8" Menominee I Picked Up yesterday Morning

[Don Tener]

I know I have not posted here in a while but I really have not had anything actually worth posting. Well this is the first fan I have picked up in a few years in the wild. I got it from a local estate sale. It an 8" Menominee. It runs great on all 3 speeds. The only thing I think is not original is one black brush cap. I do have a couple questions about it. Does it use Vaseline instead of oil? I don't see any oil wicks? Also what are the set screws under the oilers on the front and back for. I just want to know if there is anything I should look out for before I take it apart for cleaning. Also how old o you guys think it is? A guy on Facebook says 1914 to 15

[Jim Kovar]

Great find, Don.

Prompted me to dig
 this out of storage.

Been (neglected) in a cardboard
 box for a few years (decade+?).

Needs some cage work, but
   otherwise pretty straight.

Yours has the tag on the
motor, mine on the base.

I'd guess yours is earlier?

[Jim Kovar]

Don, does yours have a solid
 machined center ring or is it
        stamp form pressed?

Mine is the latter.

[Russ Huber]

11 minutes ago, Jim Kovar said:

Don, does yours have a solid
 machined center ring or is it
        stamp form pressed?

Mine is the latter.

Is yours latter, or did both center rings share the market? This electrical trade image with your stamped center ring dates 15. 

[Russ Huber]

I have a Menominee 8" cone base (introduced in 1914) with a solid brass center ring with company name stamped into the ring. No banner.

[Don Tener]

1 hour ago, Jim Kovar said:

Don, does yours have a solid
 machined center ring or is it
        stamp form pressed?

Mine is the latter.

It's solid not stamped.

[Don Tener]

The cage and blade on this are nice. The blade does not need balanced, it just needs the green crap cleaned off. The cage just needs polished. No brakes or bends in it.

[Russ Huber]

It appears the solid brass guard ring was transitional on the cone base models in 14. The earlier 14 examples would have the Menominee concern stamped into the solid ring. It appears the solid cast center guard rings with the riveted MENOMINEE banner were introduced mid-season 14. 

The 12" universal AC/DC models were introduced in 1915. I have yet to see one with a solid brass center guard ring. It appears the stamped brass center guard ring with riveted MENOMINEE banner was introduced in 15 exclusively for the 15 season.

[Russ Huber]

1916 12" universal AC/DC model with new introduction brass wrapped guard and badge. 1916 was the first year Menominee implemented the badge. 

[Russ Huber]

1917 12" universal AC/DC model now with steel guard. 

[Jim Kovar]

Thanks, Russ.
  Good info. 👍

[Russ Huber]

8" cone base stationary models in chronological order 1914-15. 

 

 

Edited March 16 by Russ Huber

[Don Tener]

32 minutes ago, Russ Huber said:

8" cone base stationary models in chronological order 1914-15. 

 

 

Thanks Russ, You have always been a wealth of knowledge on here, 

[Don Tener]

Before this thread is gone can you guys give me an answer on what type of lubricant to use? Oil or Vaseline? Also I am not seeing oil wicks and it's a top feed system which is why I m leaning toward Vaseline, Thoughts?

[Russ Huber]

Those are grease screw downs. You simply back them out and fill the threaded reservoir with the grease of your choice. You just thread the knurled brass plug back in a full turn to two and it will force grease through a small brass port hole just above the bearing into the bearing surface. Periodically you need to repeat the grease turn down process depending on use.

Yes, they used Vaseline back at the time of the fan's manufacture. You have better options in 2025. 🙂

[Jim Roadt]

As Russ mentioned it is filled with grease and turned in occasionally.   I do not run my fans very often ,therefore. I used Vaseline.  I thought the screw opposite of grease cap was to hold the bearing in place. ( keep in mind my knowledge of fans is limited) Pic of that screw removed

[Jim Roadt]

1914...I believe 

[David Kilnapp]

1 hour ago, Jim Roadt said:

As Russ mentioned it is filled with grease and turned in occasionally.   I do not run my fans very often ,therefore. I used Vaseline.  I thought the screw opposite of grease cap was to hold the bearing in place. ( keep in mind my knowledge of fans is limited) Pic of that screw removed

I believe that this post is correct. The screws are to keep the bearing locked in place.

[Russ Huber]

4 hours ago, Jim Roadt said:

1914...I believe 

1913 for tab base, 1914 introduced the cone base.

[Don Tener]

On 3/18/2025 at 3:05 PM, Russ Huber said:

Those are grease screw downs. You simply back them out and fill the threaded reservoir with the grease of your choice. You just thread the knurled brass plug back in a full turn to two and it will force grease through a small brass port hole just above the bearing into the bearing surface. Periodically you need to repeat the grease turn down process depending on use.

Yes, they used Vaseline back at the time of the fan's manufacture. You have better options in 2025. 🙂

 

On 3/18/2025 at 3:54 PM, Jim Roadt said:

As Russ mentioned it is filled with grease and turned in occasionally.   I do not run my fans very often ,therefore. I used Vaseline.  I thought the screw opposite of grease cap was to hold the bearing in place. ( keep in mind my knowledge of fans is limited) Pic of that screw removed

Thanks guys, I was already thinking that and having your conformation is great.