century I found a nice one

[Doug Wendel]

This is in the top three least common fan I've found "in the wild."   I'm sure it is the furthest I've ever driven to pick up a specific fan.  I haven't wiped off the dust yet, and I just put in on the bench and took some pics.  I've looked it over and see a few things wrong, but once stripped, recoated and all polished up it should look pretty goood (jk - not gonna happen).  It will get normal cleaning and reconditioning, a few repairs and a new rear oiler.   I'm not a Century expert at all.  I've owned a couple of split phase S3s as well as regular S3 oscillators, but I didn't keep any of them.   This one I think will be a keeper, although I think it's pretty ugly and has too many parts for what it is.   Does anyone know how many were made?  I feel pretty luck to have bought it.  I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments.

 

[Steve Cunningham]

Home run. Send George Durbin the tag info. He’s keeping a survey.

[Doug Wendel]

9 minutes ago, Steve Cunningham said:

Home run. Send George Durbin the tag info. He’s keeping a survey.

Okay, I just sent him the info.

[Louis Weedman]

Definitely a nice score!

[Paul Carmody]

I have a Skeletal oscillator. A non oscillator is on my short list.Good find!

[Russ Huber]

Pillsbury patented the S4 desk fan motor introduced in 11. They were manufactured in a very small window in time. Pillsbury filed patent for the next cast base variant which may have hit the market as early as 12. The second patent was filed early 12. Electrical trade is not much help with images separating the 2 cast base variants (S4-S3). It 'appears' the cast base models were manufactured in a 3-year window being 11-13,

Edited July 15, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Stan Adams]

Wow!

[Russ Huber]

 

[Russ Huber]

7 hours ago, Doug Wendel said:

I've owned a couple of split phase S3s as well as regular S3 oscillators, but I didn't keep any of them. 

This is a cast base S3 model you owned and posted in past, and you sold it? It was the 3rd cast base variant. Like I said, cast base Century split phase models had a 3 year manufacture span at best 1911-13. 1914 introduced the drawn steel base.

[Steve Butler]

Nice find Doug! I personally think the back of the stationary models is better looking than the oscillators. The openness of it is perfect for a lipstick finish.  👍

[Russ Huber]

Steve Stephens owns the transitional model from S4 to S3 cast base. Notice the early cast base with the 1912 filing Pillsbury patented motor housing.

 

Edited July 15, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Doug Wendel]

On 7/14/2024 at 11:15 PM, Russ Huber said:

This is a cast base S3 model you owned and posted in past, and you sold it? It was the 3rd cast base variant. Like I said, cast base Century split phase models had a 3 year manufacture span at best 1911-13. 1914 introduced the drawn steel base.

Hi Russ, Yes, I sold that one to Chad Baker last year.  It was pretty complete but needed a lot of work, and I didn't want to deal with it.  I can only restore or refurbish one or two fans a year.  I probably have 10-15 good ones in que and still seem to find a couple each year.  I will never get through them all, so some gotta go.  I don't want to leave a bunch of junk for my kids to deal with. 

[Matthew Albach]

On 7/14/2024 at 10:54 PM, Russ Huber said:

 

Hi Russ  I’m still doing the survey but it’s slow not getting much input from collectors  on the split phase s3  I have some transition models in the survey as well  if you have any input please let me know anyone have any like to share this survey  please keep this survey going 

[Russ Huber]

25 minutes ago, Matthew Albach said:

Hi Russ  I’m still doing the survey but it’s slow not getting much input from collectors  on the split phase s3  I have some transition models in the survey as well  if you have any input please let me know anyone have any like to share this survey  please keep this survey going 

Hi Matthew, 

Based on what 1911-13 electrical trade has to offer for images and information of Century desk fans, there is not much to gain. They use the same Century S4 desk fan images into 13. Yes, there are surfaced examples that help with the transition. I would say Steve Stephen's S3 example stands out from the crowd. But there are S4 examples with serials that surpass Steve's transitional S3 serial. That would kind of be a heads up the S4 models and S3 cast base models were sharing the market for a period of time. Trying to validate that period of time without documentation could be very challenging. 🙂

[Matthew Albach]

I agree however, I see patterns a shift in the models going to self start to possibly to the s4  very interesting I say 

[Scott Jeffrey]

I don’t believe I sent this one to anyone. 

[Matthew Albach]

Nice s4 Scott but this topic is for the split  phase s3 survey however, awesome fan  I have serval of the s4 too 

 

[Russ Huber]

On 7/16/2024 at 2:50 PM, Doug Wendel said:

Hi Russ, Yes, I sold that one to Chad Baker last year.  It was pretty complete but needed a lot of work, and I didn't want to deal with it.   

I kept mine, Doug, I loved the guard.  Love those S4 big beefy motors over the S3. 🙂

Edited July 18, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Matthew Albach]

Yes I agree I prefer the s4 as well s3 dwarfs it  both sound identical when starting up and that pop sound . Which love that typical century startup  sound  and pop sound . Hey Russ did you restore this s3 ? 

[Russ Huber]

1 hour ago, Matthew Albach said:

 Hey Russ did you restore this s3 ? 

My life is one big box project, Matthew. If dementia starts setting in, I am SOL. 🙂

[Matthew Albach]

Welll I don’t think you have anything to worry about you did a awesome job on this fan 

[Russ Huber]

10 hours ago, Russ Huber said:

My life is one big box project, Matthew. If dementia starts setting in, I am SOL. 🙂

9 hours ago, Matthew Albach said:

Well I don’t think you have anything to worry about.

 

At the pace I am getting the box projects done, I have a great deal to worry about.  In the future there won't be a old fan auction here, there will be a 'boxed' fan auction.

[Matthew Albach]

Look at in another way  can say it’s a mystery box  📦 with stuff but I get what your saying I got few fans I have to get together projects ugh no project goes without another