A great fan from a great friend Signal 550 A

[Michael Bouthiller]

Me and my friend Alex were texting each other and he sent me some pictures and I noticed this Signal model 550 A and he asked me if I was interested in it and I said yes and a couple of weeks pass and he shipped it to me with a really good packing job thanks Alex!!! 
 

and now onto the fan it’s a Signal model 550 A from 1936 and I had to replace the cord and I replaced it with a houndstooth cord and it looks very good on this fan 

[Anthony Lindsey]

Looks great!

[Daniel Herczeg]

I have a very similar signal fan to that, though sadly, mine doesn't work. It's built like a tank, though.

Edited October 18, 2024 by Daniel Herczeg
Typo

[Michael Bouthiller]

Do you have a picture Daniel 

[Daniel Herczeg]

[Duane Burright]

I have a similar fan, but more raggedy.

IMG_1890.HEIC

[Quentin Malzahn]

I have this one which is similar to yours Michael but this one uses a universal motor which is unique amazing how these fans were made in my home state of Michigan at the time 

Edited October 20, 2024 by Quentin Malzahn

[Quentin Malzahn]

Here’s another one from the same manufacturer I got too 

[Russ Huber]

Both models pictured together same page in the 1936 Signal catalogue. Could possibly be in the 35 catalogue. Unfortunately, the 35 catalogue remains unsurfaced here.

1936 and forward Signal catalogues are provided in the Gallery section.  

[Daniel Herczeg]

Any info on mine?

[Russ Huber]

46 minutes ago, Daniel Herczeg said:

Any info on mine?

When your badge was present. 

[Daniel Herczeg]

The fan does have a badge, it's painted on the metal disk in the center.

[Russ Huber]

On 10/20/2024 at 7:22 PM, Daniel Herczeg said:

Any info on mine?

 

16 hours ago, Daniel Herczeg said:

The fan does have a badge, it's painted on the metal disk in the center.

My point was I can't read the badge to help give info. 🙂

[David Kilnapp]

Here are some Signal fans that I restored for my young friend Jack, one a sixteen inch and the other a twelve inch. As I recall these fans have a gear made of phenol that wears down and then slips quite a bit.

These fans are good daily runners and not too expensive to acquire. They run quietly too, which makes them good for bedrooms.

 

Edited October 22, 2024 by David Kilnapp

[Michael Rathberger]

I don't usually buy them but did purchase the 8" oscillator model several years ago. It's a fun fan to watch run. 

[Russ Huber]

5 hours ago, Michael Rathberger said:

I don't usually buy them but did purchase the 8" oscillator model several years ago. It's a fun fan to watch run. 

Model No. 255. 1936 catalogue. The stationary model is No. 215.

Edited October 23, 2024 by Russ Huber

[Russ Huber]

Phenolic gears are actually fairly hardy. The advantage with them is far less gearbox noise as compared to metal gear mesh when it becomes worn. Back then there were fix it shops that stocked the phenolic gears. You just press the old one off and press the new one on. 

[Russ Huber]

Henry Tideman was head of the engineering department for Signals manufactured/marketed 1928-34. Henry died in June of 1935. The 1935 Signal offerings MAY have been the turning point for Signal fan motor components under a new engineer. If anyone out there has, or down the road finds the 1935 Signal fan motor catalogue, please share its contents. It is a pivotable point of Signal fan motor manufacture with Henry Tideman out of the picture. Thanks!