Dave McManaman Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 I recently picked up this 8" nickel plated Fitzgerald Mfg Star Electric. A Model 1200 with a three speed universal motor. Save for the cage being bent in transit, it's seems to be in really good shape. Particularly for being around 100 years old. The insides and wiring all look solid. The brush/spring assemblies look like it was barely used. Commutator was clean with no wear. Not sure of it's history, but it really doesn't look like anyone's been inside. The nuts, etc, all looked undisturbed. It even has the paper tag on the bottom that makes me think it sat in a box for most of its life. The finish looks to be in good shape, no real pitting that I can see but it needs cleaned/polished. I've read several threads in the old forum about cleaning nickel finish, suggestions were everything from just soap/water to WD-40 with 0000 steel wool and a very light touch. Or even non-pumice hand cleaner. Anyone have experience with these, with cleaning/polishing the nickel? I presume it's pretty thin and I want to make sure not to get aggressive. I'd rather take baby steps to get it done. Here are some pictures as received and as opened up. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven P Dempsey Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 That is a nice one, most are rusty as mine!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Lagarde Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 A great looking little fan. Nice find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Borg Posted February 7, 2022 Share Posted February 7, 2022 I have a 2200, single speed, non oscillator. It was in good shape, but I used quick glo to shine it up more. But thought it was chrome, not nickel. As a related sidebar, I have a ge nickel where tag is shiny. My 2200 has a shiny tag too. Relevant because I was unsure if nickel needs to be cleaned differently than chrome. Any input is appreciated... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Dunaway Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Where did you go to get the Quick-Glo ?? Looks like it might be good to clean up a couple of Freshnd- Air fans out back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Amazon.com: Quick-Glo - Original, 8 oz - Chrome Cleaner & Rust Remover, Featured on Jay Leno's Garage. Made in the USA & Non Toxic : Health & Household 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Borg Posted February 8, 2022 Share Posted February 8, 2022 Russ, you beat me to the punch, purchased from amazon. BUT, still unsure if this is ok for nickel finishes also. Does nickel need to be treated differently than chrome? Thanks... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lane Shirey Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 My only thought here is that some automotive chrome polishes have a light acid in them to dissolve rust that forms on the chrome. Not sure if that would act upon the nickel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave McManaman Posted February 10, 2022 Author Share Posted February 10, 2022 Thanks for the ideas. I tried to find out the ingredients on the Quick-glo. I saw there's actually three varieties with all of them having varying degrees of pumice, the ultra-fine P3 supposedly good for soft metals. But I never could find an ingredients list to see if it includes any acids. While I was looking, I also found a product called "Nevr-dull" wadding polish which actually advertises as being good for nickel plating also. Has anyone tried that? I may just start with an eyeglass cloth and some soap/water to get the oils off but suspect it's going to take more than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Lagarde Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 Any thoughts on when these Fitzgerald Electric fans were manufactured? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lane Shirey Posted February 11, 2022 Share Posted February 11, 2022 On 2/9/2022 at 11:25 PM, Dave McManaman said: Thanks for the ideas. I tried to find out the ingredients on the Quick-glo. I saw there's actually three varieties with all of them having varying degrees of pumice, the ultra-fine P3 supposedly good for soft metals. But I never could find an ingredients list to see if it includes any acids. While I was looking, I also found a product called "Nevr-dull" wadding polish which actually advertises as being good for nickel plating also. Has anyone tried that? I may just start with an eyeglass cloth and some soap/water to get the oils off but suspect it's going to take more than that. Oils? Just use acetone or lacquer thinner. Won’t hurt the nickel or chrome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave McManaman Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 (edited) On 2/11/2022 at 6:16 AM, Mel Lagarde said: Any thoughts on when these Fitzgerald Electric fans were manufactured? I read somewhere that the Model 1200 was out in 1922 but at least by 1920 as shown in this publication. Edited February 18, 2022 by Dave McManaman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave McManaman Posted February 11, 2022 Author Share Posted February 11, 2022 1 hour ago, Lane Shirey said: Oils? Just use acetone or lacquer thinner. Won’t hurt the nickel or chrome. Thanks Lane. Just wasn’t sure how hardy the nickel would be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Lagarde Posted February 12, 2022 Share Posted February 12, 2022 Thank you, Dave!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave McManaman Posted February 15, 2022 Author Share Posted February 15, 2022 Has anyone used “Nevr-dull” on nickel finished fans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 Introduced in 21. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Hughes Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 Never dull is good stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave McManaman Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 Thanks all for suggestions and affirmation of a cleaning/ polishing regime. I used some acetone to clean up the oil residue around the front/back, nevr-dull to remove most of the rest of the tarnish, then hit it with simichrome and an eyeglass cloth. Still some more areas that I think I can clean up which became more apparent in these pictures. I started to take the bottom off so I could run a new grommet up the headwire as the one entering the head is busted. But I held off. All of the rubber parts are dry so I may replace each one. But my next step is the mangled steel cage which I never seen to get right. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Andersen Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 Looks great. I've got one of these to work on but the armature has some big problems. It was $5 though so maybe a shelf piece until I found a functioning armature. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave McManaman Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 (edited) On 2/15/2022 at 1:33 AM, Russ Huber said: Introduced in 21. I’ll be darn, advertised as having a “special Fitzgerald plug” and look what I just realized?! Edited February 18, 2022 by Dave McManaman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Rushing Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 Absolutely beautiful, David!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave McManaman Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 Well, the cage is getting there. Got it all cleaned up and back in proper shape. Question about steel cages. Do they get clear coated? Polished/waxed? How best to retain the luster against the nickel base? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Andersen Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Dave McManaman said: Well, the cage is getting there. Got it all cleaned up and back in proper shape. Question about steel cages. Do they get clear coated? Polished/waxed? How best to retain the luster against the nickel base? You could blue the steel and then put a silicone sealer spray over it. Thats what I do with other steel. Note that you can't clear coat it if blued, it will eat through it. You can clear coat it instead of blueing but I've never had luck. It always slowly blooms and rusts underneath. Edited February 19, 2022 by Trevor Andersen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Andersen Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 You could also electroplate your own nickel cage. I've done that in the past to other projects not fan related. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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