Up for your consideration is a rare GE Late-1903 12 5-speed pie-shaped brass-bladed swivel & trunnion smooth-running pancake fan. Serial # 176607, which tells us it was made in Late-1903. Yes, this fan was for the well-heeled of that time only — a luxury item for the truly rich. About the condition of this fan: I would call this fan, for its age and overall in-tactness Very Good. I obtained this fan many years ago — and it is one that I’ve never updated, restored, or otherwise “tinkered” with – save for a good cleaning, replacing the head-wire and the cord, a few cosmetic paint touch-ups, and a new wick and oil in the cups in 2007. The cage was replaced with a slightly later one at some point in its long history, though it does not detract from or change its original and proper look. This original specimen is completely in tact save for a grommet in the base where the cord goes in and a on/off knob that is not original. It is also missing the cardboard that covers the speed coil, etc under the base. I would call this in good+ cosmetic condition, and excellent operational condition. I don’t really see any signs of real degrading wear for a 112 year old fan – and again, it runs smooth as silk. This fan operates on all 5 speeds. On Speed 1 (the highest speed), the fan works its way quickly to full speed. From there, it gradually slows down on Speeds 2, 3, and 4. On Speed 5, it puts out the gentlest of breezes – almost silent. The wind-down when turned off takes over 1 minute. The electric output specs at 108 Volts (via a Variac): Speed 1 – 79 watts; Speed 2 – 56 watts; Speed 3 – 45 watts; Speed 4 – 37 watts; and Speed 5 – 34 watts. This fan was made for an AC 100/115 Volt outlet. I’ve always run it with a Variac. It runs very cool. You’ll note from the picture that the speed coil and other mechanisms in the base are original and in tact — with a little soldering help from me to ensure firm electrical contacts on the switch. The cage is near-perfect, with the badge being pristine. The blades are also near-perfect with a patina on them though I did once shine them years ago. The oil cup is present, as well. There have been some paint touch-ups on certain areas of the base and motor, but most areas are original and you can still see the shine of the original black paint in many places. My guess is that this fan was used a great deal very early in its life, then relagated to the top of a closet, attic or barn for 80+ years. Enjoy a slice of history (just think about what else was going in in 1903 when GE was busy in Schenectady building this fan — Henry Ford’s new cars, George Eastman’s new Kodak Box cameras, etc) with a conversation piece like this beautiful specimen. I believe this fan, in the right hands, could be restored into something of epic beauty. You can be assured of excellent and secure packing. My plan is to remove the cage and blade and secure in a separate box from the base. This will ensure a safe journey. And, as you can surely suspect, this fan is very heavy. He weighs nearly 35 pounds — and with added packing weight, etc. Also, if you’re in the greater Chicagoland area, I’m happy to have you pick the fan up. Please look at my other auctions. Some fans are older and more remarkable; others are more common but possess some kind of aesthetic history that I thought was unique or interesting. You’ll find that all fans are operational, clean, and in good condition. If for some reason there is an issue with the item when it arrives, please contact me ASAP to address it. The item “Antique 1903 GE Pancake 12 5-Speed Brass Blade Fan Type AK Form C #176607 VG” is in sale since Sunday, October 25, 2015. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Kitchen & Home\Electric Fans”. The seller is “woodstchi” and is located in Evanston, Illinois. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
