VintageFansblog

THE FASTEST JACKET IN THE VALLEY!!!

2012-02-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

The VintageFans.com Mechanic's Jacket

We were blessed to have grown up in an era that was only a few decades removed from World War II and the generations who fought to preserve our freedom. As time moves on, we realize how fortunate we were to have known some of them. The men and women of that generation knew how to do just about anything. Give them a roll of duct tape, a sock and some cardboard and they'll deliver you three men from a certain death in outer space. They were steadfast, creative, innovative, entrepreneurial and motivated. After they won World War II, they worked the same jobs week after week for 30 years or more to feed their families, often with the same company that they started their career with. As a people, they believed in God, lived within their means and largely remained debt free. They witnessed and warned against the evils of socialism and communism. As young people, they delivered a desperate people from the fascist ovens at Auschwitz. As young people, we worked under them and learned immensely from this generation of responsible and can do citizens. They were Americans through and through. When you consider what they did in their lifetimes, (and without complaining) they will undoubtedly be remembered as the generation that both SAVED AMERICA AND MADE AMERICA.They embodied a sense of Americanism that we embrace today at VintageFans.com. So when we needed shop jackets, we created this unique Vintage Fan's vintage style mechanic's jacket to commemorate both them and their era.

The VintageFans.com Mechanic's Jacket

Vintage Fan's™ wanted to create a unique jacket that showcases the late 1940s through 1950s style. The VintageFans.com mechanic's jacket features a "Hot Rod" feel that embraces the era of "American Graffiti" and one that John Milner himself might have worn had we been in business "in the valley" and been his sponsor. Our jacket has a unique billboard on the back that features a direct current Adams-Bagnall "Jandus" gyro fan with VINTAGE FANS ™ and our slogan "Preserving History in Motion". Each one of our Vintage Fan's™ mechanic's jackets are custom made to order, just like our fully restored electric fans. We often hear that our business resembles something from 60 years ago and we are thankful that it is. Our mechanic's jacket celebrates the workmen and women of the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s, whether they were running 200 m.p.h. at Bonneville, building Emerson Electric Fans in ST. Louis, or raising a family in Peoria. The Vintage Fans™ mechanic's jacket advertises the tangible proof of their manufacturing excellence. Our company, Vintage Fans™ could not exist without them or their manufactured products. For that matter, neither would our country. Vintage Fan's Mechanic's Jackets are available for $99.00 plus s/h at VintageFans.com.

The VintageFans.com Mechanic's Jacket

GOD BLESS THE LITTLE MAN,THANK YOU DUBLIN DR.PEPPER!

2012-01-12T11:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the last day that the Dublin Bottling Works of Dublin, Texas could bottle Dr. Pepper something it has been doing for 120 years making it the oldest continuous bottler of Dr. Pepper in the United States. What made the Dublin Plant, (located 102 miles northwest of Waco, TX where Dr. Pepper was invented,) extra special is that they bottled the original formula made of pure cane sugar (Imperial that is), and anyone who ever compared the mega store variety with the Dublin, Texas version would soon learn what they missed in the America before corn syrup became the staple of the soft drink world. We realize that Dr. Pepper has a right to run their business however they see fit. We believe in free market capitalism. What we are scratching our heads about now is why would someone who wants to gain market share in the soft drink world yank their product from their oldest continuous bottler. Maybe the new wave, young gun, or quick draw operations and marketing folks at Dr. Pepper should take a step back and look at their national advertising campaigns, (which often leaves this author asking what was so funny, different, or where in the world are they getting these creative less admen from?) The goal is to sell more Dr. Pepper remember? That is the goal, correct???

In this day when most Americans are worried about their country and it's future would not a little slice of Dr. Pepper Americana centered around their oldest bottler in one of the few Mayberrys left in America not be one of their most memorable commercials to have launched in years? In these uncertain times people are looking for the security of the America they once knew and those that didn't live in that America are trying experience it in various ways. Can't you see it now,.... Dr. Pepper, apple pie, ice cream, and grandma's front porch, while a '52 Dodge delivery truck painted Dr. Pepper mint green pulls out of the Dublin plant and delivers a glass bottle case of Dublin Dr. Pepper to the front porch while grandpa waves to the delivery driver and the kids run to the case of bottled sweetness........... What a campaign opportunity. What are the marketing people thinking at Dr. Pepper? The Dublin Dr. Pepper plant could have brought you more admiration, cheer and ultimately... sales, had you enlisted them as an asset to bolster your product's image by creating an advertising campaign using their Norman Rockwell type existence in 2012 America.

Yesterday we lost a large part of that Americana and it is a shame. Here in Texas, we lost a large part of the Lone Star State's history as well. As the news saturated the Texas airwaves late yesterday afternoon, the Alan Jackson song "Little Man" came to my mind as I thought about the 12 decades of generations that had bottled Dr. Pepper in Dublin, Texas. America "grew up" on their watch as they worked to help build America. Again, what are the marketing people thinking at Dr. Pepper?
Sadly, it seems that Jackson's song might hold lyrics that predict the ultimate outcome in this tragedy for Pepper lovers:

                             " Now the court square
                                   just a set of streets
                                That people go round
                                but they seldom think
                                 Bout the little man
                                that built this town
                                 Before the big money
                                        shut em down
                                  And killed the little man
                                    Oh the little man"

We hope that these lyrics do not speak for the future in Dublin and their bottling works, for that would bring a tear to our eyes. Hey, maybe, just maybe, the Dublin Bottling Works can work out a deal to bottle CHEERWINE in Texas! Now that would be a silver lining to this unfortunate situation.

ATOMIC AGE STORM SHELTER DESIGN CREATES SAFE HAVEN IN TORNADO ALLEY TODAY!

2011-11-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

Monolithic Solid Concrete Poured Storm Shelter

Working around the mechanical American history that we see daily at VintageFans.com in Fort Worth, we expect everything today to be built to the same strict standards that our fans are. Of course the reality is that most things are not built to last today, but occasionally we are more than able to cheer a product that we encounter that fits the bill of American made and one built as solid as,... well a concrete bunker!

Fort Worth is in what I call the outer bull’s eye of Tornado Alley, referring to Oklahoma City as the pupil. We really are in the same danger zone, but something called the "Mexican Plume" or "Cap" often holds around here and that is a fortunate thing for our area. Our shop is located in North Fort Worth in the "new" area of Fort Worth, in N.E. Tarrant County and a stone’s throw from the Denton County line. We have had our share of scares over the last several years including nearly driving into Fort Worth to drop a package at UPS when the Fort Worth Tornado of March 28th, 2000, was about to descend upon downtown. We didn't go because I stated "it sure is dark that way" at the time not knowing that those clouds truly hid a bear in the woods and thankfully we avoided finding him.

Every year I felt like it was a roll of the dice through spring and each year usually had at least 3 to 4 real chances of experiencing a Tornado sometimes from the dreaded 3 A.M. squall line spin ups with 80 mile per hour bow echoes or an even more dreaded single super cell that just might produce a long lived violent tornado. Every summer the 100 degree days were welcomed at first because they typically put an end to the threat of super cells and their life changing offspring. We survived each spring and entered the summer with the same glee as one who had beat the odds at a Vegas crap shoot. But, in the back of our minds we knew sooner or later, the "house" was going to win and prove that gambling doesn't really pay, especially when your life is the possible wager.

Then came the spring of 2011 and I watched intensely as tornado season unfolded. When April arrived it became clear that this year was going to be different for many folks living in Tornado Alley. This year they would lose loved ones, their towns or even their own lives to a particular vicious storm season. An area known as "Dixie Alley" that incorporates Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Western Georgia showed us why it earned its name many years ago. It is very much a part of "Tornado Alley" having bred many examples of long lived violent tornadoes that have devastated many of the same areas repeatedly in history. As April 27, 2011 arrived we watched in horror a video of a massive mile wide near EF-5 Tornado roll across Crimson Tide country with a heartless fury while exposing horizontal sub vortices’ out of the main circulation described as "tentacles" by some witnesses. Tuscaloosa was only one of the towns that lost many souls that day to the fury of Mother Nature. Other towns with names not so familiar to many, like Hackleburg, Smithville, Harvest, New Hope, Phil Campbell, Ashville, Hueytown, Tanner, and Rainsville, but among several names that echoed a past of devastation that I had read about before while reading Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991 by Thomas P. Grazulis.

Click the highlighted link to see our video of this shelter: Single Pour Solid Concrete Monolithic Tornado Storm Shelter

A tragic scene unfolded as the media reported numerous cases of multiple victims, many losing their lives and while sometimes entire families perished from trauma inflicted on their bodies. So many of the victims followed the sound advice of TV meteorologist, but the Tornadoes were just too strong to survive above ground in a bathroom or closet. Then came the realization that we were in the same boat, the one named "It never happens here".
This dangerous philosophy had been shattered after I spoke to Mr. Rick Pack in 2010 when he called the shop in a quest for information about antique fans. He told me their fans had been destroyed by the "Lone Grove, OK" tornado. I recognized his name from watching a recent episode of the Weather Channel's "Storm Stories" that featured his ordeal. Mr. Pack graciously described to me what it was like in his shelter in the core of an EF-4 Tornado, which he described as akin to "jet engines reverse thrusting" right over head only magnified 1000 times. He worried that the shelter door would come off even though he had installed tie down straps on the door to secure it better. He gave me sound advice, "Mark, you better get you a tornado shelter". Mr. Pack had constructed his poured concrete shelter after the famous F-5 tornado in 1999 had proved to a new generation of Oklahomans something their ancestor's learned when they settled the Sooner State, tornadoes can easily kill you. I sincerely appreciate Mr. Pack talking with me a couple of times about their experience in the violent killer tornado that completely leveled their home and buildings. I credit his testimony with ultimately helping me settle on a poured concrete underground storm shelter.

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Interior of single pour solid concrete shelter

May 22, 20ll brought Joplin, MO, to every one's attention and before the tremendous loss of life could be reported, NOAA forecasters were warning of potential energy in North Texas and Oklahoma for Tuesday May 24th, 2011. As the event grew closer my anxiety grew and horrific images of Joplin and the tragedy there became clear. Once again, I wondered briefly why so many were killed there and then realized that NOAA issued a PDS tornado watch for our area meaning(Particularly Dangerous Situation) and was once again reminded that we really have no safe place to go in the event of a tornado. I rapidly fired an email off to my nephew living in the Oklahoma City suburb of Yukon, giving him the "heads up today" alarm that I often sent to him on severe weather days in his area. I am not sure how many of us in the Metroplex really know how big the bullet headed for us could have been that day. I watched as independent super cells exploded and prayed that we would survive if a twister headed our way "under the staircase". Thankfully the recipe for disaster was missing that essential ingredient in DFW and the proverbial bullet was once again dodged. Unfortunately, there had been several violent tornadoes that day in Oklahoma including a killer EF-5 that devastated El Reno and Piedmont, Oklahoma and narrowly missed my nephew and niece's home in Yukon.

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"Cellar" in Bellevue,TX where 21 lives were saved from an F-4 Tornado in 1906

This time was different. I vowed that we would not go through another spring without a storm shelter. I had intensely researched "Significant Tornadoes" and learned that our area has had its share of strong to violent tornadoes over the last 100 years. There is a reason many of the older homes in North Texas had storm "cellars". My wife's hometown is dotted with vintage "shelters" in nearly every back or side yard, some dating back a century and no longer in use. Today most homes in North Texas are built on slabs without a basement. Very similar to the situation that just unfolded in Joplin, Missouri. Many of the people there had done what they were supposed to do, but with no real shelter the EF-5 had proved too strong. Tragically, at least 160 victims paid with their lives. I wondered "are we just plain stubborn now" we see the radar, but have nowhere to go. So now instead of knowing the gun is loaded and having a plan, we can now see the bullet, but it's still headed our way. We are going to have to deal with it one way or another, but the difference is our houses have no shelters. In the old days, many did. And whoever thinks a sheet rock closet held together by Chinese hardware, spruce studs and nails is a good idea needs their head examined. There is nothing substantial, engineering wise, in any of those building products. Anyone who survives a strong tornado in that shelter situation is just plain fortunate.

I had begun researching several shelter options for our situation. This was not an easy task at first, but a common sense approach succeeded. Much more needs to be written on the Internet for consumers of storm shelters. Some of the shelters were crossed off immediately for consideration. Fiberglass, plastic, and anything built above ground were out of the question because in my opinion, you may or may not make it in the worst case scenario and having a storm shelter is about bettering your odds of survival and beating the "house" every time. I realize you can build a concrete structure that will survive the worse of tornadoes above ground, but given the choice, why stay above ground, that's where the missiles are, again, use common sense. I read reports, I looked at photos, I consulted with a friend who has been in the concrete business for over 30 years, a graduate of Texas Tech, who narrowly missed being in the F-5 Lubbock Texas Tornado in 1970. He asked "Mark, have you ever seen firsthand what an F5 tornado can do?" I replied "no, sir" but I have seen pictures. He commented that if he were climbing inside of a precast structure he would want at least 6" of concrete especially on the part above ground. He said if he were building one he would pour a one pour below ground concrete shelter with at least 8" walls, ceiling and floor. Finally, I talked to a very helpful lady named Shannon who represented Tony Green Construction in Mississippi. They had built several monolithic solid construction underground shelters that were in the core paths of two EF-5 Tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama during the Super Outbreak 2011. One in Hackleburg, Alabama saved 32 people. I was sold on solid concrete and the monolithic design of this particular shelter.

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Rear view of solid concrete poured shelter

Soon I met concrete contractor Danny Roach owner of Security Tornado Shelters PH.903-495-3524 and 903-982-7427. Danny has years of experience pouring concrete commercially. Danny has been building this monolithic style structure for years and he builds them in interior diameters of 6, 8, and 10 feet. Danny is also very likely the best backhoe operator in Texas. His skill allowed him to work in tight confines around our property and he did so expertly missing all of our oaks. Danny explained to me that the entire structure once poured weighed in at 45,000 lbs. for our 8' interior model. It was reinforced with 6x6 concrete wire mesh and the 3500 P.S.I. concrete had large rock in the mix for added strength. The entire structure was poured in one pour and vibrated thoroughly to minimize air pockets. The floor was at least 8" thick with walls between 8.5" to 10" thick. The ceiling is typically between 10" and 12" thick, but our shelter ceiling measured 13" thick at the thickest point on the ceiling. Danny Roach gives you your money's worth and he wants to produce the finest shelter available. Everything on this shelter exceeds FEMA 360 guidelines and the door has passed the Texas Tech air missile 15lb. projectile test. We highly recommend Security Tornado Shelters of Blossom, Texas. Danny Roach and his staff were professional at all times and a pleasure to work with on this important project. Danny Roach and his crew take pride in their work and they painted the shelter inside an out, installed indoor/outdoor carpet and circular benches at no extra cost.

