Dan in Pasadena
Well-known member
Not a big deal and just posted because you are the only guys that might care.
This is a '60's cheapo desktop fan from a long-gone variety or "5 & Dime" store called W.T. Grants. I remember them well from childhood. I did a quick search and they were in much of the U.S. starting shortly after 1900 and have been out of business since the mid 70's. They were a contemporary of Kresge's which most only remember later as KMart.
Anyway, apologies for the cell phone pic's.
Before, a $10 swap meet find. Rusty, but the seller CLAIMED it worked. It works smooth and totally quietly after FIFTY years!
The date I found on the motor.
Do you think a bottom-of-the-barrel $15 Walmart fan of today will be running in 50 years?! Funny thing is, this fan probably was "Japanese junk" as we called most of their products then...much as we label Chinese stuff today, hmmmm.
And finally, the "After" picture.
I was going to repaint it a pastel aqua like it was, but didn't find anything I liked at OSH and already had the hammertone Rustoleum, so...
Amazingly, the chrome cleaned right up with 000 steel wool. The fan blades polished up with metal polish, no problem. I only had to drill out the leg rivets so I could sand/paint the body and replaced them with 1/4" bolts & Nylok nuts.
Now I'm looking for a matching one and I'll mount them both overhead in my garage for those hot summer days.
This is a '60's cheapo desktop fan from a long-gone variety or "5 & Dime" store called W.T. Grants. I remember them well from childhood. I did a quick search and they were in much of the U.S. starting shortly after 1900 and have been out of business since the mid 70's. They were a contemporary of Kresge's which most only remember later as KMart.
Anyway, apologies for the cell phone pic's.
Before, a $10 swap meet find. Rusty, but the seller CLAIMED it worked. It works smooth and totally quietly after FIFTY years!
The date I found on the motor.
Do you think a bottom-of-the-barrel $15 Walmart fan of today will be running in 50 years?! Funny thing is, this fan probably was "Japanese junk" as we called most of their products then...much as we label Chinese stuff today, hmmmm.
And finally, the "After" picture.
I was going to repaint it a pastel aqua like it was, but didn't find anything I liked at OSH and already had the hammertone Rustoleum, so...
Amazingly, the chrome cleaned right up with 000 steel wool. The fan blades polished up with metal polish, no problem. I only had to drill out the leg rivets so I could sand/paint the body and replaced them with 1/4" bolts & Nylok nuts.
Now I'm looking for a matching one and I'll mount them both overhead in my garage for those hot summer days.
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