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| GE research pays a dividend | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 04:52 am |
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1st Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member 
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A few years ago, Mr. GE, Don Eckerson was kind enough to share with me his volumes of research copied from the GE archives in Schenectady NY. While perusing through a series of inter-office memos, we came across the mention of a highly modified fan from the GE design and model shop. The memo talked about a 1905 swivel trunnion fan that was customized by an apprentice named Heywood Foss. It also said that the modifications were well received but unfortunately were cost prohibitive. The memo went on to mention that the fan's likeness was included in a GE dealers catalog supplement. In Don's volumes of material, we found a copy of the 1905 dealers catalog 1048b dated April of 1905 and sure enough, there was the Foss fan. While hard to really see the modifications, one can readily see the cage and blade changes, along with what appear to be open struts and metal feet. Could it be??? Over the next couple of years, I chased after this fan, to see if it was still in existence. I hit dead ends in every direction I chose to follow. Finally, one day out of the blue, I received a call from an assistant to the assistant of someone's uncle who used to be in charge of the inventory for the Thomas Edison Museum and Winter Home. They thought maybe this fan was in their inventory and that I was welcome to call. Several calls and a couple of weeks later I was in front of this fan, which is in a revolving inventory and is rarely displayed. I wasn't allowed to touch or photograph the fan but I was allowed enough time to take many notes. The fan was in remarkable condition, was of a two tone yellow and white paint scheme, had brass grommets, feet, and split struts. The blade was offset and the cage had three rings. All brass on this fan had been modified to the point of not resembling anything from the factory. From that day forward, it has been my mission to reproduce this fan from my notes. You may have seen some of the earlier offerings on various fans that I've done, as they were practice attempts prior to actually reproducing the whole fan. I know that there are some who will scoff at the idea that this fan would have ever existed, and for those I can show the documentation. And for the one who still won't believe that a fan was 'Blinged out' a hundred and seven years ago, I can only say........FOSS This is the memo that started all of this.......... Attached Image (viewed 2454 times):
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 04:53 am |
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2nd Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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The catalog......... Attached Image (viewed 1597 times): Last edited on Sun Mar 25th, 2012 04:55 am by Kim Frank |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 04:57 am |
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3rd Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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and the fan...... Attached Image (viewed 1629 times):
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 04:59 am |
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4th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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Here are my feeble attempts at reproducing the Foss fan...check out the off set blade and three ring cage.... Attached Image (viewed 2161 times): Last edited on Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:32 am by Kim Frank |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:00 am |
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5th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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another view.... Attached Image (viewed 1598 times):
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:01 am |
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6th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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Blade and Cage were painstakingly reproduced by Ted Kaczor........extraordinary work! Attached Image (viewed 1631 times):
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:03 am |
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7th Post |
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Rick Kjornes Guest 
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Absolutely STELLAR work there. You guys are very talented!   Last edited on Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:04 am by Rick Kjornes |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:04 am |
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8th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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Heywood Foss never completed his apprenticeship and didn't appear in the 1910 census in or around Schnectady....his work does continue to influence..... Attached Image (viewed 1611 times):
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:06 am |
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9th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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The original Foss fan was very striking in appearance, I'm afraid this reproduction doesn't quite capture that..... Attached Image (viewed 1620 times):
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:08 am |
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10th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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The brass work on the original Foss fan was completely different from anything that the factory produced....... Attached Image (viewed 1603 times):
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:12 am |
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11th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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It must have been tough to fly in the face of conventional wisdom back in 1905...........FOSS Attached Image (viewed 1602 times): Last edited on Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:14 am by Kim Frank |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:20 am |
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12th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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The only thing that I did that wasn't true to the original Foss fan was to pearl the white and yellow...I figured Mr. Foss would understand...... Attached Image (viewed 1606 times):
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:29 am |
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13th Post |
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Greg Miller AFCA Member 
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That is absolutely unreal. I'm reading that now and it doesn't even touch how amazing that looks. And you're doing this from notes and memory without a couple pics or drawings for reference? Just the couple little catalog pics? Holy  ! (That fails to capture it too, but you get the idea...) Stellar work, gentlemen... just plain wild...
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 05:43 am |
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14th Post |
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Stan Adams Super Moderator 
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Well Kim, stunning job as always. We had heard of the Foss design fan through some of the research documents, but were fairly well convinced that it had never actually ever been created. Amazing how someone who is so far ahead of their time never gets the proper recognition. Congratulations on number one, actually seeing the real fan & number two, being able to create it without detailed photographs. Like I said Kim, stunning work as always!