Our shelter had increased cost involved because of the lack of access by the concrete truck and for mileage,food,overtime and hotel rooms for an added day. But, the price was still only around $6000.00 even with the added cost. Some safe rooms are that much or more and you are dependent on those communist made Chinese bolts holding those structures to the slab above ground. If a 250 mph F-5 sends an F-350 at the safe room are you still safe above ground? These are all questions the consumer needs to honestly ask themselves. With a one pour solid concrete underground storm shelter, there are no seams to leak later on and the walls are up to 5" thicker than precast concrete. It's also nearly completely underground and there are no "two halves" dependent on adhesive and bolts that hold the structure together. Unlike steel concrete will not rust. A steel shelter has a limited lifetime simply because it is steel, again common sense logic applied. A monolithic structure is one of the strongest structures in a high wind event. A flat wall will fail long before that of a well-engineered round structure. Our number one advice is to rely on common sense when researching shelters. There is a reason concrete is used so often in commercial buildings which have a much stricter set of guidelines in engineering codes than that of residential structures. Also remember what famed Oklahoma Meteorologist Gary England told those in the path of the Bridge Creek-Moore, Oklahoma (318 MPH) F5 tornado on May 03, 1999. He said "you need to be below ground to survive this storm" which is sound advice in the event of any tornado. For a true lifetime tornado storm shelter that incorporates old school engineering of a monolithic design and reinforced solid concrete in one pour call Danny Roach with Security Tornado Shelters, he can be reached at 903-495-3524 or 903-982-7427. I would love to hear from anyone who would like to share their experience of being in a storm shelter during any significant tornado. Of special interest would be anyone who was in the Super Outbreak 2011 inside one of these monolithic concrete shelters. I can be reached at sales@vintagefans.com and 817-431-6647. Your story may ultimately save someone's life by educating them about Tornadoes.

FOR AMERICAN MADE QUALITY, THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOXSTORE!

2011-11-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

Authentic 1902 Emerson Electric Antique Ceiling Fan by Vintage Fans™

How often do we hear it? Often is the answer. The question of course is submitted by whoever ask "Where can you buy quality today"? Quality can be found right here in America. Take our fans for instance, who would think that a small company in Fort Worth, Texas produces the finest fans ever made out of the cores of the finest fans ever made? At Vintage Fans™, we strive to do one thing and do it better than it has to be. The reason is because we care about our products, we care about our customers and we care about our country. We also know that there is only one true standard, the Holy Bible, the word of God. We believe in the American way, the old one, not the "change one" we see trying to be installed today. We know what made America and part of that recipe is making products built to last, like the very fans we "re-manufacture" today. We know about a commitment to the American way that created a standard in manufacturing that was unsurpassed. We respect the generations that actually built America, won the freedom, the ones that understood that there was no free lunch. The ones that defended the freedom against anti-American philosophies such as communism, fascism and socialism. The ones that understood that hard work and success lay hand in hand. The ones that wanted the opportunity to work and the freedom to reach for the American dream, but also understood if you fail you get up and try again. They understood government's place and also understood when it had crossed the lines not specified in the Constitution. They held government and one another accountable for their actions. They were the greatest generations. They originally built our fans, 50 to 100 years ago in America. Today, we build our fans on the same principles that they did. Our commitment is a complete one to insure that you receive the best American made fan you can buy.

When you buy a vintage fan (ceiling or desk fan) that has been through our process you can know that some of the finest expert craftsmen in America have produced your fan.We build the best because we start with the best. Every fan VintageFans.com builds today starts with a true antique or vintage machine that was made in America when a manufacturer's top priority was to build the best machines ever created and to build them better than the next guy. Back in those days, no one wanted to be excused of building a "cheaply" made fan. So they didn't. Don't believe us? Give us an example of another product that was originally made a century ago that you can use on a daily basis in your home? The fan's quality speak for themselves by the mere fact that most of the younger generation of fans at Vintage Fans™ are approaching 70 years of age. Cheaply engineered products do not last that long. If that were not enough, all of our fully restored fans feature our TRUE LIFETIME MOTOR WARRANTY with regular maintenance. If it fails, we'll repair it in house.

At Vintage Fans™, we adhere to a strict set of standards to create our fans because it is the right thing to do and our standard was set by a much bigger authority than that of Texas or the United States for that matter. Our repeat customers are usually those that simply desire another fan because they admire the quality, engineering and the beauty of our American made machines. Some of them want to own another piece of American History that reminds them of what made America the greatest country on earth and the best of what American engineering is today. We are proud of our fans, both because of the generations that made them what they were 100 years ago and of our dedicated staff that makes them what they are today. So when we are asked next time,"Where can you buy quality today"? we'll humbly answer, "You found it" and that will be a modest answer. At Vintage Fans™ we are doing our part to keep the United States..... American made.

OF VISE AND MEN

2011-03-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

THE CHARLES PARKER COMPANY NO.434 1/2 VISE

One of the greatest things about our work is the people we meet and talk to on a daily basis. A primary benefit of these conversations are the personal family histories we hear and how an early American electric fan has become a beloved mechanical "member" of the family. People fall in love with their heirloom fans because the machines quite literally provided their service faithfully throughout the decades in numerous family members lives. But more importantly, these fans represent the cherished memory of Great Grand Parents, Parents, Uncles and Aunts, and the family gatherings that forever bonded the memory of those folks to the machine. A recent tool purchase reminded us of this and how vintage American engineering enables us to enjoy the use of quality products that are sometimes over 100 years old.

We recently attended a huge antiques festival in South Texas and one of the items on our "lookout" list was a vintage American made vise. We were in need of one for our "tear down" shop that was of a substantial size which allows us to place a whole ceiling fan motor in the jaws and hold it securely. We are no stranger to vintage American made quality. In fact, it is preferred by us. For most tool purchases, we would rather purchase a working or restorable vintage item rather than a new one made by a famous name that use to be of high quality but today is a shaded facsimile of their former glory days forged, machined, or cast on the continent of Asia by communist labor.

On our first day at the antiques festival, we happened upon a dealer's tent from Illinois that had many items for sale from an old shop. Most of the items dated to the turn of the century and one that caught our attention immediately was a heavy and obviously vintage American made vise. As we surveyed it's condition we could see that it was in very nice condition and it looked to be from the 1930s or 1940s. It was made by the Charles Parker Company of Meridian, CT. ,patented in 1930 and our model is the model 434 and 1/2. The Parker Vise speaks of workmen of the past by its very existence and the substantial American engineering that it embodies. This is a man's vise and one whose history is deeply embedded in American manufacturing. As we further investigated it with the fervor of Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor, it was easy to see that the $90.00 asking price was a bargain. We purchased it and brought it back to our Fort Worth,Texas shop.

1930s Century 60"Ceiling Fan Motor in the Grip of "The Bear", The 1930s-40s ca. Parker Vise

Our own Sam Morgan was thrilled with the "new" vise as he is an antique tool aficionado. Sam appreciates the ingenuity of the early tool makers and often brings tools to the shop for show and tell. He quickly began inspecting the new vise and mentioned that there was literally no wear on the beam. He pointed out the close tolerances used to make the vise a precision machine. A quick search of the Internet taught us that The Charles Parker vise was a very respected vise both then and now. Tool guys love them and many sell for 100s of dollars, re- enforcing what we already knew, that we had received a valuable tool for a bargain price. We also learned that Charles Parker was also the maker of Parker guns and he was quite the industrialist in 19th century America. He created 100s of jobs and his workmen produced a quality product, many of which are in use to this day across the United States.

As I personally inspected the vise, I could not help but think of my grandfather who we called "Daddy Bob". The stoic ruggedness that embodied him and his generation was evident in the Parker Vise. Daddy Bob and his generation were among the great Americans that built this country with quality machines and defended the freedom when needed without hesitation. They realized what they had here and what made America special. The Parker Vise is a cast iron and steel testament to the quality of their work. A 1920s Parker Vise advertisement, proclaimed it "Gripped like a Bear" which it does and it reminds you of the American generations that were as rugged as a bear, built machiery as tough as bear and when needed they did not hesitate to fight like a bear to protect the American Constitution. What a great people they were and what a need we have to return to their industrious paths.

AMERICAN GARDENING, VINTAGE STYLE WITH AN IRON AGE AMERICAN HERO!

2011-02-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

AMERICAN MADE 1968 GRAVELY C-8 CONVERTIBLE TRACTOR AND ROTARY PLOW ATTACHMENT

ARE YOU TIRED OF A TILLER THAT WON'T TILL? DO YOU SPEND YOUR GARDENING TIME SKIPPING ACROSS THE SOIL? END YOUR GARDENING BLUES WITH A VINTAGE GRAVELY TRACTOR, BUT BEWARE THESE ARE NOT YOUR 21st CENTURY VERSION OF A EPA MANDATED, WEAKLING CHINESE MADE BOX STORE JOKE OF A GARDEN TRACTOR. IT'S A REAL MACHINE MADE WITH MACK TRUCK STYLE GEARS, TIMKEN BEARINGS, CAST IRON AND PITTSBURGH STEEL. VINTAGE GRAVELY TRACTORS HAVE BEEN TURNING AMERICA'S GARDENS SINCE BEN GRAVELY CONCEIVED OF IT'S DESIGN IN 1930S WEST VIRGINIA. THE GRAVELY TRACTOR PLOWED VICTORY GARDENS DURING W.W.II AND ITS INVENTION HELPED FEED AMERICA IN THE DECADES THAT FOLLOWED. THESE MACHINES WERE SO RUGGED THE MILITARY, THE POSTAL SERVICE, STATE AND MUNICIPAL ENTITIES PURCHASED THESE TRACTORS FOR SEVERE DUTY. BRICK MANUFACTURERS USED THEM TO MOVE KILN CARS. COUNTRY CLUBS USED THEM TO RUN GANG REEL MOWERS. SCHOOL DISTRICTS PURCHASED THEM FOR GROUNDS KEEPING. THE CONVERTIBLE DESIGN OF THE GRAVELY TRACTOR ALLOWED FOR THE ADDITION OF OTHER ATTACHMENTS SUCH AS A 30" CIRCULAR MOWER, CIRCULAR SAW, CHAIN SAW, SNOW BLOWER, CULTIVATOR, REEL MOWER, SICKLE MOWER, 40" MOWER, 50" MOWER, WERE AMONG THE NUMEROUS ATTACHMENTS OFFERED THROUGHOUT ITS LONG MANUFACTURE. CAN IT KILL YOU? SURE. YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO HAVE COMMON SENSE AND YOU NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO OPERATE A GRAVELY TRACTOR. BUT IF YOU RESPECT IT, YOUR GRAVELY WILL SERVE YOU UNTIL YOU CAN NO LONGER OPERATE IT BECAUSE OF YOUR OLD AGE. TODAY THESE TRACTORS CAN BE PURCHASED AND REBUILT FOR THE SERIOUS GARDENER, RANCH OR FARM OWNER. LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE FANTASTIC VINTAGE AMERICAN MADE MACHINES AT www.gravelytractorclub.org

BUY AMERICAN? IF YOU LOVE THE U.S.A., QUALITY, AND YOUR CHILDREN, YOU WILL.

2011-01-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

The new year is here and with it many of us often make new resolutions and commitments to something we believe in or a goal that we would like to meet. As the new year becomes not so new, we often drop that ambition because of various reasons that distracts us. Everyone has done it, including yours truly. This year I am more passionate than ever about supporting American owned companies that are making products in America and building them to last. This is truly the philosophy that built this great country of ours and one that we had better learn to adopt again or I am afraid that our best days are behind us.

Owning an antique and vintage fan company has given me new perspective on what made in America and made well in America means. Every fan we work on in our shop in Fort Worth, Texas was made in America and built to last for generations. Many of those that we work on are 100-110 years old and it truly is a testament to our ancestor's commitment to making their products the very best in the world. In days of old this was a way of life in the U.S.A, as consumers expected value for their dollar, which didn't always mean the cheapest price on the market. They looked at how things were made, the engineering involved and why that product was the one to purchase in their mind's eye. In those days most manufacturers pursued excellence in manufacturing. They simply did not survive long as their reputation would we well earned and learned by the marketplace. We have always said of the early American fan manufacturers that they believed in "honest engineering" giving the customer the very best product that could be built at the time. Today, planned obsolescence has slowly eroded the ability to compare because much of the consumer market is flooded with cheap Asian made products. Blue chip American companies with once proud brands have been pushed into or have eagerly pursued offshore locations to manufacture their products. The consumer has dictated this, because of the "Box store" mentality that cheaper is always better. In the end, this means America looses its manufacturing base (and the jobs that go along with it),and the consumer increasingly looses the ability to purchase an American made product. The largest threat and a result from hyper offshore manufacturing is that your very freedom is questionable as we loose the ability to defend the freedom from countries who would spread tyranny throughout the world if possible. Gearing up for a full blown conventional war was a difficult task in World War II and at that time all of our manufacturing was in place. And if we can still manufacture the tanks, planes and ships here, can we manufacture all of electronics involved quickly enough to defend the freedom? Think about all of the ipods, cell phones and computers that you purchased over the last 20 years. How many of those were made in the U.S.A.? As the communist continue to subsidize their manufacturers to get the American contracts the only ones we are truly helping are the communist. Its made them wealthy. In fact, wealthy enough to own American debt and this is an outrage that every American should deeply concerned about. In reality they slowly take us down without firing a shot. Until the end that is, like putting an old dog out of its misery.

Recently we needed to shop for some new easy chairs. It was not a task that I eagerly anticipated and one reason for this is that I knew what awaited me. I knew much of the furniture industry had moved manufacturing to Asia. Some are manufacturing the pieces offshore and they ship them back to the states for assembly. They may have a label that reads "Assembled in America" or "American owned", but don't let that fool you into believing it is made here. The only reason the manufacturers use this wording is to try to fill a void that questions their quality and patriotism. Why not boldy state PROUDLY ASSEMBLED IN AMERICA OF CHINESE PARTS or we are proud to PARTNER WITH CHINA in producing our product. It's the truth after all and the truth will set you free.

As we arrived at a famous local furniture store near Southlake, Texas and I talked with the salesman that greeted us, I looked at the various recliners asking about how they were made and the materials involved. The salesman was quite helpful, but he tended to only show us the typical "brand" names that we see advertised in newspapers, TV ads and periodicals. As I continued to pursue the purchase, I looked at the construction and I felt the weight of nearly all of the famous brand names. The premium levels of their chairs did not impress me and greatly it disappointed me after asking about the origin of manufacture, which seemed to be a question not easily answered. Finally, I asked " Do you have anything that is made in America of very high quality", he answered, "Yes sir, but I didn't think you would be interested in those because they are much higher in price" which I quickly replied, " You are not aware of the business that I am in" meaning that we produced extremely high quality American made products at VintageFans.com. He quickly took us to the other side of the store where the Smith Brothers of Berne upholstered chairs and sofas were located. I immediately recognized an exposed frame beside the style of upholstered chairs that we were looking at. I asked him is this the frame that is Incorporated in this model, which brought the reply "yes, sir", look at the construction. We went on to learn that for 80 years Smith Brothers of Berne, Indiana had made quality products right here in the U.S.A. The quality was evident throughout the construction and the final decision to purchase was made when I tried to lift the back of the chair. It was heavy. We sat down and my wife and I picked out the fabric and ordered the chairs. I explained to the salesman that I owned VintageFans.com and the nature of our business. I also discussed some of my beliefs with him about Chinese made anythings and he quickly learned that he probably should have showed us the American made furniture first. As we have owned the chairs for a month or so, we could not be more pleased with the purchase. Its nice to know that one company in Indiana is building it right and building it in America. We greatly encourage you to consider Smith Brothers furniture http://www.smithbrosfurn.com/ for your next major furniture purchase. Don't expect to purchase one of their chairs for the same price as famous name brands, but if that is what you want, you have a large selection to choose from and you can donate your purchase to the local landfill in a few years when the frame wears out. As with our fans, with Smith Brother's furniture, you get what you pay for and more.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM VINTAGEFANS.COM

2010-12-25T10:47:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

THE SLEEPING GIANT AWOKE 69 YEARS AGO TODAY!

