Vic Valencheck Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 I aquired this fan from Facebook marketplace. It's a cat 34017, form T1, type AUU , stationary three speed. It has a steel blade that looks like it was gold painted. I'm looking into getting it brass plated . The cage is steel except for a brass inside ring and badge (strange combo). Struts are steel, brass oil cups and hardware. Does anyone know the circa on this one? Also does anyone have a restored picture of the same fan? I'm having Darryl Hudson make me new floating bearings and a new rotor shaft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Lindsey Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 That is a GE fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Roadt Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 1 hour ago, Anthony Lindsey said: That is a GE fan. I think 1920 was the last year for Sprague and then it became GE? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Valencheck Posted February 24, 2022 Author Share Posted February 24, 2022 1 hour ago, Anthony Lindsey said: That is a GE fan. It has GE parts but is tagged and badged a Spraque. I would like to know the history on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Rockwell Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 (edited) Vic, I hope the marketplace was kind to you on the pricing. Nothing wrong with the fan, and nothing wrong with what you had to say about the fan, though I think plating the blade might be a misguided effort... Yours has a wrapped steel cage, in contrast to my Sprague (Form V3, serial # 1404577), which has the welded cage. You can ballpark yours at 1918 production, but there is a lot of wiggle room there in that era, a year either way. GE already owned Sprague outright, so that differentiation is almost meaningless. GE backed-off fan production for a while in 1915 after a bad fan year 1914, and when they resumed many people were put to work on munitions for the war effort... In 1917 the Company threatened to move all fan production from Pittsfield to the Sprague Electric Works at Watsessing, though nothing yet supports the idea that the threat was ever completely carried out, and there is direct evidence to state the opposite... It appears there was parallel fan construction of the GE designs at both locations, those manufactured in NJ bore the Sprague name, as opposed to the earlier Sprague variant fans which truly were different... My conclusion is that GE had both manufactories in order to ensure production and have a capacity for increased production (I read last week that 1918 was a warm season and there was increased demand for fans), and to have a club to wield over Labor's head... Two clips from 1919: The whole idea of Pittsfield v. Watsessing became moot when GE took over the Remington factory in Bridgeport and moved numerous departments to that facility. Excepting Sprague ventilating fans, Sprague production ceased after 1920. I missed an opportunity or two a few years back to get Sprague "GE" fans, considering them to be nothing more than re-badges. I changed my mind on that subject at some point, now liking any fan that has the revered Sprague name on it, so I think you got a good thing... Edited February 25, 2022 by Steve Rockwell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Making it simple, Sprague badged and tagged fans for 19 and 20 season had a lot of green and a lot of GE. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Gaines Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 I have this one for 3 three or four years. It was a train wreck! The stator was in good shape until a strut screw that was to long made contact with the field coil. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lane Shirey Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 I have a few of the Sprague of that era. I think without exception, all of mine have steel blades including my 6 wing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Valencheck Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 Thanks everyone for your awesome information. According to Russ's info my fan would be circa 1919. Having the green paint and bronze lacquered blade. Bobby you have a great looking fan! Yours would be earlier than mine having a brass blade and being painted black. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Lindsey Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Here are 2 Sprague/GE oscillators near north central FL. if anyone interested. https://lakecity.craigslist.org/atq/d/high-springs-antique-fans/7445563810.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 1 hour ago, Vic Valencheck said: Bobby you have a great looking fan! Yours would be earlier than mine having a brass blade and being painted black. Bob, what color enamel was originally inside the base and under your motor tag example before you painted it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Valencheck Posted February 25, 2022 Author Share Posted February 25, 2022 Just a thought. World War 1 ended in 1918. Possibly they used the surplus army green paint on the GE and Sprague fans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 All Sprague badged and tagged GE 12" and 16" models be it stationary, star, or bell oscillators were in green enamel and marketed 1919 and 1920 only it appears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Huber Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Sprague introduced a 9" model to their DC only 12" & 16" fan motor line in 1916. Anyone own one? Can you please post a picture, or pictures of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Gaines Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Russ it was Green and rust color! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Stephens Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Russ Huber said: All Sprague badged and tagged GE 12" and 16" models be it stationary, star, or bell oscillators were in green enamel and marketed 1919 and 1920 only it appears. I bought a 1920 model Sprague AOU I at Fanfair and it was black....until I got outside to carry it to my car when I could clearly see the paint was VERY DARK green and definitely not black. My photos "look" black but it's dark green and much darker than the usual GE dark green. This is the best running AOU that I ever had. Edited February 25, 2022 by Steve Stephens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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