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 09:32 am |
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15th Post |
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Lewis Fitzgerald-Holland Guest 
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Wow Kim, that is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. It's too bad Foss's design didn't catch on back in the day, but I'm sure he would be glad to see a fan based off his design see the light of day 107 years later. Don Eckerson sure does fine work compiling all his GE information, and it's a neat stroke of luck that that document was pulled up. Once again, fantastic work.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 12:46 pm |
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16th Post |
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Ralph Bliss Guest 
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Kim, that is an amazing project, and masterfully completed. Mr Foss would be proud!
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 01:45 pm |
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17th Post |
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Jim Dunn AFCA Member
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G'day Kim.....That's a sharp looking GE you have reproduced mate!. I love the extra middle ring with the outer wire pierced through it. You are a true craftsman. Thanks for sharing the history and it's reincarnation. BTW,What was the advantage of the off set blades? Last edited on Sun Mar 25th, 2012 01:48 pm by Jim Dunn |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 01:50 pm |
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18th Post |
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Stefan Osdene AFCA Member 
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Great Work Kim. Foss certainly was an innovator. This seems to have a lot in common with the Eck ming design.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 02:11 pm |
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19th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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Jim Dunn wrote: BTW,What was the advantage of the off set blades? I wasn't allowed to run the original and I had to guess at the pitch and lengths. Ted did a masterful job and mentioned it's likeness to the Ming blade. What is noticeable about it is a pulsating airflow...
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 04:27 pm |
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20th Post |
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Bill Arfmann AFCA Member
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QUALITY! Thank you very much for sharing the photos. And for the story, Kim.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 04:52 pm |
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21st Post |
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Randy Halbert Guest 
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This is what I love about the AFCA. Detailed, accurate and amazing history backed up by documentation. Unbelievable. I have one of Kim's "practice" fans that I am renaming the "FOSS prototype". Thanks Kim for your fabulous work both on the fan in your investigation. And thanks Don Eckerson for sharing.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 06:07 pm |
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22nd Post |
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Ted Kaczor AFCA Member 
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FOSS-il Uncovered! Famous geologist from Florida Dr. K. Frank causes biggest stir among AFCA experts! This is bigger and more controversial than Darwin evolution theory. Just beautiful!!!
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 06:20 pm |
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23rd Post |
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Steve Sherwood AFCA Member 
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This is wonderful news, now fans can be pimped out without criticism from Steve Stephens. This is almost as exciting as a prostate exam. Last edited on Sun Mar 25th, 2012 06:44 pm by Steve Sherwood |
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 06:23 pm |
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24th Post |
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Jim McCarter AFCA Member 
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WOW just doesn't do it justice! ......the research and hunt.....thanks for sharing!
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 07:06 pm |
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25th Post |
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Marce Clark AFCA Member 
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WOW that is awesome work Kim. I had heard something about this fan a long time ago but don't remember where so it's nice to see the catalog and Memo showing Mr. Foss's forward thinking.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 07:34 pm |
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26th Post |
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Tom Dreesen AFCA Member 
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Kinda like those new car commercials that go on and on about the sound system. I guess when you don't have much of a product, you go with the flash.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 07:45 pm |
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27th Post |
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Randy Rohr Guest 
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Really nice work Kim. I guess Steve S and the other fan police will have to factor this in when 'evaluating' the authenticity of potential frankenfans? Randy Rohr
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 08:30 pm |
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28th Post |
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Steve Stephens Guest 
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Randy Rohr wrote:I guess Steve S and the other fan police will have to factor this in when 'evaluating' the authenticity of potential frankenfans? It's also important to take into account the authenticity of the documentation on Foss and his fan.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 08:37 pm |
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29th Post |
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Austin B Ko Guest
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Wow. You did a fantastic job Kim! Will this beauty be making an appearance at Aiken?
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 09:33 pm |
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30th Post |
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Nick Loos Guest 
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Double WOW!!! Is this the fan you were trying to describe to me several years ago at the FF? Now it all make sense by seeing it.Did a wonderful job as always.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 09:50 pm |
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31st Post |
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Ron Jeter Guest 
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So thats what you were doing in Ft. Myers Florida was research - very nice Kim and THANKS for doing the research.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 11:17 pm |
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32nd Post |
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Jeff Whitfield AFCA Member 
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I second Austin's question: Will that fan make an appearance in Aiken? It's uber cool.