2010-12-07T11:51:00.000-08:00

Here in Texas we have a slogan that you might have heard a few times,"Don't Mess with Texas", this is of course the cleverly coined slogan that is aimed at persuading those who contemplate polluting the Lone Star State to think twice before they throw that Coke can out the window of their vehicle. It has aided in creating the legend of the Lone Star State, and rightly so, as a place that doesn't take serious matters lightly. But on this day another Lone Star slogan you might recall, "Remember the Alamo" might be more appropriate because it parallels the cry across America on this December day 69 years ago. While legendary slogans or statements can be professed and either backed up or stated without backing, there is not doubt that the statement "We have awoken a sleeping giant" was one of the truest assembly of words ever professed by mankind. This is the day that lived in Infamy,December 07, 1941, millions of Americans realized that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor and America, as well as, freedom had been aggressively attacked.

We remember this day and think about those brave Americans that lost their lives at Pearl Harbor. We thank God for those brave Americans who heard the Giant's alarm clock that day and followed through with winning the freedom, not only those who joined the service, but also those who supported war efforts. The G.I. Joe's, the Rosies, the elder generations that tilled the Victory Gardens and the children who helped find materials during the scrap drives Etc. One of the best examples we have here at the VintageFans.com archives are from The Robbins and Myers Company newsletters keeping track of those employees that were serving their country and those that were making sure they had the tools to do it. Robbins and Myer's had a crucial role in the war effort as it produced, fans, motors, dynamos and also a little device known as the Norden Bombsite.

Tonight when you lay your head down to go to sleep, remember those that died at Pearl Harbor, young men and women who died valiantly fighting for their life and for your freedom. Most of them sailors, many of them burned beyond recognition, their skin sliding off like a used latex work glove as they were pulled from the petroleum laced salt water. Think about those brave souls, their families and the lives that ended this day December 07, 1941. Then roll over and give thanks to God that the alarm clock awoke the giant, you have your freedom today because of it.

ACTUAL SHIP FAN FROM THE U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA BATTLESHIP

NEW VINTAGEFANS.COM REPLACEMENT 3 SPEED SWITCH AND KNOB FOR 1939-53 CIRCA GENERAL ELECTRIC VORTALEX DESK FANS

2010-11-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

BRAND NEW PHENOLIC (BAKELITE) 1939-53 CIRCA GENERAL ELECTRIC STYLE VORTALEX 3 SPEED SWITCHES BY VINTAGEFANS.COM!

We reproduced this knob to solve a common problem with the General Electric 3 speed Vortalex Fans that were produced from the late 30s through the early 1950s. These GE fans have one major weakness and that is the 3 speed switch, which is usually broken, replaced with a lamp switch, or missing all together. These knobs were reproduced by VintageFans.com to faithfully and inexpensively offer an original style switch option for the these premium vintage GE desk fans. The knob is made in the U.S.A of phenolic commonly referred to by the trade name "Bakelite" and they are being offered in the original style brown for the post war fans, as well as, black for the earlier model black and aluminum Vortalex desk fans. For the purist, the knobs can be machined to have the screw hole and white cap inserted to offer an exact duplicate, but we will leave that up to those who would like to do so. The switch and knob combo sells for $29.95 each plus s/h. We currently have a few in stock as these are fresh out of our mold for our approval, but we are taking preorders on ones to be shipped in 3 weeks or less.

TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ! !

2010-11-11T07:13:00.000-08:00

TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS, WE THANK YOU FOR THE FREEDOM THAT YOU UNSELFISHLY DEFEND. MANY HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR THIS FREEDOM, MAKING THEIR SACRIFICE ONE THAT YOU CAN NOT PRICE. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR WORK MATTERS AND WE APPRECIATE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPRESS! ARMY, NAVY, AIRFORCE, MARINES, TO ALL THAT HAVE SERVED IN WAR AND PEACE, HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

THE FAN AND MOTOR MAKERS PLAY BALL IN 1919

2010-10-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Well, if you are reading this outside of Texas we understand that this is probably not a big deal to you, but we'll tell you anyway, the Texas Rangers are going to the 2010 World Series! This is really a huge deal around the Lone Star because the Rangers have never been this far during their four decade span. I remember going to the old ball park nearly 20 years ago and watching Nolan Ryan pitch. It's been a long time since those days and a long time coming for the Rangers, so all of us at VintageFans.com are excited about the prospect of the Rangers possibly winning the 2010 World Series.(Sam has even been spotted more than once wearing his Rangers baseball cap as part of his official work uniform at Vintage Fans). Through out the weeks our eyes have been glued to the games and the Rangers have lifted spirits across Texas as the tale of the former underdog MLB team has risen through the league beating the New York Yankees, allowing the Rangers their first chance to bring the title home to Texas.

As baseball fever has spread across Texas like Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" spread across the airwaves in 1984, it eventually infected our shop in Fort Worth and we thought that this antique photo from the Robbins and Myers Company newsletter would be an appropriate blog entry at this time. This photo became part of the VintageFans.com archives when we purchase 55 old newsletters from a picker who had purchased them at the Springfield, Ohio estate sale of a former R&M employee. The newsletters are full of interesting information about daily life working at a major fan and motor manufacturer during the first half of the 20th century. The newsletters are a rare glimpse into the individual worker's lives, something you seldom have the opportunity to learn about from original literature. The accompanying text states that " Preceding the (opening) game, there will be a parade in which all the shops in the league will be represented. The R&M band has been promised for the parade and opening game. An admission of 25 cents will be charged for this double header, the object being to provide funds for the hiring of competent umpires and score keepers and the meeting of some incidental expenses, such as the supplying of balls, whych must come from the league funds. " Enjoy the photo as we salute these Robbins and Myers employees for participating in the great American past time in their spare time from building some of the greatest fans and motors ever manufactured!

"IF THE SMOKE ESCAPES, YOU'VE GOT TO PUT IT BACK IN"

2010-09-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

Our days at VintageFans.com are filled with "amazings", " incredibles", and "unbelievables". Working on vintage ceiling, desk and pedestal fans keeps one in a constant state of awareness about the quality of manufacture that use to take place here in America. The United States built the best, the very existence of our company is proof, but better yet we see it daily in our work performed in our shop in Fort Worth, Texas, rebuilding or more precisely, "remanufacturing" antique and vintage ceiling and desk fans. The machines we rebuild at Vintage Fans, L.L.C. were built to last. Period. They were built during a time when no one in their respective industry would be caught trying to shave quality for the sake of a few dollars, in other words, it was too "costly" to build a "cheap machine", because it would place you in the unemployment line as your firm went out of business. We often refer to it as "honest engineering". Back then folks expected value for their hard earned dollar. They expected to purchase a serviceable machine that would be the last one they would need for that particular area as long as they maintained it. This differs greatly from our current "hyper" planned obsolescence idea of manufacturing, that is if it is even manufactured in the U.S.A., which seems to be an anomaly now considering all the manufacturing done in Asia. The days of America having a "service" economy seems to be in the past, though we would argue that "those" service economy days in America, seem to be her very best years. The years when we actually built nearly everything here, and built it well, because that was the way you did it. It was honest. You could lay your head down at night and be proud of the product you had made that day. You knew your product was a great product and you were proud of it. Think about it a moment. Build something better than anyone else and the world will want your product. This was America. This is what built America. It defined the country and her people. It's what won the wars. It's what kept the peace. It has an honesty, a realism that seems to have escaped our country. It's a sad shame, but they say things go in circles, so maybe we will "find our way back" before too much longer.Some say we can't do it here anymore, the labor cost is too high. But we argue that it can be done here. The Japanese have done it in our own back yards for years. Look at the reputation Japanese vehicles have earned over the last 40 years and for good reason. How much is the largest Lexus?And we pay it, because of quality and reputation. Lexus has flourished and in less than 30 years taken a large chunk of the luxury car market from historic strongholds. This success is attributed to their commitment to quality and they get their price for that quality. The point being made here is that it is acheiveable today. Let everyone else build the junk. America needs to follow her old paths and build the best. If it worked in the past, it will work today. Now back when the fans we work on daily were originally manufactured, they were not "cheap" items, not in construction, nor in retail cost. The price on an 1898 Emerson ceiling fan was around $65.00! This was a great sum of money, when the average person made less than $500.00 per year. But, for your money, you received a machine that would consistently make you a believer in America and American made machines. It would outlast you, your children and their children. If you sold it, it had a decent resale because people knew the quality. This is a lot of return for that initial $65.00 investment. This quality endeared you and your ancestors to the company that made the machine, which also created legendary brands and some of our nation's largest blue chip manufacturing companies, General Electric, Westinghouse, Emerson, to name a few. But, historic reputation can only last for so long, unwarranted.

One of the best examples of high quality vintage American engineering was witnessed the other day in our shop and really is the heart of this article. We have long made it known that one of our favorite fans of all time have been those fine circulators made by the O.A. Sutton Corp. when they manufactured the original Vornado fans. Our favorite model is the the 38 series and it so happens that a pedestal version of that model was our very first vintage Vornado purchased around 1992 in Joshua, Texas. Since this model is so near and dear to us, we have several around the shop that do a fine job working to keep us cool in the long Texas summers. As it does nearly everyday, the lunch bell rings at high noon, signaling chow time. This day was the same as all the rest, great conversation including fan talk and discussion of potential problem solving or theories for the worst "cases" in the shop at that given moment. We are use to "sounds" outside as we are in a industrial area, so it did not startle us when we heard a sound taken to be that of "weedeater" trimming the weeds against the side of our building, a sound that was often familiar especially after heavy rains like we had recently received. As lunch ended, 15 or 20 minutes later, we smelled something burning, an electrical smell that is accustomed to our noses, but one that you infrequently have the chance to smell because these old fans just do not give up that easily. As I smelled several of the fans running, none of them were the culprit and for 5 more minutes we went on with our business. Shortly there after, vintage electric motor expert Sam Morgan pointed at the Vornado 38 on the shop floor and we noticed that the motor had sucked an errant plastic grocery sack into its intake ducting that allows the fan to move so much air. The sack had stalled the motor for what had to have been 30 minutes or so by the time we cut the power to it and by that time it was smoking intensely. Sam insisted that we needed to let it cool down and he would then check it out. From the smoke produced and thinking about how long it had been since we had heard the "weedeater" sound, (which in reality was the bag wrapping itself around the blades), I feared the worse.

After the fan cooled down, Sam removed the bag that had stalled the motor and began checking the fan out with an Ohms meter. As soon as he turned the fan on, it sprung to life and he checked the amperage and wattage comparing it to the known data on its motor decal. Amazingly, the fan was fine. This result instantly received a huge "unbelievable" from me, as the "38" was immediately given a get well dose of oil and put back into service while checking on it a few times during the following hours "just to make sure". It was at this time that motor medic Morgan then shared an old electric motor shop folkism saying with me, He said " Mark, I use to always say " If the smoke escapes, you've got to put it back in". Sam further explained that he had rescued "the smoke" several times back in the 70s,80s and 90s at Central Electric in Fort Worth. As he shared this amusing and historic motor shop saying, I immediately told him we had just witnessed a blog or newsletter story about how great these machines truly are, a testimony to O.A. Sutton, Vornado, American manufacturing in the 1950s and Electric Motor Shop Folklore all in one! Its incredible to think that 60 year old insulation held up under enough heat to produce smoke as this fan had never been serviced by us other than routine oiling.The old saying "the cobbler's son has the worse shoes" is true in our business as we grab a fan for shop duty many times with the "one day" plan that we'll get to it when business is slow. The Vornado has continued to be a daily runner since this event and our faith in these vintage machines and our ancestors that built them bolstered even more so than it had been in the past. As we move into the future, American need only look at her past in manufacturing to see what made her great. One reason was a small company on the Kansas prairie that built the "World's Finest Circulators", a tornado of a fan if you will, and if it stalled and "the smoke escaped", no worry Sam Morgan will be happy to put it back in the motor for you at VintageFans.com.

THE DOG DAYS OF THE ENDLESS SUMMER, BUT SURF CITY WHERE ARE YOU?

2010-08-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

For years I have sworn that I was going to air condition the shop areas at VintageFans.com in Fort Worth. Most of the time the heat is not a problem, because after all we are a vintage fan business and we have some of the best machines ever manufactured cooling the shop during spring, summer, and most of the fall here in Texas. Besides that, our commercial shop location happens to have a very deep and large pond (Texans call them tanks) directly behind our facilities and it aides in the cooling effect, 'a la the original "Swamp Cooler". Often durning the summer months the winds move up from the south bringing the cooler "evaporative cooled" pond air directly into the shop. This "swamp" cooled air is assisted by a couple of large 1950s window fans, one an Emerson 16" and the other a ducted Vornado, that allows you to receive instant "air conditioning" when the temps stay below the 95 degree mark. The shop stays very comfortable for most of the year, even during most of our summers. We usually have a couple of weeks of 100 degree days, with the air drying out the higher the temperature climbs, allowing you to feel not as hot as say, Memphis, Tennessee. But this year has been one of those years that I remind myself that I should have, as Andy Taylor of Mayberry fame would say, "call the man" and have air conditioning units installed. Of course, by this time its too late, it's like needing a storm shelter when you are watching the approaching Tornado. We are in it now and we just have to "experience" what it was like working on antique and vintage fan motors in an electric motor shop 50 to 100 years ago. I honestly do not know how those folks "weathered" the heat, most of them without any assistance that fans or air conditioning brings. I guess we know one reason why the life expectancy was so short back then! Usually on really hot summers, about the time you are at your wits' end, the temperatures moderate and we are back in the 90s and all is well in Texas. This year we are quickly approaching that point, but we know that September is just around the corner.

Loving all things vintage, we have a cool shop advertising thermometer circa 1950s or 60s made by the Pam Clock Company, that is always dead on accurate (as with nearly all things vintage American made, another story, another time). This particular thermometer advertises the Sprague company, who built capacitors by the time this thermometer was built, but who also had a ancestral lineage to the fan motor world as far back as the 1890s. The other day, the temperature on our "Sprague" thermometer read 105 inside the shop! Instantly, our 1950s Vornado pedestal fans began to feel like convection ovens and I briefly heard Andy Taylor telling Aunt Bee to "call the man", all as I drank what seemed like my 50th Gatorade and 200th Ozarka! As this was the end of the day, I thought about how drained I was by the Texas heat and questioned my sanity. What in the world am I doing? This is nuts! Cursing the Texas heat, dousing my face with water and remembering those pleasant days of summer, the summers of my youth, when life was care free and responsibilities a minimum. Ahh.... for the days of listening to Jan Berry and Dean Torrence tell me that "Summer Means Fun" and knowing that they were telling me the truth. After all back then when school let out, it was "our version" of "Surf City" here we come (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) where we witnessed "Drag City" on the boulevard and learned that "Little Deuce Coupes"and "Three Window Coupes" were the toughest machines in town. Life was a beach, for real and the days were filled with ocean breezes, hot rods and endless summers ahead where we thought "Surf City" would last forever. As with most romantic dreams of youth, it didn't and as I did our typical shut down walk through the shop turning off all the equipment, fans, and lights, I wondered who would last longer, me or this endless summer. As I locked my office, turned on the floods and grabbed one more water for the road, I secured the dead bolts and headed to my truck, where at last I could experience "civilization" again. Thoroughly drained I engaged the key hoping to only here an engine and strong fan of the air conditioning, and that's when it happened. All at once, in my defeated state and at the precise second of engaging the key, I heard the instrumentals begin even before the artists name appeared on Sirius Satellite Channel 6 screen, as"Ride the Wild Surf" by Jan and Dean greeted me and as I looked up into the rear view mirror, a broad smile came over my face. My whole mood changed as I belted out the chorus, and knew I would be ready for the next work week. Life is good!

