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Dayton type 50 No 944B- Any information?


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Posted

My grandfather was a Merchant Marine sailing out of Corpus Christi, TX for many years. One of the ships he sailed on was going to be scrapped and he was given the fan in his bunk room. It sat in their kitchen for years. We used to sit in that kitchen with that fan running, and he would tell me stories about his trips around the world. I associate that fan with him and those stories. I inherited that fan and it was what got me interested in old fans. I would love to learn more about it, and the Dayton Fan Company and their models. Anything and everything you can share with me would be greatly appreciated. I have read through the threads on this site, and that was interesting, but there was nothing on this model. 

From what I can tell you about it: It is a 12" with a cast iron base and motor housing. It has brass blades and cage. It is fixed, does not oscillate. I have a few photos of it, including one of the tag on top of the motor. I have had it 25-30 years and I never had it restored. Possibly my grandparents did. It is in good shape and does look like it was restored at some point. 
The shaft moves forward and back a little when it first starts up. And the blades need to be balanced. But it runs great and doesn't overheat. I finally took it out of my kitchen and replaced it with an Emerson that is super quiet. But, this will always be my favorite fan. 

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Posted

Here is the Dayton type 50 that preceded your model. It had a mechanical start switch which was discontinued in 1912. Your fan dates somewhere from 1912 into the teens. 

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Posted

Thanks Russ, that is the closest I have ever been to dating it. I just did a search on this site for the Dayton 50 and found more than I did previously. If I understood correctly and the "NO. ______" is a serial number, and they started with 101 as suggested, then my fan with the number 944B might be a first year production of the later model you referred to. So maybe it was manufactured in 1912-1913? Does that make sense? 

Posted

I left off the description that it also has a three speed slide switch. 

Posted

Russ, does your fan have a tag on the motor housing and if so, what is the No. _____? Does it by any chance end in an "A", indicating a switch in the design to a "B" as my number ends with? Just a WAG. I noticed the other photos I found on this site of the Model 50 with tags, showed No. _________ in the thousands and one in the tens of thousands. And, they all ended in "B". I wonder what the significance of the "B" might be. 

Posted

Gerry, you have a very nice example to be proud of. Please don't get to wrapped up in the serial no. stuff. Your fan was produced over a number of years, so it isn't rare as hen's teeth. If I were you, I would learn how to reduce your rotor shaft end play (rotor sliding back and forth) and balance your blade. Your fan is a nice example that has passed down in your family. Definitely worth learning how to get it running like it did when it left the factory. 🙂

 

Posted

Gerry,  I recently picked up a Dayton 50 and because of that I’ve noted how it has evolved. 
1.  Early versions have a solid cast brass hub and later versions have a hole in the center. 
2.  Early versions have a small pancake size protrusion cast in the motor housing behind the blade with brushes.  Brushed motor.  Later versions don’t have brushes.  
3.  Mine does not have the tear drop shaped speed indicators cast into the base by the switch and my serial number is 101A.  Not sure what A and B indicate. 
4.  Early versions have an open ring cage and later ones have a Dayton banner in front of the cage.  
5. Earlier versions have the motor tag on top of the motor and later versions have the motor tag on the neck of the fan.  
 

These fans are around but still very rare when you compare them to a Westinghouse Tank made a few years earlier and sell for about the same price.   I feel they are undervalued due to rarity, cast brass hub, pizza blades, and tab feet.  

Posted
15 hours ago, Russ Huber said:

Gerry, you have a very nice example to be proud of. Please don't get to wrapped up in the serial no. stuff. Your fan was produced over a number of years, so it isn't rare as hen's teeth. If I were you, I would learn how to reduce your rotor shaft end play (rotor sliding back and forth) and balance your blade. Your fan is a nice example that has passed down in your family. Definitely worth learning how to get it running like it did when it left the factory. 🙂

 

Great advice Russ. I enjoy the research as much as the hands-on restoration. It is just my nature. But you are right, I joined the club to learn how to restore old fans. I am looking forward to seeing Stan's workshop at the Lake Houston regional meet next month. I have yet to see someone else's workshop and learn techniques from them. I have spent more time doing research to learn than I have watching someone else work. 

Do you have any tips for me on how to reduce the rotor shaft travel and how to straighten and balance brass blades? 

Thanks

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Gerry Meeks said:

I am looking forward to seeing Stan's workshop at the Lake Houston regional meet next month. I have yet to see someone else's workshop and learn techniques from them. I have spent more time doing research to learn than I have watching someone else work. 

Do you have any tips for me on how to reduce the rotor shaft travel and how to straighten and balance brass blades? 

Thanks

Take it to Stan's regional and he or someone will help you. Your rotor end play is a fiber washer issue. I am sure someone at Stan's meet will have a strobe to check your blade wings. Enjoy your toy! 🙂

Edited by Russ Huber
Posted

Here is the mighty mouse Holy Grail, Gerry. The 8" Dayton desk & bracket nobody appears to have. It was on the market a year before the pivot patent on your fan was filed in 10.

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Posted

Thanks Russ. I will be on the lookout for an 8" Dayton desktop. As I said this 12" model 50 will always be my favorite, because of my departed grandfather and his stories of life in the Merchant Marines. 

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