Interesting video! I owned the 1969 version of this fan: white with plastic blades, but plenty of air-moving power. Another great fan I had was a 1978 Hunter model. The low speed on that one was so low that you could hardly hear it. Great for sleeping!
Just want to say thank you for your videos as I have been watching for a while. I am an old man and as a kid I also always noticed air conditioners and any kind of fan. I grew up in southern Oklahoma and only the more affluent could afford to have an air conditioner in their house or car. We had a huge 48" attic fan that ran at slow speed which worked great. It was mounted into the wall of the stairwell at the top of the stairs in the 1920's house. Grade school had mostly cheap metal box fans that the PTA donated to the classrooms. In junior high one teacher had a Vornado pedestal fan and another had a Westinghouse pedestal fan. When my grandma passed away I inherited here Welch hassock fan and also a Mathis all wooden box fan. Later, when I got a paper route I bought a slightly used York window unit for my bedroom. I was actually more interested in how it worked than I was in having an air conditioned room. I used it a few times then resold it. A neighbor had a Frigidaire AC unit mounted in the wall that I noticed had two compressors and I have never seem another. My first car in 1970 was a 61 thunderbird that had factory AC. What a luxury that was. The car cost me $225. At 70 years old I am still interested in old AC units and I do have a small collection of fans, mainly GE from the 20 to the 1960s. Keep up the videos as they are all interesting to us AC-fan nerds.
That is a very nice example. This will date back to the late 60s. These were only sold for a few years, which makes the number of these still around quite impressive. I'm surprised it's in good balance, none of the ones I have or have worked on are. I will keep an eye out for the electrically reversible variant. If I find one, it's yours. A few things to note about these: 1) The cords tend to fray right where it goes into the fan. If it's still good all the way through, remove the strain relief, move it up an inch on the cord, and put it back. Good as new. 2) These motors are of an extremely obscure design (it's a GE, what a surprise). There is an oil well in the back of the motor that provides oil for the 1 bearing the motor has (yes, 1 bearing and 1 bearing only). After 50+ years, it's in desperate need of refilling. There was no intention of these fans ever being serviced or lubricated whatsoever, there's no oil port and the motor cannot be disassembled through any reasonable means. I am aware of procedures to crack into these motors as well as add an oil port. 3) Highly recommend re-varnishing the motor. The windings are known to come loose from the laminations over time and vibrate. The sound is annoying and the movement will eventually result in a burn out condition. 4) The motors have no protection I'm aware of. There's a chance it may be impedance protected, but certainly not thermal. These motors don't have the best reputation for longevity either. Would not recommend operation unattended. I'd be happy to give this a good servicing if you bring it along next time you're at my place. I also have an original paper copy of the instruction manual for these which is an interesting read.
@@JordanU that is all excellent advice!! I would gladly bring that fan along next time i visit. I have that Penncrest that I can service and use for now. Interesting that these were built in a relatively low quality (for the day) standard. You are right tho, GE was designed by some mad scientists.
@@TheAirConditionerGuy Despite being seemingly indestructible on the outside, and (probably unintentionally) lasting a long time, these were throw-away fans at the time which is crazy to think about. The motor was built so cheaply I think these used aluminium windings instead of copper.
@@JordanU thats crazy! Especially for the time. Thats probably why theres so many around, they sold a lot. Im wondering if theres not an upgrade that can be done? Idk if it would be cost effective or not though.
Awesome Fan! Didn't they also have a version of this period that had a Thermostat that would shut the fan off an on? I think it was used when you used it as a Window Fan. Thanks for the video. Brings back a lot of memories.
That’s a pretty cool fan! I have the plastic blade version of this and I would love to find the metal blade version just like this to add to my collection.
One of the merchants at the Sweetwater Flea Market had a GE green box fan hanging in the area for ventilation in about 1991. I was fascinated. I like old box fans. The old box fans that do come with reverse mode, I never saw the point. The fan blades are arched so the air moves better with the blades spinning in one direction. Also, the fan can easily be turned around by hand.
@@Sammy2012ify for looks i prefer to not turn them around, especially if mounted permanently. As for practicality, you are absolutely right. Blade will move more air going the right direction. Still a neat extra feature.
@ To each their own I guess. The reversible box fans are long discontinued anyway except for the twin window fans that can be used as either a table fan or window fan.
@@TheAirConditionerGuy All I have is a 1978 K-Mart blue round corner with the plastic grills & blade and a similar vintage yellow Eskimo metal grill with the plastic blades from my grandmothers. They're daily drivers for me when I'm not running my 1971 Wards AC. I may do a video on these but I'm still in the digital Betacam days... I don't do smartphones.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Interesting video!
I owned the 1969 version of this fan: white with plastic blades, but plenty of air-moving power.
Another great fan I had was a 1978 Hunter model. The low speed on that one was so low that you could hardly hear it. Great for sleeping!