KEEP THE FIRES BURNING IN BAKERYVILLE, U.S.A.

2010-07-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

We have been very fortunate to meet some really great people through VintageFans.com. Not only our customers, but in our occasional travels, we have had the opportunity to meet some really nice folks that shared our love of Americana, history and preservation. We stumbled onto a gem this weekend when we made a short trip to purchase a few old 1920s Emerson ceiling fans that spent their life in a central Texas cafe. When we had finalized our transaction, we ran to a nearby historic bakery that we are very familiar with from past travels.

Little did we know that we were about to meet an elderly gentleman who worked at the bakery since the early 50s arriving there every morning around 3a.m. to make the kolaches and other delicious treats that hungry customer's waited in lines for. I could tell that he was the kind of individual who did what it took to get the job done. You know the kind, the no excuses, get up everyday to do a good job individual working in a business that made the same thing day in and day out year after year, with no complaints. Dodge use to use the slogan "Job Rated Trucks" back in the 30s, 40s and 50s. This was that kind of man and this bakery was that kind of business. The same can do attitude that built this great nation, won the wars, put men on the moon, and overcame any adverse situation, whether that be hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes etc, they dealt with it, and moved on. It was a true pleasure to witness this still in motion and our slogan of "Preserving History in Motion" came to mind as we looked around.

When we asked would he mind if we took some images of the two antique ceiling fans, one an early Hunter Tuerk made around 1906-13 circa and the other a 20" circulator that likely dated from the 1930s, he smiled and said, why no, "please take all the photos you would like". The entire place was ripe with Americana, complete with a screen door leading to the bathroom. I kept thinking we were going to see Betty Crocker or Aunt Jemima in the flesh smiling back at us as we toured the historic heart of the operation. We were given a history lesson about the fans, the antique Hobart mixer, and the custom built gas fed oven. Ah... the oven. It's the coolest one we have ever seen and it was huge.Its bleach white panels and cast aluminum maker's mark boldly proclaiming it to be generations old. Our host explained that it would cost way too much to run it today because of the fuel and of course that is sound conventional thinking. But, there was one problem with his statement, he was telling it to someone who loves to go against the grain, someone who owns a successful business that services, repairs, and restores antique and vintage ceiling and desk fans, for goodness sakes. I heard the same kind of logical thinking when I tossed the idea about to a few people that I was thinking about taking my hobby and turning it into a business. "Oh.....Ok Mark, go right ahead..." "you can buy brand new fans at Home Depot or Lowe's for a fraction of the cost" was the typical reply with raised eyebrows, to which my internal reply was "watch me", because I knew I had a passion for the vintage American made fans and I was willing to do what it took to take it to the next level and beyond. With this oven, it was so cool that I would gladly pay four times as much for a loaf of bread that was baked in it, just to experience bread that was cooked in it after it had been mixed by a nearby 1920s Hobart mixer, the Cro Magnon great granddad to modern Kitchen Aide. Think about it, how many other places could you still eat bread from a custom built oven that was old in the early 1950s when it was installed second hand? And of course, in the ambiance of "Bakeryville, U.S.A" that looks like Hank Kimble, or Fred Ziffel might walk in the door at any moment, ( all meant in a good way). The entrepreneur would make it available online so you could purchase the bread and have it shipped to your door fresh overnight, all while educating the public about the difference they were about to experience with bread baked in an oven that was around prior to some of their grandparent's birth.

As our tour came to an end, it was somewhat bittersweet, because we were leaving vintage America and stepping back into our modern day life. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for modern conveniences, but life sure is special when things are less complicated. It must have been grand to have opened that bakery up in the 1950s, fire that oven up, start the coffee, mix the dough and start the early day prior to the sound of the neighboring rooster's crow. They were making a living at something they loved, something they had a passion for, which in turn flowed out of the products they made. We know the feeling, it's a daily ritual at VintageFans.com. Its a shame that most of main steam America has lost that since of direction in their products, as that WAS America made at it's finest definition of the term. I tell people all the time, that it's not about the money, that will take care of itself if you are doing what you love, it's about the passion and it's about the people. Passion and People are two words that describe more than our means to make a living while on this Earth, but so very important to achieving the real American dream.

Our host told us that they use to line up out the door waiting to purchase the day's first kolaches, breads, and cinnamon rolls. On the weekend's they still do, coming in as far away as Dallas and Fort Worth, but today the goods are baked in an "efficient" modern oven. The products are excellent but for us, to smell kolaches, bread or cinnamon rolls cooked in that antique oven one more time, now that would be a treat of the tallest order.In fact, I would gladly pay a monthly membership to subscribe, if that is what it took, and I have a very good inclination that others would too, in the Lone Star State and beyond. There is an old saying that goes "You get what you pay for". Remember, not everyone desires box store fans. The same could be said for box store bread.

SAD DAY AT VINTAGEFANS.COM, GOODBYE KEVIN

2010-07-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

A sad day unfolded this morning when the FedEx truck pulled up and I asked "where is Kevin (Khaled) today, is he sick?" The driver replied, no “he was killed last night by a drunk driver that hit him head on when he was taking packages to Irving.” Feeling numb and in total shock, I told the driver that Kevin had just picked up 5 packages yesterday afternoon when I called him to see if he could swing back by so they could go out on Monday. As always in his cheery voice he said, "Mark, for you anything", when I asked “Kevin we have one Express that needs to go to Hawaii, can you drop it off he said “Absolutely, no problem, I will hand it off to the Express guy, we always exchange at a mutual pickup” “I will be there around 3 pm, is that OK Mark” I replied that was fine and thanked him for running back by the shop. I missed seeing my friend one last time by about 20 minutes as I had ran an errand to pick up an oxygen tank needed for our acetylene welder, but when I returned, Kevin had already picked up the packages. As the FedEx replacement driver left, the reality of it all finally hit. Kevin was gone. How tragic for his wife and young family. As the day progressed I tried to concentrate on our activities and present a positive, pleasant demeanor when talking with our clients and vendors, but my mind kept going back to Kevin’s tragic encounter with an intoxicated driver. I decided I would write this note in tribute to his life as we knew it in a business relationship and try to convey the person we knew for those of you out there that are reading this.

Kevin (Khaled) was one who always had a smile on his face, a positive attitude and his customer service should be recorded in a manual for FedEx employees and other businesses alike. On Mondays when we saw Kevin, he would always jump out the truck and enthusiastically shake my hand and ask, “How was your weekend” and he always beamed proudly with joy when I asked about his wife and baby. It is a sad fact of life that some lives are extinguished in their prime, especially by those who have little regard for the law or responsibility and unfortunately, such was the case when our friend Kevin crossed paths with such a careless soul last night. Our prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends for their tremendous loss. Please know that Kevin made a difference in the work that he did, he made our lives brighter by knowing him and our business relationship a fruitful one, because of his unquestionable work ethic. I would have hired him in a New York minute. I am sure he touched every life that he encountered in every facet of his life with equal enthusiasm. He will be greatly missed by us all here at VintageFans.com. You can read the story at WFAA.com and watch the video Channel 8 News Dallas featured on its newscast.

AMERICAN MADE ONE MORE TIME!

2010-07-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

Who remembers their grandparents yard or porch being centered around these vintage outdoor furnishings? Growing up in South Carolina during the 60s, 70s and early 80s, these were a common site. By that time they had at least a couple of decades of wear and several coats of paint in your grandmother's favorite colors, which depending on the decade varied, and I tend to remember fresh avocado green covering nearly anything that needed a coat of paint during my childhood. Many of us remember the days when these chairs and tables became the thrones of the patriarchs and matriarchs of any family gathering, whether that be the typical Sunday afternoon cookout, or the more laborious events such as the full blown annual family reunion. The rights to the "thrones", especially the favorite ones, were established by somewhat of a pecking order of maturity. As a child, that meant we "young-ins" were on the bottom rung. The chairs were available for our use when none of the adults needed them, and we were OK with that because we would rather be out back playing "Emergency", "Batman", or "Adam -12". Many times the chairs had been repaired by ingenious blue collar family members that welded reinforcement braces made out of rebar or some other handy steel that was laying around their shop. This made the chairs last several more decades under the strain of rocking, plopping and other forms of abuse not intended by the manufacturer. Another thing that made them last was the fact that they were made in the U.S.A. out of Pittsburgh steel, when everyone knew why their NFL team was called the "Steelers".

For all the reasons mentioned, some sentimental, some nostalgic and some because we just can't stand buying inferior Asian made copies of anything, we decided to breathe new life into this vintage set. It wasn't cheap to do, but haven't you heard there is no free lunch, sorry to break the news to you if you believe such nonsense. We love the results and the quality, well that is understood when you own a company that specializes in restoring antique and vintage ceiling and desk fans, as these chairs were made by the same types of individuals that built our vintage electric fans originally. Yes, when I look at this vintage outdoor furniture, I see my Grandparents and other loved ones that have passed away, but I also see the America I grew up in, the one that manufactured quality goods that gave you an honest value for your dollar. What a novel idea, build something to last, something you are not ashamed of or have to apologize for, and create a loyal following for your products around the world. We like that concept, but we remember a lot about America we no longer see. They say things come back around......maybe just maybe it will.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

2010-07-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

AS WE CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY, WE WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY. PLEASE REMEMBER ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS,THEY ARE ALL HEROES. OUR GOD GIVEN FREEDOMS HAVE BEEN PROTECTED BY THEM AS THEY HAVE DEFENDED OUR CONSTITUTION FOR 234 YEARS. WE THANK OUR FOREFATHERS FOR THE FORTITUDE AND WISDOM THEY USED IN ESTABLISHING THE GREATEST COUNTRY THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN. THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT THINK SO ARE WELCOME TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY NOW. NO ONE EVER SWIMS RIVERS OR RISK THEIR LIVES IN THE OCEAN TO LEAVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BUT YOU CAN BE THE FIRST IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THESE TRUTHS.WE THANK GOD HE ALLOWED US TO BE BORN IN THIS GREAT LAND OF FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! PLEASE KEEP THE U.S.A IN YOUR PRAYERS, SHE NEEDS THEM NOW MORE THAN EVER.

The Graceful Lady of Abilene, Texas

2010-06-24T20:05:00.000-07:00

Daily life at VintageFans.com can somewhat desensitize one to the fact that we are actually repairing fans that have been on this planet for 80, 90, to 100 years and more. We often walk around motors that were built when Teddy Roosevelt was in his first term as President of the United States, and think nothing of it. A late model fan to us is one built in the 1940s or 50s. When you stop and think about it, and I mean really think about it, this is amazing.

Each one of the antique and vintage fans we repair, whether they be ceiling, desk, or other types of electric fans have a storied history. Most of the time that history is unknown. However, some fans were installed in public spaces that have been preserved for future generations to view on film and now preserved digitally.These images are a snapshot in time of the people. They are a moment in their lives, often capturing their nameless faces peering back at the lens their identities unknown by many today much like the personal history's of the majority of the incredible wind machines that we preserve with passion on a weekly basis in our Fort Worth shop.If only we could see their past. It makes us wonder about whether or not the VintageFans.com unrestored inventory holds this historic Emerson breeze maker that served the guests of the Grace Hotel in Abilene, Texas for many years. What a welcome relief it must have been to come inside the Grace's lobby and feel the instant relief from the West Texas heat as this Emerson ceiling fan reminded those under her that technology had brought to their life a wonderful comfort appliance from Saint Louis, Missouri. We believe the thought crossed many of the minds that sat in those chairs.

Today, the Grace Hotel has found a new lease on life as a museum. http://www.thegracemuseum.org/about_grace/about_history.html We applaud Abilene for preserving this historic building for future generations to enjoy and encourage a learning experience in the present while restoring part of her past. We wonder if any of the Grace's ceiling fans were preserved? If not, we know where a few Emerson's rest that will complete the restoration, possibly at least one that knows the old girl personally.

Veteran Antique Electric Motor Expert Joins VintageFans.com

2010-05-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

Vintage Fans, L.L.C.- VintageFans.com is excited to welcome Mr. Sam Morgan to the Fort Worth, Texas based antique and vintage fan company. Mr. Morgan brings over 40 years of antique and vintage electric motor repair, specializing since the 1960s in rewinding, machining and engineering of antique and vintage American made ceiling and desk fan motors. Mr. Morgan is nationally recognized as an authority on early motor repair from his many years(1968-1996) of specializing in the trade during his employment with Central Electric formally of Fort Worth.
During his tenure with Central Electric, Mr. Morgan developed a reputation as one of the nation's premier authorities on early ceiling and desk fan repair, as well as other types of early electric motors in both direct and alternating current. Through the years, " Mr. Sam" has enabled the preservation of countless early electric fans that might other wise have had little hope of a thorough rebuild. He has generously given of his time, knowledge and experience to help countless individuals and collectors of these machines over the last 40 years and his experience will continue to be an invaluable asset to our customers and the antique and vintage fan and motor community in general.

WIN THIS ANTIQUE WESTINGHOUSE CEILING FAN!

2010-04-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

TRADITIONAL HOME MAGAZINE AND VINTAGEFANS.COM PRESENT THE SWEEPSTAKES GIVE-A-WAY OF THIS 1915-16 circa original Antique Westinghouse 56" ceiling fan that was fully restored for Designer Charlotte Lekakos and her guest bedroom in the 2009 Charity Works Greenhouse in McLean, Virginia. Register To Win here: http://www.traditionalhome.com/

RING, RING, TELEPHONE RING!

2010-03-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

Our business requires that we continuously purchase early electric fans, parts and other items that contribute to the repair, preservation, service and sales of vintage ceiling and desk fans. Sometimes we have the opportunity to purchase literature and even an occasional old photo to aid in our knowledge of these great old machines. With the age of the internet, old photos are coming out of the wood work, literally, as many images are being preserved online for future generations. The images themselves are great tools to study how we lived in the old days and with today's technology, we can preserve some that were not easily viewed a mere decade ago.

Occasionally we will run across a cool old photo the old fashioned way, at a flea market or antique store. We found this old photo that way many years ago, prior to the internet and VintageFans.com. The ladies that worked this switchboard undoubtedly loved the 16" 1906-11circa Westinghouse table fan. It's unclear for certain, but the fan appears to be a stationary or non oscillating model. We have owned one of these Westinghouse's and can tell you from experience that one of these fans in this close proximity to the switchboard would have blown quite a breeze on the operators, a welcome addition on a hot summer day.

TOP OF THE MORNING TO YA AND MAY THE LUCK OF THE IRISH ALWAYS BE WITH YA!

2010-03-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

EARLY 1890'S PHOTO OF THE EMERSON ELECTRIC COMPANY OF SAINT LOUIS, MO., U.S.A.

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY TO EVERY ONE AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE IRISH IMMIGRANTS THAT WORKED IN THE FACTORIES THAT BUILT OUR WONDERFUL ANTIQUE ELECTRIC FANS IN AMERICA! IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM AND THEIR CO-WORKERS ATTENTION TO A JOB WELL DONE THAT WE HAVE THEIR FANS TODAY. WITHOUT THEIR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, THERE WOULD BE NO VINTAGE FANS FOR VINTAGEFANS.COM TO SERVICE, REPAIR AND RESTORE IN 2010.

IT'S JUST CRAZY, MAN!

