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First year Artic Aire Fans (1939)?


Doug Wendel

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I have these two early Arctic Aires fans, a small one and the medium one -- 9" & 12" I think.  I've had them forever.  They are super art-deco, and complete but for typical roughness.  I'm not sure if they run, but the cords are toast for sure. I've only ever seen a handful of these early models and was hoping to learn more info.  I could be mistaken, but I believe them to be 1939, first year/model for these fans.  They are distinguished by the oscillator engagement knob being recessed into the rear motor cover -- very streamlined.  That's about all I know, so I'd love to hear from the experts.  Are they any good?  Worth restoring?  I haven't tried to restore a fan this new in ages.  I don't like pot metal, phenolic gears, or any other self-destructo parts.  Are they are things to look out for?  Did they only made this design for one year because it sucked (I know Fasco made later variations for many years)?  Thanks, fan dudes and fan dudettes! 

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Hey Doug, 1939 was the first run where they used date codes, 1939 = Z, but they were around before then. I like Fascos & have a number of them. They were very well built fans for the middle class market. I especially like the ones like yours with the oscillator wheel protruding & the gooseneck base. Were they of the same quality as the big three, no, but they were very well built fans. I don't think the 16" came until the later 30s.

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First year Artic Aire Fans (1939)?

image.jpeg.ee4e7875ed7651f049bb09712bf1c0af.jpeg ?

 

In ascending order of age :

image.thumb.jpeg.83eeca7b10fc17df0f8251684691f22c.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.3729e3812c330f82efc6778656c1e245.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.08369d2c53a61bc6125fed359251a8a4.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.e0b2749b887df804ae4878f354075a76.jpeg

image.jpeg.70a9036e1bb1d8b6d6781ff86050ca09.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.e679dd4988bd206be3a03587ebd62939.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.866d58f2cbca3703110650d86ef2bbd6.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.14d35c28d4eda2848e3b5f6bbd4fd7de.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.c1521612ed33a0e7f86d603853cb1142.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.862b3fb4f009ef191e46429110fd0618.jpeg

 

 

Don't know what to say about this one; possibly they tried branching into all types of cooling, but it's dubious, and I can't confirm.....

image.thumb.jpeg.5cdbe795b4c30d6581c6b47d8f39c379.jpeg

image.jpeg.62bdd0ab0b84a0c8c7b466cca7279696.jpeg

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6 hours ago, Steve Rockwell said:

First year Artic Aire Fans (1939)?

image.jpeg.ee4e7875ed7651f049bb09712bf1c0af.jpeg ?

 

 

Electrical Merchandising Week - Volumes 47-48 - Page 58

 
 
1932 · ‎Snippet view
FOUND INSIDE – PAGE 58
Arctic - Aire Fan An 8 - in . non - oscillating fan , with in-duction type motor, for use on 110- volt, 60 - cycle alternating current, has been brought out by the F. A. Smith Manufacturing Company , Rochester , N. Y.
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  • 1 month later...

                                                           13 Jul 1932

image.thumb.jpeg.e77a86cf4c02e7f7f102b3e483c136ca.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.81edf4be97b0b8a8c5bde7056b4c0c3d.jpeg

                                        image.jpeg

Edited by Steve Rockwell
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  • 2 months later...

     OK Doug, we've established they're not first generation.   Can you share more, and varied, photos of both? Guard configuration, perhaps even switches, might provide clues to render a more accurate age estimate... Your first pic is 12-inch? Second 10- ?

    Check out the old Galleries' submissions... The improved blade of Dave Rouse's fan, and marvel at the condition of Loren Haroldson's contribution..

image.jpeg.b25743ee9717a019127244e26d882919.jpeg

image.jpeg.99fb824460b483ffc4c2aea3d15bd607.jpeg

Edited by Steve Rockwell
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     To date, all evidence suggests 1936 as the year of introduction for the cranked-neck Arctic-Aire fan...

                                                                image.png.e3e419f38cc2076ea19c066b668f8b64.png

 

 

             That green loop oscillator in the eighth Post is an interesting one.....

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 11/30/2023 at 10:04 AM, Steve Rockwell said:

To date, all evidence suggests 1936 as the year of introduction for the cranked-neck Arctic-Aire fan...

 

             Another attempt...

 

      Can anyone confirm a date earlier than 1936 for Doug's fan?

 

 

                                                                                  11 May 1936

                                                                 image.thumb.png.9133c51dfc04cd5292c7fc40a69ffdbc.png

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This image is tucked away in the file...   attribution reads: "king-kool- Mike Mirin" and is dated 31 Jan 2023.....

     Same blade as Doug's, different base.     Switch?

       image.jpeg.99ef21b3ba25637016f2b86c57a49240.jpeg

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2 hours ago, Steve Rockwell said:

This image is tucked away in the file...   attribution reads: "king-kool- Mike Mirin" and is dated 31 Jan 2023.....

     Same blade as Doug's, different base.     Switch?

       image.jpeg.99ef21b3ba25637016f2b86c57a49240.jpeg

If what I am seeing is correct on the base, it is a push button On-Off Leviton. There is NO patent date on the examples I have.

16-king-kool-1.JPG.db58ffe386438bfc5092f7080ace1bcc.jpg

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The blender style fan patent design would have followed these examples as it was filed in Dec. of 37. The later examples have the Cutler-Hammer rotary 3-speed switches with patent issued in 38.

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