Liem Nguyen Posted September 6, 2023 Posted September 6, 2023 I recently acquired this unusual fan. From what I've learned, it's a Ritter dental fan made in the 1920s, as an accessory part that can be mounted to dental stations or X-ray equipment sold to dentist offices. 110V AC or DC. As per Mike Kearn, there were 3 paint finishes available: ivory, gloss black and mahogany; and this example was the mahogany version. The fan runs well at 120 VAC on 3 distinct speeds, controlled by a slide switch located at the base of the pedestal. I am working on how to best display the fan. I'll probably put it on a wood base with some water pipe connectors. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. IMG_7414.MOV 1 Quote
Steve Butler Posted September 7, 2023 Posted September 7, 2023 That’s pretty cool, nice find. 👍 Quote
Liem Nguyen Posted September 7, 2023 Author Posted September 7, 2023 1 hour ago, Steve Butler said: That’s pretty cool, nice find. 👍 Thanks Steve. Quote
Liem Nguyen Posted September 7, 2023 Author Posted September 7, 2023 39 minutes ago, Jim Roadt said: next to this chair That would be super cool LOL. I noticed the "Dentist" light bulb on the ceiling too! Quote
Russ Huber Posted September 7, 2023 Posted September 7, 2023 The one I had was a shorty years back. My example had damaged enamel, so I stripped it down to the aluminum and buffed it. Your finish is too nice to mess with. You just use your imagination as to how you want it mount it and where. 3 Quote
Liem Nguyen Posted September 7, 2023 Author Posted September 7, 2023 22 minutes ago, Russ Huber said: The one I had was a shorty years back. My example had damaged enamel, so I stripped it down to the aluminum and buffed it. Your finish is too nice to mess with. You just use your imagination as to how you want it mount it and where. Oh wow! I saw this fan featured on the website called Greatest Collectibles (https://www.greatestcollectibles.com/electric-ritter-dental-fan-chrome-cherry-base-1920´s/) but I didn't know that was yours. You did a wonderful creative restoration on the fan. The restored fan actually looks better than its original form. I like the shining aluminum look a lot. I think I'd make it a pedestal fan with a similar wood base like yours but with different pipe connectors as I want to keep the rectangular adapter at the base. Quote
Russ Huber Posted September 7, 2023 Posted September 7, 2023 54 minutes ago, Liem Nguyen said: Oh wow! I saw this fan featured on the website called Greatest Collectibles (https://www.greatestcollectibles.com/electric-ritter-dental-fan-chrome-cherry-base-1920´s/) but I didn't know that was yours. You did a wonderful creative restoration on the fan. The restored fan actually looks better than its original form. I like the shining aluminum look a lot. I think I'd make it a pedestal fan with a similar wood base like yours but with different pipe connectors as I want to keep the rectangular adapter at the base. I had no clue of that website. The fan went to Malaysia. You have a beautiful finish on your example as is, Liem. I would sit back and close my eyes and give thought to how you wish to display it. 1 Quote
Jim Roadt Posted September 7, 2023 Posted September 7, 2023 Agree with Russ....l would leave original wood grain look. Mine was too far gone and went black. If needed the wood grain look is not too difficult to replicate 1 Quote
Liem Nguyen Posted September 7, 2023 Author Posted September 7, 2023 39 minutes ago, Jim Roadt said: Agree with Russ....l would leave original wood grain look. Mine was too far gone and went black. If needed the wood grain look is not too difficult to replicate I love both of these very creative designs, especially the one with the pedestal. I also like the idea of replicating the finish of the fan for the wood base! Quote
Jim Roadt Posted September 8, 2023 Posted September 8, 2023 8 hours ago, Liem Nguyen said: I love both of these very creative designs, especially the one with the pedestal. I also like the idea of replicating the finish of the fan for the wood base! rustoleum Flat Red Primer for base color. Dry brush Burnt Umber oil paint to simulate wood grain. Satin or gloss( whichever you prefer ) over 1 Quote
Russ Huber Posted September 8, 2023 Posted September 8, 2023 (edited) Harry Bosworth marketed to the Dental community. Bosworth marketed HB fans mid to late teens with woodgrain. How they did that as good as they did back then is a mystery to me. Edited September 8, 2023 by Russ Huber 1 Quote
David Allen Posted September 8, 2023 Posted September 8, 2023 Fascinating fan. It's interesting that a dental / medical equipment supplier would sell "mundane" accessories like this. Looking at the switch, I can see that there are two groups of speed settings, for AC and DC, with a stop post which can be repositioned to change from one to the other. Makes me wonder what they have done electrically. I expect the fan has a series motor which would work on AC or DC. Normally those run faster on DC, so I bet the resistors for the lower speeds on DC are of a higher value possibly? 1 Quote
Russ Huber Posted September 8, 2023 Posted September 8, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, David Allen said: Fascinating fan. It's interesting that a dental / medical equipment supplier would sell "mundane" accessories like this. Looking at the switch, I can see that there are two groups of speed settings, for AC and DC, with a stop post which can be repositioned to change from one to the other. Makes me wonder what they have done electrically. I expect the fan has a series motor which would work on AC or DC. Normally those run faster on DC, so I bet the resistors for the lower speeds on DC are of a higher value possibly? It has been years since I did the restoration, but yes, it is a universal brush motor. And I do believe you are correct that more resistance would be involved for the DC setting. I recall being impressed with the fan's construction. Edited September 8, 2023 by Russ Huber 2 Quote
Steve Rockwell Posted September 8, 2023 Posted September 8, 2023 (edited) Edited September 9, 2023 by Steve Rockwell 2 Quote
Russ Huber Posted September 8, 2023 Posted September 8, 2023 A Catalogue of Ritter Dental Equipment - Google Books 1 Quote
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