2010-03-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

THE CRAZY WATER HOTEL OF MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS

CHECK OUT THIS SUPER COOL OLD PHOTO SHOWING THE INTERIOR OF THE FAMOUS CRAZY WATER HOTEL. ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1914, BUT DESTROYED BY FIRE AND REBUILT 2 YEARS LATER, IT SEEMS THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTRACTORS HAD A FONDNESS FOR HUNTER TUERK TYPE "C" CEILING FANS, AS THE LOBBY SHOWS. THE TUERK TYPE "C" WAS MANUFACTURED FROM 1906 TO 1918 CIRCA IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN A COUPLE DIFFRENT VERSIONS THE EARLIEST VERSION HAVING THE POPULAR SERPENTINE WAVY BOTTOM PLATE. SOMETIME AROUND 1914 OR SO, HUNTER BEGAN TO USE A FLAT BOTTOM PLATE WITH OBLONG VENTILATION HOLES. HUNTER ALSO CAST THE MOTOR HOUSING WITH STRAIGHT SIDES, REMOVING UPPER LEVEL LIP FOUND ON THE EARLIER TYPE "C" TUERKS. THERE WAS ALSO AN ORNAMENTAL VERSION WITH CAST BRASS SIDE MEDALIONS FEATURING BUNCHES OF GRAPES AND THIS DECORATION ALSO ADORNED THE BOTTOM PLATES OF THE ORNAMENTAL "DELUXE" TUERKS. THE FANS IN THE PHOTO OF THE CRAZY WATER HOTEL APPEAR TO HAVE THE STANDARD "TURNIP" SHAPED OIL CUP/SWITCH HOUSING AND ALSO APPEAR TO BE THE EARLIER VARIETY OF TUERK.

MINERAL WELLS WAS A MECCA OF HEALTH SEEKING INDIVIDUALS DURING THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY UP THROUGH THE 1930S. GUEST INCLUDED THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF THE DAY INCLUDING NOTED CELEBRITIES ALL SEEKING THE MINERAL LACED WATER TO DRINK AND BATHE IN WHICH SEEMED TO PROMISE ETERNAL YOUTH. AS FOR THE THE CEILING FANS, I AM SURE THEY WERE A WELCOME RELIEF IN THE LOBBY FROM THE INTENSE HEAT OF THE HOT TEXAS SUN. WE KNOW THE HUNTER FAN AND MOTOR COMPANY HAD AT LEAST ONE LOCAL DEALER ON THE JOB IN MINERAL WELLS, AS WE HAVE IN OUR INVENTORY A PAIR OF THE LATER 1914-18 CIRCA TUERK TYPE "C"s THAT WERE REMOVED FROM A MINERAL WELLS BUILDING SEVERAL YEARS AGO.THE VINTAGEFANS.COM MINERAL WELLS PAIR ALSO HAVE THE RARE CHARACTERISTIC OF BEING CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERS TO ONE ANOTHER. THE HUNTER TUERK TYPE "C" IS A TIMELESS CLASSIC DESIGN THAT SPANS THE DECADES AND WILL COMPLIMENT ANY DECOR. HECK, IF THEY WERE GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE CRAZY, THEY ARE GOOD ENOUGH FOR ANYONE. THE CRAZY WATER HOTEL SURE THOUGHT SO AND VINTAGEFANS.COM DOES TOO.SEE THEM IN OUR GALLERY AT http://www.vintagefans.com/gallery/ceilingfans.htm .

THE OLD RELIABLE IN WACO CIRCA 1902-03!

2010-02-22T07:50:00.000-08:00

1902-03 Waco City Directory advertisement for BISMARK HALL, which sounds like it had been a mainstay around Waco for many years being described as "The Old Reliable". Notice that the hall touts its size and the fact that it employed the use of "REVOLVING FANS" making it the best place in town to "KEEP COOL and ENJOY FRESH BEER AT ALL HOURS". The fact that Waco was barely out of the Wild West days and had established electricity throughout the city is amazing to us. Texas was undoubtedly fairly progressive in the establishment of electrical current throughout the state, setting it apart from the majority of its former Confederate state allies. We would love to know what kinds of fans were "revolving" at Bismark Hall. Did the old building succumb to the 1953 Waco F-5 Tornado?

THE VINTAGE FAN BUSINESS IN COWTOWN IS NOTHING NEW!

2010-01-28T09:42:00.000-08:00

Years ago, prior to VintageFans.com, I purchased a 1910 catalog of the Wesco Supply Company. As with catalogs of the period, it is hardbound and boast 1324 pages of all the goods related to the electrical trade during the early years of that industry.Wesco Supply was a major electrical goods distributor based out of ST. Louis, Missouri at the turn of the 20th Century. In fact, Wesco was such a large player during the day that the Emerson Electric Company, another ST. Louis based firm that manufactured premium electric fans and motors, supplied Wesco with ceiling and desk fans embossed with WESCO motor tags to sell as their own. The Trojan line that Emerson introduced around 1904 as their working man's flagship brand, are sometimes seen with the WESCO motor tag. Other than the motor tag, Wesco "Trojans" are the same fan and are generally highly prized among collectors as a rarity of the line. Wesco also sold the premium line of ornamental EMERSON ceiling and desk fans, as well as carrying Peerless direct current ceiling and desk fans. You ask, what's this have to do with "Cowtown" (aka Fort Worth for those of you who are not fortunate enough to recognize the pet name)? The answer is a bunch. Around 1910, Wesco called Fort Worth the home of their Southwestern branch headquarters. This means Fort Worth sold alot of rebadged TROJAN's with the entitled WESCO badge. In fact, Wesco Supply probably jobbed a majority of the Emerson line of fans in the South West. While that was a small part of the Electrical Industry as a whole, Fort Worth possessed a couple of attributes that allowed the fan business to flourish in the city between 1900-1920. One was that Fort Worth was prosperous. So much money changed hands in the city from the bustling cattle and growing oil business, that it was referred to at that time as the "Wall Street of the West".The city's other attribute for success in the fan business during WESCO's reign was that Fort Worth and the rest of the region's climate is HOT!! One simply needs to glance at the records set in those days to know that a fan would have been among the most cherished possessions of those living in the region and if one could afford it, they owned at least one electric fan. We can tell you from personal experience that summer temperatures can sore past 100 degrees for weeks at a time, everyday, with little or no rain. Arguably that made the $55.00 WESCO ceiling fan look readily affordable to the shop, restaurant, hotel or home owner who sampled one's refreshing breezes amid the heat of the Southwest 100 years ago. In Fort Worth, the Wesco Supply Company was led by Mr. R.S. Wakefield. Under his leadership, the Wesco Supply Company flourished and Mr. Wakefield seems to have become quite prominent among the business leaders in Fort Worth. The attached biography claims that he moved to Waco, to attend to the Electrical Supply business, having already established the business in the Fort Worth area.

Last year the area where our commercial shops are located was annexed by the City of Fort Worth. This patch of land had been considered unincorporated Tarrant County for years, with a Keller, Texas address. As Fort Worth has creeped northward toward the Texas Motor Speedway, it has engulfed vast acreage to feed on the large quanity of tax dollars available, no different than most major cities across the U.S. when given the opportunity by the people. As I weighed the positives that could come out of the annexation, I thought about the history of Fort Worth and how Vintage Fans, L.L.C. now had a direct link to that history. The Wesco Supply Company sold many of the same models that we now service, repair and sell in Fort Worth on a daily basis, 100 years later. In 2009 we restored a very scarce WESCO Type 504:

http://www.vintagefans.com/gallery/ceiling_fans/emerson/1904-06wesco52.html antique ceiling fan for a historic home in Pennsylvania. The fan was a local purchase by us and the odds are that the Fort Worth branch of the Wesco Supply Company originally handled the initial sale of that particular fan. If they did Wow......talk about fate! As we move into the future, it is indeed an honor to supply our customers with the wonderful machines that the Wesco Supply Company offered in the same city. We look forward to becoming part of the "fan business" legacy of Fort Worth and hope to carry the tradition on for many years to come.

Working America at the Robbins and Myers Fan Factory, circa 1918!

2010-01-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

The view inside of the Robbins and Myers Company of Springfield, Ohio, fan assembly room circa 1918. Read all about it: Including this photo and others in our new edition of EXTRA!EXTRA! The official newsletter of Vintagefans.com click here: http://www.vintagefans.com/newsletter/issue3/page1.html

HISTORY IN MOTION......TRY 300 MPH IN A LEGENDARY WARBIRD!

2010-01-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

We had the distinct honor of supplying the Allied Fighters http://www.alliedfighters.com/ with several vintage matching mid to late 1930s General Electric 52" ceiling fans for their historic World War II hanger recreation in Chino, California. Jeff Harris and the rest of the folks at the Allied Fighters are providing an invaluable service preserving, restoring, maintaining and flying America's historic war planes. It is an honor to have a small part in their historic hanger recreation and their attention to detail is applauded. The vintage G.E. ceiling fans compliment some of America's most impressive machinery, as anyone who has ever experienced the roar of W.W.II era fighter planes will probably tell you. Everytime this author hears one, he experiences goosebumps on his arms. Just knowing that those very planes were involved in some of the greatest battles in history preserving our freedom is enough to nearly bring tears to your eyes. When you see one of the few remaining W.W.II veteran pilots beside one of these restored warbirds, it should bring tears to your eyes. To all of those pilots and to the Allied Fighters, we want to say THANK YOU, its an honor. Subscribe to their newsletter here: http://www.alliedfighters.com/newsletter.html .

SAY......., WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?? WHY EMERSON ANTIQUE CEILING FANS OF COURSE!!!

2010-01-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

DON'T SAVE HAPPINESS! WASTE IT. THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GO 'ROUND!!

2009-12-21T12:11:00.000-08:00

FRONT PAGE OF THE ROBBINS AND MYERS COOPERATOR DECEMBER 18,1919.

Robbins and Myers wished you a bright and "Merry Christmas" during those days! As they should have. The company was in their hey day manufacturing premium ceiling fans, desk fans ,electric motors, and generators, shipping them throughout the United States and the rest of the world from their Springfield, Ohio factory. Notice that Santa lacks the Rockwellish idea of the jolly Coca Cola gulping super elf. This one actually looks like he enjoys leaving coal in the stockings! A pre Grinch, Grinch!!Hahaha! Enjoy and Oh... ah, MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM VINTAGEFANS.COM!!!

WESTINGHOUSE SANTA CIRCA 1909

2009-12-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER 07,1941 PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY

2009-12-07T06:04:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER 07,1941, a day that most of our current citizens of the United States do not remember, both in the original sense and or because after all, it has been 68 years ago. We lead busy lives and surely we have more important things to do, like watching the latest idol winner or constantly checking our email, listening to our ipod or shuffling Biffy and Buffy off to their soccer, dance competitions, or some other activity to occupy their time. We have important things to do, like having our nails done, playing the latest video game or shopping for some useless plastic Chinese made gadget that we think will improve our existence somehow. If you agree with this, WRONG ANSWER, get out of my country! We need real Americans living here!

I hope that I do not have to tell you that on this day 68 years ago, at about 7:51 am , our country was attacked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by the Japanese, killing 2350 servicemen ,women, and citizens. The Pearl Harbor attack ushered the United States into World War II and launched a wave of patriotic volunteers eager to serve their country to fight tyranny, defend the United States Constitution, and preserve freedom, (which in itself means freedom for the world, not only the United States, a fact that every freedom loving country on earth should recognize). We need to remember this day, not only today, but every time we think about our lives and how lucky we are to live in this great country. Our very freedom today is because of the sacrifices that our ancestors made on this great day in history and the days and years that followed. Like those before them, they marched ahead and never gave up in the fight to slay the dragons that would have ushered in imperialism, fascism, socialism or communism.

As a child, I was fortunate to be able to spend time on family trips to Charleston, S.C., and on more than one occasion we visited the U.S.S. Yorktown aircraft carrier, http://www.patriotspoint.org/ . This particular ship, commissioned in 1943, was named in honor of the first Yorktown that was sunk during the battle of Midway. To my 10 year old eyes this ship was living and breathing history. As we toured the ship we climbed through the doors that I knew hundreds of men had hurried through when Japanese Zeros were fast approaching. I could only imagine what it must have been like for those that served on her. As I was caught up in the romantic imagery of war, I imaged one of my hero's of the day, Robert Conrad, who played U.S. Marine Major Greg "Pappy" Boyington on TV's Baa Baa Blacksheep landing his Corsair on the deck for refueling. Back then, I remember seeing men that were gray headed often wearing Bermuda shorts, pastel socks, and some type of Navy baseball cap with the name of the ship on it. These men walked the Fighting Lady's levels slower and more carefully than I did as I scampered about. They seemed to pause often and look out to sea from her deck as if they could see something I couldn't. I realized much later in life, why. Little did I know at the time that I was running between the men who had given me the privilege to live in this great country, a free child. Many of those men had originally served on the U.S.S. Yorktown were they had operated those guns, landed those planes, slept in those racks, and swabbed those decks. As I write this now, I wish that I would have had the courage to walk up to one of those men, as they paused in deep thought remembering, and thank them for their service. I wish I would have thanked them for fighting the Japanese insuring that our country remained free.

As time moves on, the opportunity to thank them evaporates with time and the opportunity to forget about December 07, 1941, always presents itself. We can't let that happen. Please take the time today, to make sure that we will never forget this day and its importance in our history. Teach your children about it. Don't depend on the schools to do it. Be accountable for it yourself and take personal responsibility for teaching your children about this important day in our nation's history. If we do that, we will never forget and neither will they.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

2009-11-26T06:38:00.000-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL FROM VINTAGE FANS!! As we celebrate this traditional American holiday our sincere wish is that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. We have much to be thankful for here at VintageFans.com, may we all remember how God has richly blessed us on this day in our great nation!

1909 CIRCA ADAMS-BAGNALL ELECTRIC COMPANY JANDUS GYRO FAN

2009-11-18T12:49:00.000-08:00

HOW COOL IS THIS???? A machine that was originally manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio 100 years ago. We praise our ancestors achievements all the time around here at Vintagefans.com. Can't you just here some guy's (and gal's) conversations at the 1909 dinner table discussing the day's work at the Adams-Bagnall Electric Company factory, "Yeah, I tells ya Maggie, we're working on this new fangled fancy fan dat spins in circles I tell ya'. The boss man tinks it will sell, but me has me doubts." Enjoy our video of this "fancy" fan. Born in Cleveland,OH in 1909 , restored in Fort Worth, TX at VintageFans.com 2009!!!! click here:

WE SALUTE OUR VETERANS......FREEDOM FOREVER!!

