I got this little Diehl fan

[Michael Bouthiller]

I got it from a auction house/antique mall for $30 and is it DC or a universal motor?

Edited July 30, 2024 by Michael Bouthiller

[Anthony Lindsey]

I believe it is AC only.   

[Michael Bouthiller]

What color did these come in originally and what year is it from?

[Rod Rogers]

It's marked 110V 60 cycles on the badge. AC!

 

~Sparky~

[Russ Huber]

On the market 1923-24.

 

 

Edited July 31, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Bobby Gaines]

These are all 9" Fans not sure about the year, 20s.

[Russ Huber]

Bobby, that is a replacement badge and guard, right? 19-teens

 

Edited July 31, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Michael Bouthiller]

[Anthony Lindsey]

You can test for brass by putting a magnet to the blade.  Like a refrigerator magnet.     If it sticks it is steel.   If it doesn't it's brass or aluminum.  

[Michael Bouthiller]

The cord is cut on.my example and I saw the stator is riveted to the housing

[Michael Bouthiller]

I just checked the blades with a magnet and they are steel

[Michael Bouthiller]

Did these fans have a switch or is it a plug and play fan?

[Anthony Lindsey]

It had a on/off switch that goes in one of the 3 holes in the base.  Probably the middle one. 

[James Lawson]

Brass doesn't get surface rust - that's an easy way to tell if you don't have a magnet handy :)

The ad Russ has in his post is your fan, same badge and all. Introduced in 1923 and likely made for at least a year or two, as they turn up occasionally. I've seen a few in this area over the years.

The spoked blade guard came out in '23.

 

[Michael Bouthiller]

[Michael Bouthiller]

The DC myth is debunked