16-09-2021

Antique Ge Fan Identification

Welp, I did it again guys!
I restored another old fan! ...and to those following me on twitter, this is old news (but I took new and better pictures, so look below!)... But for those who don't follow me, all you watchers out there, I wanna show you a little project I took on for myself a few weeks ago~ <3

General Electric was the main manufacturer of these bulbs and before 1945 they were sold with the GE Mazda brand and for export with the GE Edison brand. These two 'sub' brand names were discontinued due to an antitrust court case that involved the monopoly of the lamp industry in the US, by GE. Around the early 1970s GE started using the 7-XXXX model arrangement. The 7 signifying consumer electronics radio equipment (or something to that effect). I've seen some early examples of this where on GE boxes shows BOTH style of model numbers as to ease into the transtion. So in other words you'd see 7-XXXXA and then printed below would be (C. Vintage Plugs (close up View 2) Here is a close up photo of several other type plugs used on vintage fans, heaters, lamps, toasters, etc, etc. Above is a box of NOS bakelite plugs by General Electric with the insulators also in the box.

  • G1 serial # is under rear bumper on frame cross member. G2 serial # is found under bumper on early models, & from 1988 under the seat. G9 serial # is found under the seat. G14, G16, G19 & G20 is just under glove box on left driver’s side.
  • Locate the serial number tag of your GE appliance. The tag includes the model number and serial number of the unit and may be located in several places, depending on the appliance type. Refrigerator and microwave tags are typically on an inside wall. On other appliances, check door edges, the back of the unit or inside the door opening.
Antique

Ge Vortalex Fan Identification

The Story
So, I went to an antique store a few months back and noticed a little GE Vortalex fan form the 40s. Here's the thing, I've always thought the Vortalex fans were neat. The blades, the body design, all of it. But this fan was in pretty rough shape. The cage was completely rusted, the blades would hardly budge, it was missing the nut on the oscillation arm. On top of that, when I plugged it in, it only worked on one speed. I decided not to get it...but...it was on my mind for weeks after...still. A few weeks later, the week before FWA, I was out in that area again. I decided I wanted to see the fan again and have another look. It was still there. I expressed my concerns to the kind, old ladies who owned the store. I told them I restored them, which really excited them. I showed them my past work, and they gave me an offer I couldn't refuse on the Vortalex. And I took it home!

This is what it looked like when I got it~
http://i.imgur.com/k3nOi6r.jpg

Fan

Suspecting the speed issues might have come from debris and horrible lubrication for decades, I dropped a little bit of oil in. Turns out, I was correct. It was barely moving on Low speed, but it worked! However, the oscillating was another story entirely. When I took the fan apart and got the grease out of the gearbox, I found the oscillating gear's teeth were completely destroyed. That meant it needed a new part...which, on a 70 year old fan, would be a little tough to obtain.

Antique Ge Fan Identification Plate

Regardless, I went ahead. At least everything else worked, right? I sanded and stripped the paint off, got all the rust off all the way to a silky-smooth, metal surface. I busted out the black and brown tones for this one...since that's the color scheme of my bedroom. I chose a nice brown for the base and motor casing, a satin black for the cage, and a champagne color for the blades, finishing it all up with a black, braided cloth wire for a vintage feel. And lucky for me, I was able to locate an identical fan in an antique store last Monday, which I promptly bought and took the oscillating gear and arm nut from. The gear from that fan was in perfect condition, so I swapped them out.

Old General Electric Fans

Fan

Antique Ge Fan Identification Guide

After putting it all back together, it runs as smooth and as quiet as it was new...oscillating and everything. AND IT LOOKS SUPER AMAZING!!! I have to say, I'm so very proud of this fan...and I love it and cherish it for forever. Here's to another 70 years of service and beyond, GE Vortalex! <333

Here's some pictures for you all. Have a look! ^^
http://i.imgur.com/6PCev0b.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/WA7xmjN.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8k6GSPP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ngaVMBP.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/zqHeVqc.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ueXx3Oc.jpg