2009-11-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Veteran's Day. The freedom we have today in the United States and the rest of the world for that matter, is because of the brave men and women who have fought to keep America free. They have taken an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, sacrificing all if need be to fight for the freedom most Americans take for granted daily. We need to wake up in this country. Our Freedom is blood bought. The battlefields, whether that be land or sea, are stained with the blood that these brave souls lost to secure our freedom for all decades to come. The United States is owed a tremendous debt of gratitude from the likes of England, France, and the rest of Europe. Nazi Germany would have enslaved them all had it not been for the United States. Likewise, the entire South Pacific was under threat from Japan during World War II. The countries that share that region should also nod a sincere thank you to the brave men and women who fought to rid their world of tyranny. Last but not least, even though our current oval office occupant disgraced this great country with his bowing and apologies for her. The United States owes no bows to anyone. She also owes no apologies to anyone. We do not apologize for any war. We are not the aggressors. Without our brave military, there would be no peace on Earth. With that said, here is the story on the photos. These images are from the Robbins and Myers April 15, 1944 company news letter called the "R&M CO-OPERATOR" . The Robbins and Myers Co.
was founded in Springfield, Ohio in the mid 1890s or so when they began producing direct current ceiling fans, desk fans and industrial motors. By 1910, they were offering fans and motors for alternating current and the company continued to grow into one of the top premium manufacturers of fans and motors in the world. R&M fans featured such things as ball bearing swivel assemblies in the motor head spindle that allowed the fan to oscillate virtually friction free. This was not an absolute necessity and most manufacturers did not add such expense, but Robbins and Myers went the extra mile. Vintage Fans.com purchased 55 of these old newsletters from a dealer who obtained them from the estate of a longtime employee. We will be featuring more scans of these unique artifacts of industrial history and the plans are to share them with at least one university. They offer a rare glimpse at life in a large factory from the late 19teens into the mid 1940s. One thing that struck me as I reviewed these newsletters was how well the company supported their employees. Quite contrary to what you read in modern text books. They appeared to be a very family oriented company and many of the employees retired there after 30 years plus of employment. During World War II they feature letters from the G.Is. and news of each ones current status. Its a true testament to a patriotic company and their concern with their employees. We have gained a tremendous respect for the Robbins and Myers Company of old. Not only did they build fans and motors on a super premium level, but it is evident that they cared for their employees and expected them all to be good democracy loving patriotic Americans. The pilot photo is of Second Lt. Harry Ullom who was reported to be taken prisoner by Nazi Germany. Hopefully Lt. Ullom came back from Germany. The Army officer is Lt. John M. Reese, he was given a disability discharge after three years of service Ordinance, Infantry and Air Corps where he saw considerable action in the European theater. Robbins and Myers welcomed him back to work in the pump office. The sailor is Estel Power, A Seabee that mentions in his letter that he has repaired a gas heater motor that made him a little homesick because it was an Robbins and Myers motor. The men in the line photo are left to right.. Sgt. Earl Hohlmayer(stationed in India), Rodger Hoppes(sailing the Pacific), Ralph Lydic(Transportation Corps), Joe Sample(Last Word, in England), Cary Short(Stationed in England) and A/C Arthur Hohlmayer(who received his wings in Bomber School).
REMEMBER ALL OF OUR VETERANS ALWAYS. THEY ARE THE REASON FOR THE FREEDOM!

IF FANS COULD TALK....HOTEL MUEHLEBACH

2009-11-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

Pictured is the Emerson Electric 73648 all chrome table fan that survives the test of time after serving years of faithful duty at the famous Muehlebach Hotel. Its a unique artifact to all of the history made at that famous hotel. As you scan the images notice that the hotel had their namesake cast into the bases of the fans that were, no doubt, a special order from Emerson in St.Louis. The fan more than likely ran continuously during its lifetime, probably in full oscillation as it worked to cool the patrons of the hotel. In the first image, there is evidence of this as the heavy steel wired guard "rubbed" the cast iron base during so many oscillations that it cut a groove in the top third section of the base. The images are of the fan in its present unrestored state. We will eventually restore/preserve this artifact of the 1930s, so that it can once again provide "history in motion" for the generations that follow us.

DEWEY WINS! SAY WHAT?

2009-10-29T06:26:00.000-07:00

The Muehlebach Hotel of Kansas City has played host to some very famous people and events. We been told that President Harry Truman actually stayed there during the "Dewey Wins" election. In our inventory, we have an all chrome and nickel 1930s 16" Emerson table fan that has the "Hotel Muehlebach Kansas City Mo." embossed in the cast iron base. (This was a special order from Emerson and likely the hotel bought several fans to request this.) This Emerson fan would have been in service at the hotel when President Truman stayed there, because of its nearly new condition. Generally all Nickel, Chrome or Ivory colored fans were used in areas where a sanitary appearance was crucial. More than likely this fan was in a Soda Shop, Pharmacy or other area in the hotel that demanded the appearance. Who knows, it might have been in the presidential suite. I wonder if Harry enjoyed the refreshing breeze it produced as he enjoyed a drink while recovering from the hectic election. Look for images of the fan in its present unrestored condition soon. Its a COOL relic of history.

WEARING HISTORY IN MOTION THROUGH BILL'S KHAKIS

2009-10-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

Looking For ORIGINAL STYLE REAL MEN'S KHAKI'S? The kind OUR GREATEST GENERATION WON WWII wearing, when they CAME HOME, RAISED FAMILIES, BUILT HOMES, BUILT BUSINESSES, and BUILT THE U.S.A, into the GREATEST COUNTRY on the face of the Earth? All While Being Refreshed By The Very Fans VINTAGEFANS.COM sells! LOOK NO FURTHER THAN HERE:
http://www.billskhakis.com/

Many Thanks To My LIFE LONG PAL BRADLEY T. for directing me to http://www.billskhakis.com/ when I asked if he knew of any company who manufacturers the real deal, the kind we use to wear before all the pansie stuff invaded America from Asia and elsewhere. I have owned a few pairs of these now for four or five years and they are excellent. They are without a doubt the best khakis I have ever owned. They hold starch like khakis are suppose to because they are the real deal. None of those wimpy wrinkle free chemicals embedded in the material that makes you look like you stepped out of a box store advertisement. I tell everyone about them and even emailed Bill himself a few times to thank him and encourage him about his product. What a novel idea, build something to last in America that really gives you your money's worth, Made in the U.S.A. and an example of good ol' CAPITALISM at it's best. Guess what? This is the kind of product that a sustained America was built on! A stimulus free America where many of our modern politicians would be jailed and tried for treason. The kind that we use to live in (if your old enough to remember) and an example of a product that we call "HONEST ENGINEERING" around here at Vintagefans.com. The kind of pants that Patton, Pappy, G.I.s and Rosies wore to win the good fight and keep us free from tyranny. As R.Lee would say HOO..RAAHHHH! Congratulations Bill on a great product. Keep it in America and try and buy American made material if that is still possible today. If its not, maybe another business opportunity exist.

CHARITY WORKS GREENHOUSE 1916 CIRCA WESTINGHOUSE 56" ANTIQUE CEILING FAN MAKES ALL OTHERS "GREEN WITH ENVY"

2009-10-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

In today's world nearly everything we work on here at VintageFans.com could be described as unique, special, or nearly one of a kind. Think about it, most of our newest fans are 60 years old and models from that period are considered the "newer" models. It's what you get use to when your work environment consist of American made quality from the turn of the 20th century.

When we were asked by designer Charlotte Palmer Lekakos of Willard and Palmer Design to supply one of our fully restored antique ceiling fans for her guest suite bedroom in the Charity Work's Greenhouse http://www.charityworksgreenhouse.com/designers_lekakos.htm , we were honored. After discussing the needs for the project, we felt the 1916c. Westinghouse 56" antique ceiling fan fit the bill. This model creates a unique atmosphere with its "whole" motor revolving with blades attached. The particular one chosen for duty happened to have a "special" aluminum motor tag that was issued during its original World War I manufactured date, a result of nearly all brass being used solely for the war effort. We have seen it in other models, but this is the first Westinghouse ceiling fan we have experienced this with. The finish chosen for the Greenhouse fan was our recreation of what Westinghouse referred to as "Molted Copper" also known as copper oxide. Since the theme was "green" it was a perfect opportunity to recycle a set of 75 year old hand carved custom blades that happened to be in Vintage Fans' inventory of original and "custom" blades. These special blades gave a uniqueness to the fan that truly makes it one of a kind. In all reality, the Charity Work's Greenhouse 56" Westinghouse antique ceiling fan is no different than any of our original American made antique ceiling fans. All of which are the original green machines. In fact, all antique and vintage electric fans were "green" when the word's meaning only described a color or how envious someone might be.

We were pleased with the restoration and honored that Mrs. Lekakos choose one of our fan's over all the ones that could have be showcased in this gallery home. We are especially pleased that she understood the value that an authentic American made antique ceiling fan could lend to the room. Remember, there are no substitutes for authenticity. The only way to experience the atmosphere that an original antique or vintage ceiling fan can create is to actually use one. Its also important to remember that this fan showcases exactly what our ancestor's manufactured allowing us the opportunity to recycle it nearly 100 years later, because of how it was manufactured in terms of quality and endurance. George Westinghouse and Associates understood quality and we thank them for the opportunity to enjoy and marvel at their machines today. Essentially these fans can be recycled forever or as long as we use electricity. You can visit the Greenhouse and read more about it here http://www.charityworksgreenhouse.com/ and in Washington Spaces: http://www.washingtonspaces.com/2009/5/articles/a-carbon-neutral-house-thats-green-and-glorious .

Here is another great link with images of the room http://thebuzz.dianejameshome.com/

TEXAS HISTORY ON A DOWN ROD!

2009-09-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

Purchasing ceiling fans for our inventory is nearly a weekly event here at Vintage Fans.com. One of the coolest things about our business is that we have the opportunity to work on the living history to our nation's great past. Unfortunately, the opportunity to learn about the known history on fans added to our inventory does not present itself very often. For numerous reasons most antique ceiling and desk fans tend to loose their history through the years, but we recently acquired three 1920 circa 56" Westinghouse ceiling fans that we are fortunate to have the low down on. We were contacted by a very nice lady that had these fans and she offered to bring them by the shop on her next visit to Fort Worth. On the phone she briefly told me that the fans were removed from an F.W. Woolworth store by a relative, but I had no idea where this store was located at the time. I asked her if she had the blades and she said they were in terrible condition as the fans had spent the second half of their lives being used on a lake house porch. I told her to please bring what she had with her and upon meeting her and viewing the fans, I realized that the blades were nearly all made of 1/4" plywood with only one warped set being original units. This is not an uncommon occurrence especially with the tapered Westinghouse blade, but we always like to have everything that belonged to the fan just in case we can preserve the original blades. As I do always, I asked her about any known history about the fans that she could share in greater detail and she immediately told me all that she knew. She stated that all three fans were removed from the old F.W. Woolworth store in downtown Denton, TX, by a relative that owned a commercial contracting company. She said he had his workmen take them off the ceilings himself and that he was very happy to have them to use at his lake house. This was during the days when cheap Asian made imported ceiling fans did not exist in America. So if you were lucky enough to find an early ceiling fan to use in your home, it was a major find. Being an alumnus of the University of North Texas, all of this Denton placed history peaked my interest. She said the fans were installed at his lake house on the porch sometime in the 1950s or early 60s. After his death, she had an interest in the lake house and had eventually purchased the house from the rest of her relatives and retired there, becoming the "new" owner of the historic Woolworth Westinghouse fans. I thanked her and told her that the set of three would be greatly appreciated one day by whoever ended up with them after their restoration. She was ecstatic with the price we paid for the three fans and I also let her know that the set would remain together as they have been since the 19teens or 20s. I know, I know, they are machines, not a living organism, but they are living history and its important to keep that together as we tend to loose more of it every week than we gain. And besides, I do not want to personally be the one who split up three machines that have been together for nearly 90 years or more and shame on anyone that does.

All of the history shared with us on the fans made since. I knew there were many ceiling fans removed during the time frame that the three fans were removed from the Woolworth's store.After all it was widely thought that the day of the ceiling fan had come and gone with the widespread introduction of commercial air conditioning in the 1950s. This was such a reality that Hunter was about the only one that kept producing ceiling fans into the 1960s and 70s. Still wondering where the F.W. Woolworth's was located in Denton I hit gold and after a little investigation I was able to locate the F.W. Woolworth & Co. store in the 1924 Denton phone book with the address at 108 N. Locust Dr. I was also able to locate an interior shot of another F.W. Woolworth store in Sapulpa, Oklahoma circa 1920s. To my astonishment the fans on the ceiling are 1909-24c. Westinghouse 56" ceiling fans. This could be a coincidence, since Westinghouse was one of the major players in fan sales, or it could be that Westinghouse won the contract to supply all of the Woolworth's stores with ceiling fans around that time. Remember in the hey day before the major box stores, nearly every downtown of any size had an F.W. Woolworth & Co. store. They were a big outfit. Incidentally, we purchased another 1920s circa Westinghouse that had spent its first years in the Evers Hardware Store in Denton on the square. It was sold to another businessman in town who used it in his radiator shop located just off the square until he removed it when he sold the business. We purchased it from his wife, restored it and sold it to a couple in Pilot Point, Texas for installation in a historic home there.

Placing human characteristics on fans is something we do all the time around here so forgive me on next few sentences, but when I thought about the history these three Denton, TX Woolworth's Westinghouse ceiling fans had witnessed, it is amazing. What a story they could tell. I wonder if a young desperado named Clyde came in and bought a coca cola from the machine as he cooled off under one of these fans contemplating a robbery he was about to perform on the nearby bank. Maybe he purchased a fancy handkerchief or some cheap perfume for his love named Bonnie as she waited in a Ford V-8 outside. There may have been nothing that significant to take place under these three fans, but whatever happened under them you can bet that these fans were a welcome relief from the hot Texas sun as men,women and children felt the comfort that Mr. George's company provided for F.W.'s customers.

"BUT PARKED IN A RICKETY OL GARAGE IS A BRAND NEW SHINY RED SUPER STOCK DODGE!"

2009-08-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

We caught the "Legends of Surf Music" show at Bass Hall on July 30th, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. It was a surfing, hot rod, music blast from the past. I have been a huge Jan and Dean fan since I was a kid. I use to play an old LP called "Gotta Take that One Last Ride" over and over in the mid 70s when I was about 10 years old. It all started when we lived near Myrtle Beach, S.C. for a full year and I would listen to Jan and Dean sing about "Surf City" while telling me "Summer Means Fun" and warning us that you won't come back from "Deadman's Curve". I was a typical 9 to 10 year old car crazy kid and their combination between surf and hot rod songs had me hooked. As a 10 year old I didn't realize that Jan and Dean's hey day had only been a mere 10 to 12 years prior to my discovery of them. Its funny now, but back then I thought of them as "oldies" that were cool, reflecting from the perspective of my short lifespan at the time 10 years was an eternity. Little did I know it at the time, but only nine years prior to my Myrtle Beach living experience, in 1966, Jan Berry had crashed his Stingray Corvette under a parked gardener's truck, essentially ending his and Dean's musical career for the time being and nearly loosing his life. Jan Berry came out of the accident a very different man. The brain damage he received would have probably caused an average person to give up or live a nearly catatonic existence. But Jan Berry had been a perfectionist in his music. He had genius musical abilities in composing and knowing where an orchestra would do Jan and Dean songs justice. The following decades of his life proved to be a struggle to regain control of his faculties. At 10 years old I had heard that Jan had been in some kind of wreck, but I didn't realize the extent of it until their life story was made into a TV movie in 1978 called "Deadman's Curve" starring Richard Hatch as Jan Berry and Bruce Davidson (an incredible look alike to Dean) as Dean Torrence. I remember being all excited and "having" the TV for the movie's debut when it aired. I remember the sick feeling I had when it portrayed Jan Berry's crash with Richard Hatch ducking down in a mid year Stingray Roadster as it crashed. I came away from that movie realizing that Jan and Dean's music wasn't "the other Beach Boys" as many people viewed them, they were a talented couple of guys that were making records, going to college and having fun while doing it. I believe they viewed their music as a way to make people feel good. I think they also realized not to take it too seriously, though Jan was very serious in the quality of the composing and the flow of the songs. As times changes and the 60s advanced, the music changed and about the time of Jan's wreck, they were exploring different directions to go musically. After the wreck, Dean formed Kitty Hawk Graphics and found a niche market in designing album covers for different groups. His prior musical background gave him an inside perspective to the music business and aided him in assisting his clients. The movie "Deadman's Curve" re sparked and interest in Jan and Dean music and He and Jan begin limited touring again, although Jan would never fully recover from the accident. The happy ending to their story is that Jan Berry was able to once again tour and sing again with his old buddy Dean, something he had aspired to do since the accident. Jan passed away in 2004 from complications of a seizure. It was one of many that he had experienced from the wreck of his Stingray way back in 1966, but this one he didn't recover from. It ended a 45 year musical partnership he had shared with Dean Torrence.

