Up for your consideration is a truly rare GE Great-Grandfather 1907 16 5-speed pie-shaped brass-bladed swivel & trunnion smooth-running pancake fan. Serial # 297662, which tells us he was made in 1907. Yes, this fan was for the well-heeled of that time only — a luxury item for the truly rich. To be clear: It is not only rare to see antique GE “Pancake” fans in general circulation, but it is more rare to see a 16 vs. 12 one and even more rare again to see one that is completely in tact. That is the case with this original, un-restored specimen. Everything is there that matters — and the only thing missing (that I can tell and know of) are a few rubber grommets from the base. About the condition of this fan: I obtained this fan many years ago — and it is one that I’ve never updated, restored, or otherwise “tinkered” with – save for replacing the headwire and the cord, a few cosmetic paint touch-ups, and a new wick and oil in the cups in 2007. I would call this in good++ cosmetic condition, and very good+ operational condition. I don’t really see any signs of real degrading wear for a 108 year old fan – and again, he runs smooth as silk. He operates on all 5 speeds. From there, he gradually slows down on Speeds 2, 3, and 4. On Speed 5, he puts out the gentlest of breezes – almost silent. That stated, on start up on Speed 1 – it takes this old man about 2-3 minutes to get to full speed. He runs at about the equivalent of Speed 4 for a little while, and then all of a sudden, and like a propeller starting up, he kicks into overdrive and hits full speed. Not sure why he does this, though I’ve seen it on another pancake, too. The wind-down takes nearly 1 minute. The electric output specs at 104 Volts (via a Variac): Speed 1 – 152 watts; Speed 2 – 137 watts; Speed 3 – 122 watts; Speed 4 – 107 watts; and Speed 5 – 90 watts. This fan was made for an AC 100/115 Volt outlet. I’ve always run him with a Variac. You’ll note from the picture that the speed coil and other mechanisms in the base are original and in tact. My guess is that this fan was used a great deal very early in his life, then relagated to the top of a barn for 80+ years. You’ll see that even the cardboard base covering the speed-coil is still there. The cage has be resoldered in a few places, but is in tact competely. The blades have a few surface scratches and a nice patina on them, but are otherwise in perfect condition. The badge is gorgeous. Both oil cups are present, as is the rear badge, also gorgeous. 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. Enjoy a slice of history with a conversation piece like this 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. If you’d like another shipper, I’m happy to accommodate. 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 “Rare Antique 1907 GE Pancake 16 5-Speed Brass Blade Fan Serial # 297662 VG cond” is in sale since Sunday, October 18, 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
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- Antique expensive house pancake fan
