GE Fan Dating Confusion

[Russ Huber]

I don't understand how those that know can date these GE fans to a specific year based on trimmings and hardware. The 3 GE fan motor bulletin images seen here dating 1911, 12, and 13 are in chronological order. They are the same images. When exactly did GE go from stator bolts and brass hex nuts to later brass screws? When did GE start using the later brass profile struts? Is there data I am unaware of that places these fans to specific years? 

Were the changes noticed through numbers of examples and the use of serials?

1911 GE Fan Motor Bulletin

1912 GE Fan Motor Bulletin

1913 GE Fan Motor Bulletin

Edited May 17, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Russ Huber]

1914 GE fan motor bulletin shows the Kidney oscillator now offered with loop carry handle and 16" model only. You can see distinctly the use of stator screws and brass profile struts. 

[Russ Huber]

The 1911 GE fan motor bulletin was the first year the Kidney oscillator was introduced to electrical trade so it safe to assume this image and the hardware and trimmings were correct for early 1911.

Beyond early fan motor season of 1911 and based on GE fan motor component evolution within that fan motor year/season itself, is it safe to state that nobody can clearly validate when GE profile struts and brass stator screws were implemented between 1911 and 1913?

[Steve Rockwell]

     I'll just address this one item: Is it safe to state that nobody can clearly validate when GE profile struts were implemented between 1911 and 1913?

The GE Survey from the INFO section continues to amaze... Sure, some things need updating, but the bulk of it only seems to be confirmed more and more with time... a really fine effort.

 

 

The photo is dated 29 Mar 1911; the label in the photo is dated 2 Dec 1910.

 

     All 1910 images I've checked have flat stock struts; later 1911 pics have profile struts, and essentially all 1912 pics (quickly) surveyed had the profile struts. 

     Whether those 1911 profile-strutted fans went to market 1911 or were being prepared for 1912 release will require further investigation, though it's believable that fans in 1911, some at least, carried that feature... I suspect that many or most were still flat-strutted...

 

Edited May 17, 2024 by Steve Rockwell

[Russ Huber]

GE profile struts MAY have been implemented between 1911-1912. Early 1912 appears to support them. Stator studs with brass acorns offered all 4 years, however, check out part Rb(screw for motor cap direct current) introduced in 12 and present through 14.  

It APPEARS EARLY 1911 models had stator bolts with brass hex nuts, or so it was intended. 

1911 

1912

1913

1914

Edited May 18, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Russ Huber]

4 hours ago, Steve Rockwell said:

   The photo is dated 29 Mar 1911; the label in the photo is dated 2 Dec 1910.

 

 

 

 

[Russ Huber]

The photo is dated 29 Mar 1911; the label in the photo is dated 2 Dec 1910. ~ Steve Rockwell

 

If the image you shared below is dated accurately, that means just when GE implemented the profile brass struts and brass stator screws is a crap shoot between 1911-1912. There sure are a lot of GE stationery and oscillating kidneys with stator studs and hex brass nuts. GE fan motor evolution makes me nuts. 🙂

Edited May 18, 2024 by Russ Huber

[David Kilnapp]

Wow, this information is wonderful, Russ. How would I go about getting this booklet?

[Michael Rathberger]

Serial numbers maybe, but I would go from least functional and most difficult to make to most functional and least difficult....

[Kim Frank]

I really can't add much, but an observation I have made is that the fourth Variant BMY (the tallest model) usually have the profiled struts and the slotted screws for the stator start to be used on this model. The three earlier models have flat struts and acorn nuts on studs. Those would be the '08 with squat base and struts mounted to the face of the motor, 2nd variant with squat base and struts mounted to perimeter of motor, and 3rd variant which is the squat base with the slot cut into the neck to angle the trunnion.

[Russ Huber]

4 hours ago, David Kilnapp said:

Wow, this information is wonderful, Russ. How would I go about getting this booklet?

Steve Rockwell shared numerous dated in chronological order GE Bulletins including fan motor bulletins.  If anyone out there has the 1915 GE fan motor bulletin (catalogue), please share it here.

 

Edited May 18, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Russ Huber]

4 hours ago, David Kilnapp said:

Wow, this information is wonderful, Russ. How would I go about getting this booklet?

David, actually it was your 1911 dating on your recent GE Kidney oscillator restoration post that got me to dig around.  Don't get me wrong, not to disprove you, but to get to the facts. The facts are based on the above information posted here; your kidney oscillator could date anywhere between 1911-1913. Steve Rockwell's 1911 dated image he shared above throws a wrench into the works so to speak.  It is contradictory to the dated January introduction 1911 GE fan motor bulletin offerings. The large corporate General Electric's constant fan motor evolution changes appear to occur within each fan motor season, making the changes nearly impossible to be Johnny on the spot about exactly when the changes happened. 🙂 

[Steve Rockwell]

https://new.afcaforum.com/index.php?/topic/592-general-electric-bulletins-instruction-sheets-price-lists-catalogs-1895-1952/#comment-3705

[James Lawson]

Thanks for posting the link to the bulletins. Those are an excellent resource.

Even though I've collected and researched mostly in the dark up until now, it always seemed to me that the years 1911-13 were murky at best for GE. The only way I knew of to put an assumed best date on something during this range was where the serial number fell. Once GE re-introduced the form letters, it got easier. Though I still don't fully understand the Form V fiasco of 1919-20. For those, I always assumed the Form Vs with the "stars" were 1919 and the ones with the round knob on the gearbox were 1920. Though I had one that had a 1918 style motor tag stamped as Form V with a round knob on the gearbox. Go figure.

[Russ Huber]

4 minutes ago, James Lawson said:

Go figure.

General Electric Fan Motors = Go figure.