The concert at Bass Hall on July 30th, was the first time I had ever seen Dean Torrence. Despite being a big fan, I had never made it to a Jan and Dean Concert. I had seen the Beach Boy's in 1989 in Louisville, KY, but it wasn't the same. As I sat there waiting for Dean Torrence and former Beach Boy's Al Jardine, David Marks and the rest of the Surf City All Stars to appear, I reflected on all that I knew about Jan and Dean's music and what it had meant to my life. I thought back to my childhood days when life seemed to be so much more simple and every day seemed like the fun in the sun would never end. That Thursday night I realized that all those happy memories that I associated with Jan and Dean's music was a gift that Jan and Dean gave me and the rest of the world. It's the type of music that will always bring a smile to your face no matter what mood your in. Its fun music that conjures up images of the beach, hot rods, and the endless days of youth. At least that's what it is for me. As Dean came out I noticed that he was using a well used vintage aqua colored guitar that his hand had worn through the paint from the numerous notes played over the years. Here I was witnessing "History in Motion" as we like to say around here. This was THE Dean Torrence, a living legend. As the band played a number of Beach Boy's classics everyone sang along, but I was there for the Jan and Dean songs. They didn't disappoint and played alot of the hits including the one that went #1 "Surf City". Dean sang "Deadman's Curve" and after the song a band member said " We love and miss you Jan Berry". A fitting tribute to the man after a song that closely bares a symbolism to what actually happened to Berry. To sum it up we had a great evening and everyone there seemed to have a good time. Dean Torrence, Al Jardine and David Marks proved they could still play like they did in the old days. In the spirit of the concert, I wore a Reyn Spooner Hawaiian shirt that depicted "Super Stock" Dodges from 1963, the same ones that the "Little Old Lady From Pasadena" reportedly drove on Colorado Boulevard back in the day. As we drove home that night listening to "Drag City" "Hot Stocker" and "Three Window Coupe" I couldn't help but think back to the days of listening to that LP and memorizing all the words to those old songs. I had witnessed history, with a large part of my own history on the stage that night. Thank you Dean.

GATSBY FAN

2009-08-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

When we began the build on this 1920c. Diehl 52" antique ceiling fan I wasn't quite sure how it was going to turn out. The architect sent plans of the pool house that it was going in and told me that they needed the blades to be off white matching the body of the fan. I suggested that we do a mahogany finish on solid mahogany blades, but the architect insisted they needed all off white because he said there was already a lot of wood work in the pool house. Once the fan was completed, we took photos and the first thing that came to mind was Jay Gatsby. Remember F. Scott Fitzgerald's character in the novel? If not and your my age or older you might remember "The Great Gatsby" movie with Robert Redford in 1974? Still don't remember, well they made a remake of it a few years back and in that version they actually used several antique desk fans as props. I recommend the Redford version for the movie and all I can say is if Jay Gatsby would have had a fan in a pool house, this could have been it.

The 1920 Diehl 52" ceiling fan is not one of the ornamental icons of conspicuous consumption seen in the early days of fan manufacturing(1895-1910c.) and it shouldn't be. By the 1920s, the happening thing was the clean, smooth, and streamlined look. Especially by the end of the decade and going into the 1930s when ironically many of Jay's buddies would have likely lost their fortunes, or most of it. Diehl ceiling fans had their share of the ornamental limelight. After all Phillip Diehl gave us the direct drive ceiling fan and soon his company was manufacturing ceiling fans that would literally help build this nation, one sky scrapper at a time. They manufactured both A.C. and D.C. ornamental ceiling fans and the 1920c. Diehl 52" ceiling fan shares its blade bracket heritage with its older siblings. For the 1920c. model Diehl 52" the older style female mount bracket was modified to include a direct bolt twin screw arrangement. This mix of old and new was common among manufacturers as technology changed the way products were manufactured. As soon as Diehl could do so, they adopted a stamped steel blade bracket that no longer displayed the spear shaped holders of the past. I bet Jay Gatsby would have liked the spear shaped brackets on the 1920c. version. It left a little of the old guard in the makeup of the fans design, while incorporating the new progressive stamped steel bottom cover and clean lines of the future. Much like Gatsby himself! Fitzgerald would be pleased.

SAD NEWS

2009-08-01T06:21:00.000-07:00

Its been a sad, sad end of the week here. Mike Meeks called and informed me that Ronni Steves, has passed away from her long battle with leukemia. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers. I am grateful that I was able to speak with Ronni, by chance, the day I called Mike to see what I could do for the Make a Wish 1969 Charger build. When I asked how Ronni was doing that day, Mike said " she's right here do you want to speak to her" I said yes. It was a chance meeting because she just happened to be riding to Legendary Auto Interiors with Mike to see the interior for her Charger build. During our brief conversation she just kept thanking me and I could tell she was very grateful for every one's efforts in the Make a Wish. What a blessing Ronni and this Make a Wish has been in my life. I am grateful that I was able to be part of Ronni's life however brief the moment was. I pray that we were able to bring her some joy during her long battle with this terrible disease. I have had two people in my own family succumb to cancer,both my father and grandmother. I can only imagine what it would be like to have a child stricken with it only to eventually die from it. I am sure only a parent that has suffered this terrible loss truly knows the pain.

Life is short and life is not fair. Everyone has a chance to make a positive difference in someone's life while we share this Earth. Thank you Ronni for making a positive difference in mine. Please keep Ronni's family in your thoughts and prayers.

SAW YOU WALKIN' OUT ON SENTIMENTAL STREET!!

2009-07-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know, what's Night Ranger's "Sentimental Street" got to do with this post? Well, not only is Night Ranger one of my all time favorite bands from my high school and early college days, its appropriate because they use to dominate a majority of air time on my high school '69 Charger's 8 track stereo . For these reasons, the first line to the song seemed like an appropriate title to this blog entry. As I have been involved with the Make A Wish 1969 Charger build for Ronni Steve's, I have recently thought a lot about my first Dodge Charger and what it meant to me at 16 years of age. When I spoke to Ronni on the phone about her Charger Wish, I told her that my first real car was a 1969 Charger. I also told her about how that car created memories for me that have lasted my entire lifetime. Its the reason I purchased my 1968 Charger a few years ago and its also the reason I have an appreciation for vintage automobiles, especially early Mopar iron.

The car pictured here is the only surviving photo that I have of my high school 1969 Dodge Charger. It was taken by a photographer for the high school annual and one of the prints was handed to me by him during those days. I guess that car was rather well known back then by a few people in town, most particularly because of my former driving habits in it. Not something I would condone today.....if you want to race, take it to our nation's drag strips, there are plenty of them around that allow you to run your car for a modest fee. But back in the day, around 1982 or '83, there were fewer cars on the road in rural South Carolina where I grew up, that's no excuse mind you, and we were sure fortunate to come out of it in one piece. That being said, we sure made a ton of memories in this car. Ones that stuck with us long after I sold it for $3200.00 or so to a S.C. Highway Patrol whose sheriff's deputy friend had given me a ticket in Irmo, S.C., one night as I tested the big block's ability of lighting both back tires nearly on fire.

My high school 1969 Charger was purchased by me in the summer of 1982 in Asheville, N.C. for $1000.00. It had 68,000 miles on it and was sold because a father caught his 16 year old son racing it. The son's misfortune was my gain as the selling price was fairly cheap even back then for a car in that condition. The 383 H.P. motor had been "worked" and it let you know that fact when you turned the key. It was a teenage boys dream, especially one who had faithfully watched the Dukes of Hazzard when it introduced the world to the legend of the 1969 Dodge Charger. The car was used for daily transportation to and from school my junior and possibly some of my senior year. I also used it to drive to my part time job at a garage and body shop and the owner, Carrol, allowed me to rob a few go fast goodies from a wrecked 69 Dodge Super Bee, including a 391 Sure Grip differential that I promptly replaced my originals with. I can't exactly remember when I sold my 69 Charger, but I know if was prior to my freshman year in college. And even though I have now owned my second Charger, a 1968 model, for five years, it seems like I had my first one for at least that amount of time, even though it was less than two years.

The impact that my old car had was not only one inflicted on me, but also my best friend Mike who literally purchased an almost duplicate 1969 Charger to my old one a few years ago. His car's Sunfire yellow urethane paint, is light years ahead of the acrylic enamel that Chrysler sprayed on my old ride. About the only difference between the two is that Mike's sports original style Magnum 500 wheels, rather than the Cragar SS of my original car and his lacks the rarely optioned black stripes that my '69 had. Mike 's is a professional fully restored car as well, and I am sure if we could again witness the old one's 1983 condition we would wince at the shape it was truly in. But as of now, the rose colored glasses we look at it through, paints a beautiful portrait of the legend in our own minds. On a visit to S.C. a few years ago, we motored down sentimental street in Mike's Charger and kidnapped one of our life long amigos, Kevin, who had spent as much seat time in my old '69 as any of us. Kevin, who settled with his wife in our old hometown to raise their family, was quite surprised to see a ghost of the past in his driveway. As we toured our old stomping grounds together in Mike's '69, we had one pal missing, Bradley. He was in Virginia and too far away to "kidnap", but he was riding there beside us in spirit. Cruising the streets of our youth in a duplicate car from our youth that winter day, we proved that you can go back home in a way, not to relive the past, but to make fresh memories for the future. It was an awesome drive that reminded us that we are blood brothers to the end.

Today, I'm just glad my old '69 Mopar was a chariot that carried us into the nights of our youths and delivered us safely into our futures. For me, the best thing about my high school 69 Charger, was the friendships forged amongst its vinyl interior and 101 octane fumes. I would not take anything for the friendships I have with Mike, Kevin and Brad. Each one of these guys remember different things about that car, Kevin was with me the night Officer Gardner gave me the ticket in front of the St. Andrews Road Pizza Factory. Mike remembers the enormous power eight vintage Mopar pistons can produce, though I have mentioned to him that we might be remembering it better than it actually was, akin to the American Graffiti John Milner's 32 Deuce the "fastest in the valley" syndrome. And Bradley, I haven't asked him recently, but he probably remembers just hanging on as we Duke boyed the countryside! Whatever the memory of that car and those days, one things for certain, I am glad we have them. I wonder if my old '69 Charger is still around making memories for someone else? Maybe some other 16 year old kid will have the same grin I did when they turn the key and hear vintage American muscle for the first time.

MAKE A WISH 1969 CHARGER BUILD UPDATE!!

2009-07-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

I TALKED WITH MIKE MEEKS AND DAVE CHAMBERLAIN THIS MORNING FOR AN UPDATE ON THE MAKE A WISH 1969 DODGE CHARGER FOR RONNI STEVES. FIRST, PLEASE KEEP RONNI STEVES AND HER FAMILY IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. SHE IS BATTLING THIS CANCER WITH ALL THAT SHE HAS AND SHE HAS RECENTLY BEEN BACK IN THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENTS. PLEASE REMEMBER RONNI AND WHAT SHE IS GOING THROUGH. ANYBODY WHO HAS HAD OR WHO HAS WITNESSED CANCER PLAGUE THE LIVES OF LOVED ONES CAN IMAGINE WHAT RONNI AND HER FAMILY ARE GOING THROUGH. HER MAKE A WISH WAS FOR A 1969 DODGE CHARGER AND THIS CAUSED ALOT OF PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED THAT ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GRANT THAT WISH.TO THOSE NOT INVOLVED YET, COME ON PEOPLE, THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WE DO NOT APOLOGIZE TO ANYONE FOR BEING THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH. WE ARE SECOND TO NO ONE AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THE U.S.A., THERE WOULD BE NO FREEDOM IN THE WORLD TODAY. THE WORLD OWES GOD AND THE WORLD OWES THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PAID THE PRICE FOR THEIR LIBERTY. THEY CASHED THE FREEDOM CHECK FOR YOU. THANK GOD YOU ARE LIVING IN THE U.S.A. AND THAT YOU CAN HELP THIS YOUNG GIRL, WHO HAS BEEN STRICKEN WITH LEUKEMIA, RECEIVE A POSITIVE THAT SHE HAS DREAMED ABOUT. COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS NAME THEM ONE BY ONE. GET INVOLVED AND MAKE THIS MAKE A WISH 1969 DODGE CHARGER HAPPEN! JUST DO IT, YOU WON'T BE SORRY!!

WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE HEART STRINGS OF AMERICA ARE ALIVE AND WELL. THERE IS STILL HOPE. RONNI'S WISH HAS BROUGHT BOTH BIG AND SMALL NAMES TO THE TABLE. CHRYSLER HAS CONTACTED MIKE MEEKS PH. 585-330-1618 AND ASKED HIM TO COMPILE A LIST OF NEEDED PARTS. WE GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO CHRYSLER FOR ANSWERING THE CALL TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS WORTHY PROJECT. WE BELIEVE CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS. WE URGE MA MOPAR TO WORK AT WARP SPEED TO HELP RONNI REALIZE THIS DREAM BY THE MOPAR NATIONALS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT CHRYSLER PLANS ON DOING, WE WILL LET YOU KNOW FIRST RIGHT HERE.

DAVE CHAMBERLAIN INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS OVER AT NASCAR'S KURT BUSCH'S "KURT BUSCH RACING " AND THEY ARE BUILDING A SIDE PROJECT 71 CHALLENGER DRAG CAR. THEY GAVE HIM SOME ORIGINAL PARTS TO BE USED ON THE MAKE A WISH CHARGER IF NEEDED. KURT BUSCH RACING IS ALSO SUPPLYING RONNI'S 69 WITH ALL THE FLUIDS NEEDED IN THE CAR. THANK YOU KURT BUSCH RACING!!! I JUST BECAME A NEW FAN OF YOURS.

DAVE HAS BEEN WORKING DAY AND NIGHT ON THIS CAR AND WHEN I SAY THIS, I MEAN LITERALLY. HE HAS RECEIVED A TON OF HELP FROM ERIC MAY OF MAY'S HI-TECH CUSTOMS. DAVE HAS PUT HIS OWN COMPANY ACTIVITIES ON HOLD TO TRY AND FINISH THIS CAR FOR RONNI. THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY HOURS IN THE DAY AND DAVE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE CAR TILL 10 AND 11 O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING, THIS AFTER WORKING ON IT ALL DAY. DAVE COULD USE A CREW OF PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS, WHO KNOW 1969 CHARGERS AND WHO NEED NO DIRECTION ON HOW TO BUILD ONE OF THESE CARS. DAVE DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO INSTRUCT SOMEONE OTHER THAN INFORMING THEM OF WHAT PROJECT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED ON THE CAR. IF YOU, OR ANYONE YOU KNOW, FITS THIS CRITERIA GIVE MIKE MEEKS PH.585-330-1618 OR MYSELF PH.817-431-6647 A CALL AND WE WILL PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH DAVE. THE TIME IS AT HAND TO COMPLETE THIS CAR FOR THE MOPAR NATIONALS. DAVE ALSO WANTED ME TO MENTION THAT THE ONE PART HE REALLY NEEDS RIGHT NOW THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE IS A NEW TRUNK LID. THE ORIGINAL MAKE A WISH CHARGER CAR WAS PATHETIC AND THE SECOND CAR PURHASED OWN LID WAS NOT MUCH BETTER.

