: I know there are going to be MANY opinions here! My idea of reliability is is mostly a combination of 1: running for the greatest amount of years before needing repairs combined with 2: Repairability of typical as-found nonworking examples. I do have my own opinions but they don't necessarily point to any brand; but rather to certain design elements. The most reliable fans are going to be the simplest. Non-oscillators come to mind, as do direct-drive exhaust fans. Oscillating fans have gears to go bad, as well as flexing of the head wire causing breakage and shorts which can burn the motor or speed coil. The bearings are a huge factor in the reliability of the fan. Fans with large oil reservoirs better sealed against dust getting in and absorbing the oil away from the oil wick, are more reliable. For motors... Capacitors go out and burn windings. Speed coil phase shift designs are often misunderstood and connected wrongly by previous repair attempts. Centrifugal switches wear out. The most reliable motors are shaded pole, since there is nothing to go wrong and the motor is very simple. So, a non-oscillating fan with a shaded pole motor having large bearing oil reservoir would be best. Something with a unit-bearing design possibly. I think there are several brands made along that line. So that's my musings on this. 🙂 What about fans without capacitors? can head wires on oscillators short without the external of the wire breaking from the outside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Argentino Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 2 minutes ago, Mark Olson said: The top 5 in my book are: 1: Emerson 2: Emerson 3: Emerson 4: Emerson 5: Century Lolll. I agree. GE has some good fans too but it won’t match Emerson. I do have a century fan though it is a hunter century 50s model and it still runs. Diehls on the other hand seem to have more issues but good fans too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Olson Posted February 5 Share Posted February 5 1 minute ago, Chris Argentino said: What about fans without capacitors? can head wires on oscillators short without the external of the wire breaking from the outside? At least fans without capacitors don't have a capacitor to fail. As far as can a wire break or short without external evidence? Yes. They can. If you can think of it, it has happened. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Andersen Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 Command-Air 2406. Not pot metal in this one. My most frequently used fan. All I had to do to it was clean the paint, new grease and oil and put new wiring on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Warnecke Posted February 9 Share Posted February 9 All things considered, I would say the Emerson 79xxx series would be the most reliable. You have a bulletproof shaded pole motor that still runs pretty cool, spiral groove single bearing lubrication system ensuring lubrication at extreme up/down pivots, tight tolerances and solid materials. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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