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Very Rare GE De-Luxe... who got it?


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Posted (edited)

This had very many spectators on eBay but only one bidder other than myself, despite being reasonably priced. 

I kind of wanted to win it, but I also really didn't. I would consider these to be one of the most fragile fans ever made in their wooden form, and I had sent the seller a paragraphs-long message to cancel my bid if the fan would not be disassembled and packaged exceptionally well. 

These are rare fans. My example is the only one I know of in complete and unbroken condition. George Durbin found one a year or so, but with a broken fan blade. This one was missing the crown cover that holds the fan assembly in the drum. I'm not sure how it was in place for the ebay listing. 

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Edited by Nicholas Denney
  • Like 1
Posted

FYI this seller deletes their listings after they sell, so you won't be able to see it. 

Posted

Found 2 of these is excellent original condition 

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  • Like 2
Posted
33 minutes ago, Nicholas Denney said:

FYI this seller deletes their listings after they sell, so you won't be able to see it. 

eBay does not allow sellers to delete auctions after they sell. That has never existed in the 25+ years. 
 

This is listing:
 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186740183975?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=PYYaSK0iTg2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=7p9f4JczSC6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Posted
23 minutes ago, Chris Campbell said:

eBay does not allow sellers to delete auctions after they sell. That has never existed in the 25+ years.

For whatever reason, it does not appear in search history, even just searching "General Electric fan"

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Posted
58 minutes ago, Anthony Lindsey said:

Found 2 of these is excellent original condition 

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Not the wood version with early style rear grille, but simulated woodgrain over pot metal. There are many of these out there, and even more of what I believe is the last version there, just blasted with brown paint and having a hanger hole(?) in the base. Seen several that way.

Posted

Example of early version in prime condition. Note the lack of a wide spoke or spar under the motor

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  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

     Thanks for posting this up Nicholas Denney, and for throwing in on it Anthony Lindsey.  I went to the auction listing provided by Chris Campbell to learn that it has a brass blade... really? I never imagined them to be brass... Maybe it's my eyes, but I read the tag on that auction fan as Form AK1, and serial # L66516. Could someone with functioning lasers read that tag info and post?

   Beyond that, it's fun to postulate that the Form AK1 fans are the wooden versions, and AK2 and AK4 the metal versions, with wood preceding metal, very possibly changed because of the fragility concerns expressed by Nicholas...

 

 

     Good observation about the further difference...

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   I'm way beyond merely intrigued by that blade.....

Edited by Steve Rockwell
Posted
7 minutes ago, Steve Rockwell said:

 I went to the auction listing provided by Chris Campbell to learn that it has a brass blade... really? I never imagined them to be brass... Maybe it's my eyes, but I read the tag on that auction fan as Form AK1, and serial # L66516. Could someone with functioning lasers read that tag info and post?

   Beyond that, it's fun to postulate that the Form AK1 fans are the wooden versions, and AK2 and AK4 the metal versions, with wood preceding metal, very possibly changed because of the fragility concerns expressed by Nicholas...

     Good observation about the further difference...

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It may have a brass blade, but I severely doubt it, although a multitude of metal trim parts on the fan are brass, including the weird retainer plate arrangement. I always wondered if the cavity was an unadvertised selling point; it could certainly be pointed out in a showroom. It's adequate in volume to stash a pretty substantial roll of bills. 

The example I posted is only a few thousand apart on the serials, so the tag and fan is likely identical otherwise. I've always used that narrow vs wide spoke section to readily and reliably identify early wooden vs later pot metal. When the paint is in very good condition, it can be hard to tell, especially in any auction caliber photos. The GE ad copy states the fan is of 'rich walnut tones' but that doesn't necessarily identify the wood, which I was told was actually mahogany. My belief is that wood was dropped as a cost measure rather than fragility at the time. It's a logical progression from wood, to finely painted metal, and then crudely painted metal as this was absolutely not a fan to be selling in the early 30s. It has the performance and functionality of a dimestore fan for the price of a 3-speed oscillator. You could buy SEVEN 6" fans for the price of ONE of these, and the 6" has the same functionality plus a better breeze.

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Posted

     Here's the image for which I seek confirmation:

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  George Durbin--- Some time could you photograph and post an image of your fan's tag?  That might go a long way towards making the case for AK1 signifying wooden components...

Posted

I know of one that was sold by a guy I knew in Dallas who mostly collected microphones in the mid 1990s.   In fact, I’m 99% certain he sold it to Rick Padron

Posted
2 minutes ago, Paul Pierson said:

I know of one that was sold by a guy I knew in Dallas who mostly collected microphones in the mid 1990s.   In fact, I’m 99% certain he sold it to Rick Padron

Specifically, I’m referring to one with the yoke etc made of actual wood

Posted
4 hours ago, Steve Rockwell said:

 Maybe it's my eyes, but I read the tag on that auction fan as Form AK1, and serial # L66516. Could someone with functioning lasers read that tag info and post?

   Beyond that, it's fun to postulate that the Form AK1 fans are the wooden versions, and AK2 and AK4 the metal versions

Somehow I didn't realize what you were asking here. Yes, the ebay fan is an AK1. The seller is mistaken about his own item. You can see the wide serif base of the "1". The horizontal is in the wrong position to make a "4". For whatever reason, GE had at least four separate sets of number punches for these tags. Possibly different machines in different stations? The Form number has comically large serif on the "1", while the Volt is just a vertical strike, and the Spec is more of a traditional typeface.

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Posted

15 years ago in Aiken a guy had a DC version for sale. No takers although it was a fair ask. Not sure about wood etc., but DC was pretty cool.

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