IF YOU HAVE A NICE 69 CHARGER DECK LID YOU CAN DONATE, PLEASE CONTACT MIKE OR DAVE. SPEAKING OF THE ORIGINAL CAR PURCHASED BY THE MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION FOR THIS BUILD, THE CAR WAS A COMPLETE BASKET CASE. THE CHARGER WAS A POOR RESTORATION CANDIDATE AND IT WAS SO BAD, THAT ANOTHER CAR HAD TO BE FOUND TO BUILD THE CAR IN A TIMELY MANNER. THIS ATE VALUABLE TIME NEEDED FOR THE BUILD. THIS WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT THE SELLER OF THE ORIGINAL MAKE A WISH CHARGER, IT ALWAYS DOES. THE WORD WILL BE SPREAD ABOUT THIS CHARGER DEALER AND KNOWING HOW TIGHT THE MOPAR WORLD IS, IT WANT TAKE LONG TO PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE MADE IT THEIR BUSINESS TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS MAKE A WISH CHARGER BUILD. AMONG THEM ARE:

RANDY'S RING AND PINION, AUTO CITY CLASSICS, DOUG PEACOCK, DYNAMIC ENGINEERING, EATON SPRING, THE RIGHT STUFF, AMD, AND MANY MORE. WE HOPE TO HAVE A FULL LIST OF DONORS TO THANK AT THE END OF THIS BUILD. PLEASE BECOME A DONOR EITHER IN PARTS OR FUNDS.

OUR HOPE IS THAT RONNI'S CAR IS READY FOR TO ENJOY SOON. TIME IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE IN THIS MAKE A WISH. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE, PLEASE VISIT http://www.wanynecountykids.com/ AND DONATE EARMARKED FOR RONNI STEVE'S MAKE A WISH CHARGER BUILD. THEY HAVE A PAYPAL LINK AND IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.

MIKE AND DAVE ARE BOTH GOING TO CARLISLE http://www.carsatcarlisle.com/ce/events/chrysler-nationals/ TOMORROW AND WE HOPE THAT THEIR EFFORTS THERE WILL ENABLE THEM TO FIND MORE PARTS FOR RONNI'S CHARGER BUILD. THERE IS STILL MANY THINGS NEEDED TO BUILD THIS CAR.

ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK RANDY BOLIG AND SCOTT ROSS OVER AT MOPAR MUSCLE MAGAZINE http://blogs.moparmusclemagazine.com/6529366/miscellaneous/make-a-wish-69-charger-restoration/index.html

FOR ADDING THIS TO THEIR BLOG. I SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS TO SPREAD THE WORD ON THIS EVENT. NO MATTER HOW LARGE A COMPANY IS THAT GETS INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT, ITS ALL THE INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE TOGETHER, THE LITTLE GUYS, THAT REALLY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS. WE WILL UPDATE YOU AS WE HERE MORE. THANK YOU FOR READING. DONATE IF YOU CAN AND SPREAD THE WORD.

MAKE A WISH 69 CHARGER UPDATE!

2009-06-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

Mike Meeks reported that a great parts donation was made by Auto Metal Direct http://www.autometaldirect.com/ , a Georgia company(Go Dawgs) that manufactures replacement body panels for several classic muscle cars and trucks including many of the vintage Mopars. They donated $6500.00 worth of replacement panels for Ronni Steve's Make A Wish Charger and this deserves a major round of applause! I now know who I will buy parts from when I need them in the future.

Everyone is working hard to have this car built in time for the Mopar Nationals in Columbus to give to Ronni. Please continue to support this goal. We still need parts and donations. If you would like to buy parts and ship them directly to the Dave Chamberlain's shop in North Carolina where the car is being restored, please contact Mike Meeks at 585-330-1618. Dave is the car restorer that took this project on out of the goodness of his heart. To tell you the kind of guy Dave is, he actually chased down another Charger when the original Make A Wish purchased car was found to be too rough to repair in an expedient time frame. The other Charger he originally went after was in St.Paul, Minnesota, but that car ended up being worse than the first one. That's a long way for a Carolinian to travel for a car, but he did it without hesitation. On the way back, Dave stopped in Evansville, Indiana to pick up some donated parts and he found another 1969 Charger that would be ideal for the build. Dave Chamberlain hit one out of the park for Ronni and his steadfastness and unselfishness is a lesson that all of us need to practice. THANK YOU DAVE FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS!

Ronni's Dad wrote me a very nice email thanking me for everything we have done. He informed me that Ronni was in the hospital having fluid removed from her lungs. We pray that the Doctors and Nurses caring for her will use all of their experience and skill that God has given them to help relieve Ronni's pain. We are truly grateful to be a part of this worthy cause and are thankful we read that issue of Mopar Collector's Guide to learn about Ronni and her wish. Please do what you can to help Ronni. http://www.waynecountykids.com/ makes it easy to donate from their site.

AWESOME PROGRESS REPORT ON MAKE A WISH 69 CHARGER!

2009-06-24T08:58:00.000-07:00

I heard from Mike Meeks this morning on the Make A Wish 1969 Charger. His words tell it best so here they are:

"Mark, today has been an awesome day, first your contribution with the proceeds of the desk fan, all the chrome for the grill from Gunslinger,which would've cost $800, a tinted windshield, new gas tank and sending unit from auto city classics,rear end center section and axles and brgs from Randy's ring and pinion, $200 from Joe Gibbs racing, thats just today. Thank you very much things are going well with the new car, its blasted and dave is getting ready to put the new floors in it. I keep you posted as more news becomes available, thanks Mike"

Thank you to all of the businesses and individuals that are participating in this project. We appreciate all your help. This project has a little over a month to come together for delivery at the Mopar Nats. If you haven't donated, please go to http://www.waynecountykids.com/ and donate in Ronni Steves name to allow this to be earmarked for the Make A Wish 1969 Charger Restoration. This is easy to do. They have a Paypal Account and that is exactly what we did to send the proceeds of the charity desk fan auction to them. Please do what you can. If you have an old Charger or parts for one( or even some cross over parts from other 60s Mopars) in the 1968, 1969 or 1970 model years, please contact Mike Meeks @ 585-330-1618 and let him know what you have to donate. He's very familiar with the early Mopars (he races a 65 Super Stock Dodge), so he will definitely be able to decipher what you have and if they can use it for the build. We will update the blog as we here more reports.

CHARITY AUCTION A SUCCESS!

2009-06-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all that participated in the charity auction of the 1901 GE desk fan. We raised $511.00 with the top bid, which was one heck of a deal on a super nice original antique desk fan. We will send a check to the Wayne County Children's Cancer Fund http://www.waynecountykids.com/ marked for Ronni Steve's Make a Wish 1969 Charger Build. Please help out on this worthy charity if you can. The goal is to have this car built so that it can be presented to Ronni during the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Ohio in August.

Thank you also to all those who have participated in our request to spread the word on this great Make a Wish cause. This includes super gentleman Jerry Reynold's of the Car Guy Show http://www.carguyshow.com/, my car club, the Cowtown Mopar Performance Team http://www.cowtownmopars.com/ , the hip home improvement host Andrea Ridout of http://www.askandrea.com/ , and last but not least the world famous Mr. Jimmy Shine of So-Cal Speed Shop fame http://www.so-calspeedshop.com/ , http://www.jimmyshine.com/ , http://www.est1946.com/ . Everyone one of these individuals enthusiastically took the time out of their hectic schedules to respond to our requests and all of them mentioned that they were taking it to the next level and either mentioning it air, including it in their newsletters, or going to bat for Ronni with their companies. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! FOR ALL YOUR HELP SO FAR AND FOR ANY CONTINUED HELP YOU CAN GIVE!

While these folks made a positive impact, their were others who didn't give this the time of day and you know who you are, so shame on you. But, we have little time to waste on such activity or individuals of the kind and so we move forward.

The work is not over on this 69 Charger Charity Build and we will keep you up to date and hopefully be able to share some images soon of the progress being made. The last time I spoke with Mike Meeks, he informed me that another Charger was donated by a caring individual that was in much better shape then the original car sold to Make a Wish for this project. This donor car was also supplied with a new Powder coated K-frame and suspension components.

This was a major help as the original car needed quarter panels and part of the roof replaced. Request are being made for 69 Charger parts and funds. As we here more, we will update this blog so check back.

1901 GE DESK FAN CHARITY AUCTION FOR RONNI STEVE'S MAKE A WISH CHARGER

2009-06-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

PLEASE SEE OUR EBAY AUCTION WITH 100% PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT THE RONNI STEVE'S MAKE A WISH 1969 CHARGER BUILD. BID ON THIS 108 YEAR OLD G.E. DESK FAN AND HELP GRANT RONNI'S WISH! EBAY #260430298035

CLICK THIS LINK:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260430298025

OWN A PIECE OF ANIMATED HISTORY, THINK ABOUT IT, 1901 AND IT RUNS! WHAT OTHER 1901 MACHINES DO YOU OWN? WHEN THE TITANIC WENT DOWN, THIS FAN HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR 11 YEARS!! OWN THIS FAN AND PERFORM A GOOD DEED TO BOOT. IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT!

MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION'S 1969 DODGE CHARGER PROJECT

2009-06-09T09:25:00.001-07:00

Make a Wish 1969 Charger Project for Ronni Steves*
By Mark Neeley

Ronni Steves of Williamson, New York came to my attention as I read the June 2009 issue of Mopar Collectors Guide which featured a story about her entitled “Wish Upon A Charger”. Ronni has been diagnosed with leukemia. Her condition was the reason she was placed with the Make a Wish Foundation, which many of you have heard of. They make dreams come true for critically ill and terminally ill children. The story explained that when Ronni, 15, was given the opportunity to ask for almost anything she wanted, she asked for a 1969 Dodge Charger. The Make a Wish Foundation located a ’69 Charger in Phoenix, but the car is a project car that is in need of a full restoration. It was missing the engine, transmission, interior glass and wiring. Make a Wish is a charity that relies on donations to grant their wishes. Once the Charger was located Bob Andrews, a retired investigator for the New York State Attorney General’s Office and Mike Meeks a City of Rochester Fireman spearheaded this project. The car is still not complete and much more work needs to be done in terms of parts, labor and donations to enable this ‘69 Charger to live once again, and this time its for Ronni.

After I read the article, I gave Mike a call and asked him what I could do. He told me that he has a list of parts that are still needed and donations could be made in Ronni’s name for the project at the Wayne County Children’s Cancer Fund if someone wanted to donate money instead of parts. We chatted about some of the Charger’s parts that he knew off the top of his head that were still needed. I asked him how Ronni was doing and he said she was actually with him at Legendary Auto Interiors and then he said do you want to talk to her. I said yes and I asked Ronni how she was doing. She said “great” and she said “Thank you so much” for helping with the project. I told her to hang in there, keep her chin up and we were going to get that Charger going. I also explained to her that I had a 1969 Dodge Charger when I was her age that created memories for me that led to the purchase of a 1968 Charger that I own today. Ronni just kept thanking me and I could tell that she is one brave and very grateful young lady. The Mopar Collector’s Guide article explained that Ronni had recently had another bone marrow treatment and that through it all she has remained positive to the core. Her attitude had inspired those working on the project to put in overtime on it. I could tell that she is a special girl and I am thankful that I read the article and actually had the chance to talk to her. I asked Mike if I could place this on my company website in our Newsletter and also on our blog and he replied “Yes” enthusiastically. I told him that we reach a lot of good folks and I am sure that when they learn about this worthy cause they would want an opportunity to help make Ronni’s wish appear. We live in the greatest country in the world and we need to make this happen quickly. Ronni and her family are in our prayers. If you have parts, talent, time, or funds that you would like to donate to this very worthy cause, please do so by contacting Mike Meeks at 585-330-1618. Contact the Wayne County Children’s Cancer Fund online at http://www.waynecountykids.com/

Donations should be marked for Ronni Steves to:

Wayne County Children’s Cancer Fund
P.O. Box 61
Sodus, N.Y. 14551

THREE, TWO, ONE,.........BLAST OFF!

2009-06-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

We have had our hands on some pretty cool stuff through the years, but this 1945c. Vornadofan has to take the cake on the Atomic Age air movers. We have been big fans of the Vornado Fans for years, even prior to my establishment of VintageFans.com. Their principle of ducted air movement was first introduced to me when I purchased a 1950c. B38 PI-I pedestal that I used in my garage to move air. Anyone who has used a Vornado will quickly feel the difference that the ducted air design incorporates in air movement (it doesn't rhyme with tornado for nothing). The featured Vorandofan has been in my personal collection for several years and it is an early example of some of the out of this world products that the O.A. Sutton Corporation produced on the Kansas prarie in the post war years. The Jet age styling of this model is one of the finest examples of Atomic age styling seen in fan manufacturing of the era. It also produces a blast of air that aims straight toward the ceiling of the room that actually circulates the air around the room indirectly. This model is an example of a fan that was a good idea that just didn't sell as well as Vornado's direct blowers. We think the biggest reason is that you could use a regular Vornado in the same manner after they adopted the yoke design, especially with introduction of the new steel cowling around 1950. Today, this model is fairly rare and it is almost never found in good original condition. This particular one is an original preserved unit that still wears its original paint and battle scars, but that's OK because we like 'em them like that. I wonder if any of the old Sci-Fi pics of the 1950s ever used one of these as a mock up for a space ship? Can't you see a robot being lower out of the bottom near the aluminum ducting and demanding " take me to your leader"?

Made In America- Old School Style

2009-05-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

Made in the U.S.A, is something you do not see that often today. It is such a shame that we have nearly lost the fine art of manufacturing here at home. You often here " Those were made to last" or "Back then you got your money's worth" and "Look it still works" when referring to something made here in the U.S.A. back during the first 6 decades of the 20th Century. Believe me, our daily routine here at VintageFans.com reminds us of how well everything was made in the old days. A couple of days ago in the shop we were using a 1912 circa Robbins and Myers antique desk fan as a blade runner for a couple of blades that we were building for a client's 1909 circa Adams-Bagnell Gyro fan. The 1912 R&M did not have a usable line cord, so the fiber plate bottom had to be removed to connect the line cord to the fan. Written on the underside of the bottom plate with a grease pencil were the words written by a former repairman proclaiming:

" OK 7-1-43 Tom".Thinking about this later on, I realized that this is the type of daily reminders we receive here of what Made in the U.S.A. really meant back in the day. Tom had checked this 1912 circa Robbins and Myers 12" desk fan out nearly 66 years ago. At that time the fan was 31 years old and likely being checked out for summer service duties here at home during World War II. Many of the men were at war and the women were building planes, ships, tanks and other wartime necessities. I can just imagine that Tom checked the old Robbins and Myers desk fan out and signed off on it at the motor shop where he worked. Rosie came home from the plant, plugged in her fan and it provided instant relief from the heat and helped her rest comfortably for another day fighting the good fight to conquer tyranny. After 97 years, this 12" Robbins and Myer's shows us that the company slogan of " THE STANDARD" fan was not just an empty slogan, it was the real deal. All of the fans that we work on daily were made this way. It's such an honor to be around such fine machines. They were made, serviced and used by men and women like Tom and Rosie. Tom thank you for leaving us this note to remind us nearly 66 years later, who we are, where we are, and what it meant in your day to be Made in the U.S.A.

Welcome to Our Blog!

2009-05-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to the Official VintageFans.com Blog!

We created this Blog to inform you of current events at Vintage Fans.com on a more daily, weekly or monthly basis. We introduced a quarterly newsletter a few months back, but we realized a blog would be a great tool to use as a journal, so here we are. We hope to share some of our products, photos, stories and anything else about our unique business and around our world of antique and vintage ceiling and desk fan repair, sales and service. Thank you for stopping by and please stay tuned to see what we are up to at VintageFansblog and VintageFans.com