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25th, 2012 11:21 pm |
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33rd Post |
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Erich Martin Guest 
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Kim is the king and master of all bling bunnies!. Wild fan.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 02:52 am |
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34th Post |
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David Hunter Guest 
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I remember Kim telling me about this fan a while ago. I had forgotten about it because I didn't want to jeopardize Kim's pursuit. I know how sick I felt (actually, "still sickened") when someone with deeper pockets got the fan I had been lusting for and so "mum" was the word on this "Foss". This fan is a fantastic reproduction (or is some of it original?). Kim, the yellow and white scheme is unusual indeed but I doubt Foss ever used glitter in the paint. Do you have other documents about this fan? Last edited on Mon Mar 26th, 2012 02:52 am by David Hunter |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 04:31 am |
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35th Post |
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John Fengel AFCA Member 
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Truly magnificent!!
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 05:37 am |
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36th Post |
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Mike Petree AFCA Member 
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 Kim, I dub the "Blingmaster K" and Ted "Blademaster T" Beautiful work!
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 07:53 am |
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37th Post |
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Steve Cunningham Administrator 
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If I'm not mistaken, Foss was the man who did the custom designs for commercial contracts. If you came to GE with an order for 50 fans, Foss would be the man who helped you.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 03:10 pm |
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38th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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In the mountains of GE documents that Don has accumulated over time, one sees that vibration and harmonics (the noise from spinning blades) were a concern to design engineers. There were memos addressing guard design, strut design, fastener design, and blade design, all dealing with dampening vibration and noise. Other interesting memos dealt with cost analysis of design changes. David, the addition of the pearl was my idea and not true to the original, although the yellow and white are. Austin, if you are interested in seeing the fan, I can bring it to Aiken.....
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 04:18 pm |
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39th Post |
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Rick Huckabee AFCA Member 
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Don't sell yourself short, you do amazing, Museum quality work.Guy's like Tom N.,Nick L., you, and others set a standard that other guys like me aspire to. I think Mr. Foss would be delighted.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 05:55 pm |
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40th Post |
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Carlton Ward AFCA Member
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Kim, That is unbelieveable, Monty Young told me about several prototype GE fans over the years and he mentioned the FOSS fan that he had seen at Edison's Winter Home in Ft. Myers. I had always wondered what it looked like. Is there any chance you will be bringing it to Aiken??? You did a great job, Carlton
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 07:14 pm |
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41st Post |
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Don Eckerson Guest
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Hi Kim, Job well done There are probably additional documents to what I already sent. When I get some spare time, I will dig further.Thx, Don
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 10:03 pm |
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42nd Post |
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Austin B Ko Guest
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Kim Frank wrote: Austin, if you are interested in seeing the fan, I can bring it to Aiken.....I would be delighted if you brought it and I'm sure everyone else that will be there would be interested in seeing it too. 
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26th, 2012 10:07 pm |
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43rd Post |
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David Hunter Guest
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Here is another concept GE fan that "seemed" to never make it into production. This was for a GE Quiet Blade in the 30's. Obviously GE had been making concept designs from a very early time in their history. Attached Image (viewed 1317 times): Last edited on Mon Mar 26th, 2012 10:08 pm by David Hunter |
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| Posted: Tue Mar 27th, 2012 12:21 pm |
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44th Post |
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Steve Stirling AFCA Member 
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Heywood Foss, the original king of bling. Great work, Kim
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| Posted: Fri Mar 30th, 2012 04:50 am |
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45th Post |
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Mark Stillman AFCA Member 
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I recall a discussion with Lawrence Erickson a long time back about a late oddball cake with a 3 ring guard. Could it have been the FOSS? Maybe the 3rd ring and pulsating airflow helped keep cats from getting too close? Tripods were considered obsolete by then. I'd be tempted to set one of those on the floor on the other side of the fan room away from my Emersons....LOL!
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| Posted: Fri Mar 30th, 2012 05:48 am |
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46th Post |
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Royal Norman AFCA Member 
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A "one of a kind" work of art! Fantastic.
