Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) The Motionair brand of floor circulator was a creation of Joseph T. Roffy, an inventor and that was awarded patents as early as 1917 for lamps, reflectors, flashlights, magnetic and water filter systems. He also was formerly chief engineer of Westinghouse Nernst Lamp Co. and inventor of the focusing flashlight, the Roffy Indirect. He immigrated from Hungary to the United States, and literally re-invented himself: (Special thanks to Steve Rockwell for the great document!): In between success early on, there were hard times for Roffy: 1908 - 1913 - 1919 - Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1938 - Roffy finally gets intellectual property rights on his new fan concept, but production will have to wait until after World War Two. Los Angeles, California post-war was a manufacturer's fantasy land, with plenty of relatively new factories along with a cornucopia of machinery and materials in surplus abundance from all of the naval and air corp aviation related production of ships and aircraft almost free for the taking: An example of a type one Motionair, note the raised letters are factory painted, not highlighted. Images courtesy of the Mevis Image Archive. Please note that the motors are at least initially sourced locally, from the Pacific Division of the Bendix Aviation Corporation, Los Angeles, California: Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1946 - Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1947 - Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1948 - A smaller version with a carrying handle seems to debut in 1948. Images courtesy of the Griggs Collection: The motor is by General Electric: Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1949 - Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1950 - Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1951 - Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1952 - Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1953 - Note the blade reverse sides are marked "All-Clad 245": The Eastern Air Motors were leftover stock from that firm's "going out of business in New York sale" sale. In 1959, Eastern Air Devices, Inc. was bought by the Norbute Corporation subsidiary of Crescent Petroleum Corp. There were enough motors to supply Motion-Air until the mid-1950's, at which point it seems production of the Motion-Air circulators ceased. Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) 1954 - Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 2 Quote
Mike Kearns Posted June 29, 2023 Author Posted June 29, 2023 (edited) These images of a de-constructed Motion-Air, reflecting it's heavy construction and quality, were kindly provided by Mike Mirin. Note the unique blade design and the City of Los Angeles safety approval decal: Edited June 29, 2023 by Mike Kearns 1 Quote
David Allen Posted June 29, 2023 Posted June 29, 2023 Fascinating story on this company and its founder! Quote
Chris Jacobsen Posted June 29, 2023 Posted June 29, 2023 Pretty cool to know. All of this happened in the Bay Area, anyone securing acreage out here from that time would have quite an investment today. Seems like Roffy was a real hustler too. Quote
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