Jump to content

Ritter Dental Fan in Original Mahogany Finish


Recommended Posts

Posted

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_7391.thumb.jpg.c21bebf42af6c8cf3318d32780cc4d3e.jpg   

IMG_7392.jpg

IMG_7393.jpg

IMG_7394.JPG

IMG_7401.jpg

IMG_7403.jpg

IMG_7408.JPG

IMG_7407.jpg

IMG_7413.jpg

  • Like 1
Posted
1 hour ago, Steve Butler said:

That’s pretty cool, nice find.  👍

Thanks Steve.

Posted
39 minutes ago, Jim Roadt said:

next to this chair1694046625549303472696143816058.thumb.jpg.baa2da296567da074f8277ee1557d9e1.jpg

That would be super cool LOL. I noticed the "Dentist" light bulb on the ceiling too! 

Posted

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.

fans 1 5025.jpg

fans 1 5031.jpg

fans 1 5040.jpg

RitterFan 059.jpg

RitterFan 096.jpg

RitterFan 120.jpg

RitterFan 126.jpg

RitterFan 138.jpg

RitterFan 145.jpg

RitterFan 108.jpg

  • Like 3
Posted
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.

fans 1 5025.jpg

fans 1 5031.jpg

fans 1 5040.jpg

RitterFan 059.jpg

RitterFan 096.jpg

RitterFan 120.jpg

RitterFan 126.jpg

RitterFan 138.jpg

RitterFan 145.jpg

RitterFan 108.jpg

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.

Posted
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.

  • Thanks 1
Posted

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 replicate1694100397736537057956783818269.thumb.jpg.5160036fdc7ac988b5d5854d4425a532.jpg16941004327786745145595206947028.thumb.jpg.a329a7c7743f4f053a249adcfae3f910.jpg

  • Thanks 1
Posted
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 replicate1694100397736537057956783818269.thumb.jpg.5160036fdc7ac988b5d5854d4425a532.jpg16941004327786745145595206947028.thumb.jpg.a329a7c7743f4f053a249adcfae3f910.jpg

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!

Posted
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

  • Like 1
Posted (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. 

fans 1 5004.jpg

fans 1 5012.jpg

IMG_2595.JPG

IMG_2571.JPG

IMG_2586 (2).JPG

IMG_2589.JPG

Edited by Russ Huber
  • Like 1
Posted

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? 

  • Like 1
Posted (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 by Russ Huber
  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

                                                        

 

                            image.thumb.jpeg.d3fc0b8c8056806ff6e40e7946c354b5.jpeg

 

 

image.thumb.jpeg.4416a31ac938327842935deb84225b48.jpeg

image.thumb.jpeg.4f2280b8cedfaaaed897688dc86559f8.jpeg

 

 

Edited by Steve Rockwell
  • Like 2

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...