Just want to say thank you for your videos as I have been watching for a while. I am an old man and as a kid I also always noticed air conditioners and any kind of fan. I grew up in southern Oklahoma and only the more affluent could afford to have an air conditioner in their house or car. We had a huge 48" attic fan that ran at slow speed which worked great. It was mounted into the wall of the stairwell at the top of the stairs in the 1920's house. Grade school had mostly cheap metal box fans that the PTA donated to the classrooms. In junior high one teacher had a Vornado pedestal fan and another had a Westinghouse pedestal fan. When my grandma passed away I inherited here Welch hassock fan and also a Mathis all wooden box fan. Later, when I got a paper route I bought a slightly used York window unit for my bedroom. I was actually more interested in how it worked than I was in having an air conditioned room. I used it a few times then resold it. A neighbor had a Frigidaire AC unit mounted in the wall that I noticed had two compressors and I have never seem another. My first car in 1970 was a 61 thunderbird that had factory AC. What a luxury that was. The car cost me $225. At 70 years old I am still interested in old AC units and I do have a small collection of fans, mainly GE from the 20 to the 1960s. Keep up the videos as they are all interesting to us AC-fan nerds.
@@jeffsmith846 the Frigidaire you speak of is a Twin Meter Miser unit, theyre really rare! Any chance that unit is still there?
@@TheAirConditionerGuy I live in Kansas City now but next time I go there I will see. That house has been empty for 30 plus years.
WOW, great fan, great room! So much to look at in there, including that Philco-Ford Noiseless A/C! 👍🏻
@@sodiebergh that old Philco is one of the best units I own!
That is a very nice example. This will date back to the late 60s. These were only sold for a few years, which makes the number of these still around quite impressive. I'm surprised it's in good balance, none of the ones I have or have worked on are. I will keep an eye out for the electrically reversible variant. If I find one, it's yours. A few things to note about these:
1) The cords tend to fray right where it goes into the fan. If it's still good all the way through, remove the strain relief, move it up an inch on the cord, and put it back. Good as new.
2) These motors are of an extremely obscure design (it's a GE, what a surprise). There is an oil well in the back of the motor that provides oil for the 1 bearing the motor has (yes, 1 bearing and 1 bearing only). After 50+ years, it's in desperate need of refilling. There was no intention of these fans ever being serviced or lubricated whatsoever, there's no oil port and the motor cannot be disassembled through any reasonable means. I am aware of procedures to crack into these motors as well as add an oil port.
3) Highly recommend re-varnishing the motor. The windings are known to come loose from the laminations over time and vibrate. The sound is annoying and the movement will eventually result in a burn out condition.
4) The motors have no protection I'm aware of. There's a chance it may be impedance protected, but certainly not thermal. These motors don't have the best reputation for longevity either. Would not recommend operation unattended.
I'd be happy to give this a good servicing if you bring it along next time you're at my place. I also have an original paper copy of the instruction manual for these which is an interesting read.
@@JordanU that is all excellent advice!! I would gladly bring that fan along next time i visit. I have that Penncrest that I can service and use for now. Interesting that these were built in a relatively low quality (for the day) standard. You are right tho, GE was designed by some mad scientists.
@@TheAirConditionerGuy Despite being seemingly indestructible on the outside, and (probably unintentionally) lasting a long time, these were throw-away fans at the time which is crazy to think about. The motor was built so cheaply I think these used aluminium windings instead of copper.
@@JordanU thats crazy! Especially for the time. Thats probably why theres so many around, they sold a lot. Im wondering if theres not an upgrade that can be done? Idk if it would be cost effective or not though.
Awesome Fan! Didn't they also have a version of this period that had a Thermostat that would shut the fan off an on? I think it was used when you used it as a Window Fan. Thanks for the video. Brings back a lot of memories.
@@brentaudi9354 yes!! But i have never seen it in the boxy style like this, i have seen it on the 50’s curvy style with push buttons
Super powerful fan bro love that start-up sound
@@fordmuscleluis9710 sounds like a whirlwind lol!!!!
That’s a pretty cool fan! I have the plastic blade version of this and I would love to find the metal blade version just like this to add to my collection.
Theyre getting pretty scarce ow days unfortunately. And a bit pricy too
One of the merchants at the Sweetwater Flea Market had a GE green box fan hanging in the area for ventilation in about 1991. I was fascinated. I like old box fans. The old box fans that do come with reverse mode, I never saw the point. The fan blades are arched so the air moves better with the blades spinning in one direction. Also, the fan can easily be turned around by hand.
@@Sammy2012ify for looks i prefer to not turn them around, especially if mounted permanently. As for practicality, you are absolutely right. Blade will move more air going the right direction. Still a neat extra feature.
@ To each their own I guess. The reversible box fans are long discontinued anyway except for the twin window fans that can be used as either a table fan or window fan.
Dude where do you find all these great goodies?!
@@BrhatLee ebay and patients! Took me years to get a good deal on one lol
@@TheAirConditionerGuy All I have is a 1978 K-Mart blue round corner with the plastic grills & blade and a similar vintage yellow Eskimo metal grill with the plastic blades from my grandmothers. They're daily drivers for me when I'm not running my 1971 Wards AC. I may do a video on these but I'm still in the digital Betacam days... I don't do smartphones.