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| Posted: Fri Mar 30th, 2012 06:04 am |
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47th Post |
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Ed Frank AFCA Member 
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Wow. So glad to be able to talk about this now. Dad made me keep quiet about this project for the past couple of years. Our telephone calls would turn into hour long conversations about the Foss. Well I'm glad to see your attention to detail has paid off for you, absolutely amazing fan. Foss is Boss.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 4th, 2012 11:33 pm |
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48th Post |
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Terry Fisher AFCA Member 
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Wow . . . Hello . . . I don't know how I missed this post! The Foss fan has been talked about through the years but never tracked down. It was just a few fuzzy pictures before now. That's outstanding work Kim, not only finding the original pics and letter but also replicating the fan itself. I recall there was always speculation regarding the blade design and how GE was able to use that design. I guess since a Foss fan never went into production the patent rights were not an issue. Although not mentioned in the letter it could be possible the accounting department thought that having to purchase the rights to the ECK blade design would be expensive so this also pushed up the manufacturing cost to that point which killed the go ahead to manufacture the Foss design. That fan is out of this World. Attached Image (viewed 1089 times):
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 02:27 am |
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49th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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Now that the truth about the Foss Fans has been revealed, here are some pictures of the "original" Foss Fan. I guess because the editors were in such a state of shock and dismay, they forgot to include them in the article.... Attached Image (viewed 999 times):
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 02:28 am |
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50th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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No fans were hurt in the making of this prank............ Attached Image (viewed 1000 times): Last edited on Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 09:06 pm by Kim Frank |
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 02:30 am |
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51st Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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The "reproduction" and the "original" Foss fans have serial numbers only 103 apart........ Attached Image (viewed 1030 times):
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 02:37 am |
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52nd Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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The 'original' Foss fan came with it's own crate.........imagine that surviving the last 108 years...... Attached Image (viewed 962 times):
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 02:46 am |
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53rd Post |
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Tom Dreesen AFCA Member
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What? Who revealed what? Magazine? "What you talking about Willis?"?
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 02:48 am |
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54th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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Best part of the whole joke?....I've got two really nice fans.....I do want to thank everybody involved. It was a lot of fun..... Attached Image (viewed 950 times):
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 02:50 am |
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55th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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And for the "shocked" editors of the Fan Collectors magazine, I can only say......... Attached Image (viewed 1022 times):
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 02:54 am |
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56th Post |
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Tom Dreesen AFCA Member
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I am shocked, I tell ya, shocked! Apologies to Rodney.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 04:04 am |
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57th Post |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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Was I just reading here that the story of the Foss fan might be a hoax? Then I opened my Fan Collector that had just come today and, sure enough, the pranksters have fessed up to their mischief. Reading their confession really had me chuckling and laughing. Well done guys! I "knew" that the whole Foss fan deal wasn't real...but did I REALLY KNOW? What tried to throw me into wonderment were all the posters on the forum thread who seemed convinced and went along with the whole episode. THEY must have been the ones in on the secret to mess up old "stuffed shirt Stephens". Well, you almost pulled it off but, being the skeptic that I am, I saw (or thought that I saw) through the trick. It was fun and I am sure a lot was learned on how to fool the members, the officers, and the publishers. No harm done, I'm glad you come up with this dream. Now tell us about the GE Humboldt fan which they never produced. It was an 8" pancake style motor....
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 04:37 am |
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58th Post |
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John Hilliard Guest 
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Kim, That is one stunningly beautiful fan. Great job.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 08:08 pm |
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59th Post |
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Ted Kaczor AFCA Member
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KIM's -GATE and FRANK-ie LEAK combine. Cheers brother Kim!
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 09:04 pm |
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60th Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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The Foss Fans are retired now and on display in the Snithsomian Museum of Electrical BS.....Here they are, together at last..... Attached Image (viewed 866 times):
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| Posted: Sun Jun 23rd, 2013 11:47 pm |
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61st Post |
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Jeff Whitfield AFCA Member
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It was a real white-out; Everybody was "snowed-in." yuck ... yuck ... yuck ... yuck ... Ted Kaczor wrote: KIM's -GATE and FRANK-ie LEAK combine. Attached Image (viewed 958 times):
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24th, 2013 01:25 am |
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62nd Post |
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Ted Kaczor AFCA Member
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Under the picture, Chinese comentary in translation; "KIM FRANK in disguise" Kim...just got back home from work 3:30 PM Sunday and got me pure tripple Scotch (no rocks) and room temperature... I'm so happy to be a part of this adventure...forgive me Steve!!! something like this wont happen again.
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24th, 2013 01:34 am |
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63rd Post |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member
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Ted Kaczor wrote: something like this wont happen again. Wanna bet?? I'm thinking that there might have been a pedestal Pancake customized at the Factory that rotates 360 degrees. Probably had an eight wing blade and a four ring cage..........I'm researching it right now............ Last edited on Mon Jun 24th, 2013 01:35 am by Kim Frank |
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| Posted: Mon Jun 24th, 2013 02:48 am |
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64th Post |
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George Durbin AFCA Member 
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The Foss conspiraters were meeting on Friday nights at their local Hooters. Very undercover and mysterious. Discussions about ghosts and big-foot ,the Loche Ness monster And the second shooter were all there!
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