POT METAL

[Roger Borg]

I've seen a few posts here and there about fans with pot metal parts.

Wondering if people can respond with info to establish a useful list of fans and their corresponding parts to be cautious with, ie which models and what parts to watch out for. Also, were they only certain years of that fan, or the entire production run?

Thanks...

[Steve Stephens]

It depends on what model you are talking about.   Many fans used pot metal on some models or years but you didn't say which make you were thinking or asking about.

[Mark Olson]

Another thing about pot metal is that it was not all created equal. Some batches were awful and parts were discarded before being used, other batches took many years to disintegrate, and  parts made from yet other batches are still perfectly fine and may last practically forever.  

Apparently, pot metal was just that, a pot of otherwise waste metal that was used to cast production run parts, and little regard was paid to the actual alloy that resulted from re-melting floor sweepings and broken pieces parts.

Pot metal headaches plague all types of restorers, including those that restore antique cars, radios, and fans. To make a list of things to avoid or watch out for would include almost everything!

[Roger Borg]

9 hours ago, Steve Stephens said:

It depends on what model you are talking about.   Many fans used pot metal on some models or years but you didn't say which make you were thinking or asking about.

Steve, Mark-

I am not working on a specific project that has pot metal, but was rather hoping to make a general catalog of fans to watch out for that are notorious for issues, and what those bad parts are.

In other words, I was hoping to create an ongoing list where people could list fans they have worked on that have this problem. 

Recently I've seen the whiz neck, and I believe a 2 speed century morr housing. Also maybe the oscillator on the ge loop handle (not the bell or the stars, not sure it's common moniker). Kidney fan oscillator box is another that comes to mind. If my recollection is correct, I wanted to add to that list as a resource to the group...

[Roger Borg]

5 hours ago, Mark Olson said:

Another thing about pot metal is that it was not all created equal. Some batches were awful and parts were discarded before being used, other batches took many years to disintegrate, and  parts made from yet other batches are still perfectly fine and may last practically forever.  

Apparently, pot metal was just that, a pot of otherwise waste metal that was used to cast production run parts, and little regard was paid to the actual alloy that resulted from re-melting floor sweepings and broken pieces parts.

Pot metal headaches plague all types of restorers, including those that restore antique cars, radios, and fans. To make a list of things to avoid or watch out for would include almost everything!

Or as Mark alluded to, if that is too herculean a task, maybe I can flip the script and ask what fans NEVER used pot metal. R&M is one I recall being named as a non offender?

[John Landstrom]

I know I searched high and low for a gearbox for a GE AOU and it took me over 6 months to find one in good enough shape to use.  

Others are look now with few successes.  
 

I’d suggest giving Louis Luu the hurculean task of reproducing them.  To me it’s the one part that’s preventing many of those fans from coming back into service.  
 

** Sorry Louis for throwing you under the bus.   

[David Kilnapp]

Stamped steel Westinghouse fans from the 1920's have a lot of pot metal parts (the nose, the rear gear housing, the neck piece that the oscilating arm attaches to and so forth). I worked on a small Dayton (model 367) whose neck piece was pot metal which notoriously was almost always found disintegrated or otherwise broken into pieces.  I made it into a frankenfan by cutting out the offending piece and rebuilding it with Westinghouse parts. It's not worth a sou but it was a fun project and the fan works fine as it is.

 

[Louis Luu]

2 hours ago, John Landstrom said:

I know I searched high and low for a gearbox for a GE AOU and it took me over 6 months to find one in good enough shape to use.  

Others are look now with few successes.  
 

I’d suggest giving Louis Luu the hurculean task of reproducing them.  To me it’s the one part that’s preventing many of those fans from coming back into service.  
 

** Sorry Louis for throwing you under the bus.   

No problem.  I just don't have one to copy from.  I'm still waiting for the second C-Frame clips to show up so I can verify the size and send them off for printing.  All I know is the post in Akron Ohio is a nightmare right now with numerous inspection and problems.  If needed, I will will have to guess on the dimensions and print them....should be good.  I finally have some free time....done with Jury duty today and catching up.

 

Edited June 28, 2023 by Louis Luu

[John Landstrom]

From Louis Luu:

No problem.  I just don't have one to copy from.  I'm still waiting for the second C-Frame clips to show up so I can verify the size and send them off for printing. 
 

Louis - if it would help the effort, I’m willing to disassemble my AK1 and send you the gearbox.   Would you need all the internal components as well? (I’m assuming you would like to test fit stuff).  
However having it “lost in the mail” would not be good….at all.   Feel free to message me with your input and what you’d like to have on hand to do your magic.   
 

john

[Louis Luu]

21 minutes ago, John Landstrom said:

From Louis Luu:

No problem.  I just don't have one to copy from.  I'm still waiting for the second C-Frame clips to show up so I can verify the size and send them off for printing. 
 

Louis - if it would help the effort, I’m willing to disassemble my AK1 and send you the gearbox.   Would you need all the internal components as well? (I’m assuming you would like to test fit stuff).  
However having it “lost in the mail” would not be good….at all.   Feel free to message me with your input and what you’d like to have on hand to do your magic.   
 

john

Let's hold off on it for now.  I need to finish a couple things on my end first.

[John Landstrom]

Oh, trust me I can wait.   It hasn’t been a year since I resto’d that (my first) fan.  

[Terry Plata]

Having dealt with ancient Pot Metal in auto restoration and now vintage fans I will add my 2 cents. First rule is LOSE THE HAMMER. Aged pot metal tends to swell over many years and does not respond well to sharp impact when attempting disassembly. A gentle press and patience may save the parts and a lot of grief. JB Weld does a good job filling gaps and is a respectable adhesive to mend unobtanium parts. If the item is fairly simple in design like a neck swivel fitting, I believe fabricating new out of aluminum would be the best permanent solution.