AFCA Forums > Antique Fan Collectors Association > Buy-Sell-Trade > Looking for a restored Westinghouse "tank"
AFCA Forums > Antique Fan Collectors Association > Buy-Sell-Trade > Looking for a restored Westinghouse "tank" | |
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Raeann Rose Guest 
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Hello, I'm very new to the antique fan scene. I found one this weekend while I was out of town, but stupidly did not buy it due to the $330 price. I have contacted the store about my options for shipping to me, but they have not responded. Does anyone have a restored Westinghouse tank or can anyone point me in the right direction where I can find one? I have attached a picture of the one I found. Is $330 a reasonable price? If so, I may just make the 200 mi round trip to get it. Thank you,Raeann Attached Image (viewed 1652 times): |
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James Guinn Guest 
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It's not a bad deal at all, but it's not restored either. A properly restored tank may fetch $1200 or so. |
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Tony Clayton Guest 
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From the looks of it, the fan appears to be in good physical shape. If it is in good running condition as well I say you should grab it. That is unless you were to attend lets say fan Fair coming up soon. Surely you could find something as good or better there. |
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Steve Stephens Guest 
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Tanks like many fans have been rising in price for a while. $330 is high compared to what I have paid but my fans came to me some years ago and I do see tanks up in that range, sometimes higher. If it's a good one and runs on both speeds (or three speeds if it's an uncommon 3 speed model) the price seems to be in the ballpark. Picking up the fan would also insure that it does not get shipping damage. With some more photos it might be possible to tell better the condition of the fan. What is the Style No. on the motor tag? http://earlyfans.blogspot.com/2011/03/westinghouse-tank-1905-1911.html |
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Stephen Chew AFCA Member 
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Westy tanks are going close to 400 plus shipping on ebay. If fan ran well and was all original . The deal was ok. |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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I must not have been watching the sold price on Westy tanks although I have seen some pretty high priced ones. So, if the $330 fan is all good it's a fair deal. |
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James Guinn Guest
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Has the early stencil badge also. Possibly a 60677 list number? |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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James Guinn wrote: Possibly a 60677 list number? Style No. R&M used List No. |
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Dick Evins Guest 
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The 60677 Stencil Badge is very desirable. The last one I acquired was a 16" fan at a Wisconsin Flea Market for $35.00 about 6 years ago. Not much chance of scoring like that anymore, but the answer to that is, don't stop looking. |
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James Guinn Guest
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I have 2 of the 60677, a Hawthorn and R and M gearback, but love all tanks!! Good luck in your hunt. |
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Chris Benbow Guest 
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Maybe it's just the picture but it Looks like one of the rivets in the 12 o'clock blade is missing. Not a deal breaker but it is a little fishy. Agree that the price is not bad if the fan is in order. I love my tank and sleep with it every night.......so does my wife.  Attached Image (viewed 1401 times): Last edited on Mon Jun 9th, 2014 11:48 pm by Chris Benbow |
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Tony Clayton Guest
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Chris Benbow wrote: Maybe it's just the picture but it Looks like one of the rivets in the 12 o'clock blade is missing. Awesmoe eye Chris. Great catch you are exactly right there is a rivet missing. Attached Image (viewed 1446 times): |
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Fred Ippolito Guest
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i have a westy tank included in my sale listed in the des moines,ia craigslist.unfortunately it is in a sale of all fans.not individually. |
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David Hoatson Guest 
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Raeann, buying it in person, you can see and hear it and just put it in your back seat and drive home. Buying via eBay or email, then getting it shipped has a good bit more risk of hidden problems and shipping damage. You could call them and say "your price is a bit too high. Lower it to $250 and I'll come get it Saturday" |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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Thank you everyone!! I appreciate your input! Steve, I found your blog to be very interesting! I have called the number provided on the store's Facebook page several times this week, and each time the guy that answered has promised to check on it and told me to call back later. I didn't even look at the badge when I was in the store and have no idea if it runs (the guy said he "thought so"). He also said he could not lower the price because it is a consignment item. Sigh. He clearly is not interested in shipping the fan to me (and was frankly kind of rude), so I decided I'll just to make the trip Saturday to check it out again. Is it possible to find a replacement rivet? Thank you for pointing that out by the way, Chris! I probably wouldn't have noticed that. Fred, I did check Craigslist and saw your listing as I am from Sioux City, IA! I wish I could just purchase the Tank from you. Thank you again everyone! I will post an update after I either buy it or don't on Saturday! Last edited on Fri Jun 13th, 2014 09:47 am by Raeann Rose |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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Last edited on Fri Jun 13th, 2014 09:48 am by Raeann Rose |
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Craig Cammarata AFCA Member
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Raeann, If the tank doesnt work out, you can post here in the BST area and see if a member has one for sale. I think the price is on the high side, but not completely out of line. Make sure it has the switch in the bottom, those fans can run without it, but it will only be a one speed fan. Many people will plug it in and think it works but its supposed to have 2 speeds which is accomplished by the switch/choke in the base. You can use the fact that it is missing the rivet to try and get the price down. Let us know how you do and good luck! Craig |
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Michael Rathberger Guest 
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For the past several years there's been a regional fan meet in your general area (Iowa/Nebraska) in the fall. I do not see anything posted on the info section, but if there is one this year, my advice would be to attend and pick a fan there. There's not always stuff for sale, but if there is they're a better buy and you can get some general instruction as well. |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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So, I ended up buying the fan for better or worse! The store actually RAISED the price a bit to $335! Frustrating, but oh well I guess. I am happy with it even though it's not perfect. It works on both speeds, although the cord is obviously not original. I was just wondering what products I could use to polish it up a bit. Also, if anyone knows exactly what year it is that would be great. The tag from the seller said "1906 rewired." Attached Image (viewed 1189 times): |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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Back Attached Image (viewed 1190 times): |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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Badge Attached Image (viewed 1099 times): |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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Right side Attached Image (viewed 1185 times): |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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Left side Attached Image (viewed 1187 times): |
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Kim Frank AFCA Member 
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Raeann, wayyyyy back in 1978, I was helping my first wife's grandmother move out of the house she had lived in all her life. She was 88 and was moving in with one of her daughters. After getting all her things loaded, she came out carrying a Westinghouse tank and asked me if I would like to have it. She told me she remembered, as a teenager, going with her parents by streetcar, to Fountain Square in Indianapolis and buying that fan. She said her father had saved for months to purchase it. She said after they got home, the neighbors came by to check out the new "contraption" that blew cool air. I used that fan for a couple of years until the headwire broke in half. I put the fan in a box and stored it up in the attic. It wasn't until Sept. of 2000 that I actually got involved with fans, and I remembered that old fan that I had put away twenty years before. I found it buried with a bunch of other boxes and got it out. I fixed the headwire and got it operating again. I later gave it to my daughter, along with the verbal history of it that her great-grandmother had shared with me.....It was identical to yours.....Enjoy your fan.... Last edited on Mon Jun 16th, 2014 12:22 am by Kim Frank |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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That's an awesome story, Kim! I wish I had found mine in a similar way. Even though I don't know the story, I like to think about who might have owned it back then. Thanks for sharing! |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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Raeann, I think you will be very happy with your new Westinghouse. They don't show up in much better condition that that. For some cleaning try Acetone on a rag and Q-tips for hard to get into places. I took an old dull DC tank fan from this- Attached Image (viewed 1136 times): |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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And this- Attached Image (viewed 1181 times): |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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to this- Attached Image (viewed 1174 times): |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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And transferred the dirt from fan to rags and Q-tips. I don't care for polished brass so don't do much to the brass although this fan could stand some cleaning. You can also go to a higher shine if you rub out the paint and wax it. I like fans to look old and am not trying to get the last bit of shine to the paint; just a soft gloss is how I like it. Is the center cage ring on your fan solid in back or hollow? That might help date the fan but I would say it is either a 1908 or 1909 model. I get more into dating in my blog post I linked to above. Attached Image (viewed 1184 times): |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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Don't neglect to check the two oil cups, clean them out along with cleaning the wick in some fluid or installing new felt wicks. About 2/3 full of 20 wt. non-detergent motor oil is what goes in the cups. Many of us like the Zoom Spout 10 wt. oil available at most Ace Hardware stores. It would be a good idea to check and clean the start switch contacts and check the small springs inside the motor. The rotor has to be removed to get to the switch parts. These are simple and robust fans and I love 'em and have a lot of them. One came to me with the brass mostly polished and I went over the blade with Wenol for a better polish. The cage was clean and not polished and they did not have a high polish when new as did the blade. The cage was "dipped and lacquered", the blade "polished". Attached Image (viewed 1190 times): |
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James Guinn Guest
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Love the TANK, one of my all time favorites. Yours appears to be in pretty decent condition and I prefer the stencil badge you have. Great fan and enjoy it. |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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Steve, the center cage ring is open and hollow in the back. I did find that blog post to be very helpful (and your others as well)! Forgive me, I am very new to this and am not familiar with the parts of the fan yet and was having a little trouble sorting out what year it was for sure. I wonder why the tag said it was a 1906 (I figured that may not be correct.) I thought about using acetone but thought it might be too harsh. Thanks again for all of the great information! |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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Acetone will not harm the black japan finish on these fans but I would not use it or anything on the motor tag which is, on your fan, in excellent condition. The 1906 date is a patent date but several other rebadged Westinghouse tank fans (R&M for one) were introduced in 1908 I think it was but with the earlier 1893 patent date so that's why I say 1908 for the 1906 motor tag. I should have said your fan is a 1909-10 model maybe but, until I sort out a few things, let's say 1908-10. Dating these can be hard since there are so few differences among the various model years. I asked about the center cage ring as the earlier tank cages have a solid center ring instead of the hollow ring. |
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Dean Steinhaus AFCA Member 
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Steve, you do not really believe that picture is the person you are talking to, Do You? Cuz it isn't.........lol |
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Jerry Henry AFCA Member
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Dean Steinhaus wrote: Steve, you do not really believe that picture is the person you are talking to, Do You? Cuz it isn't.........lol Hey Dean, to quote old Larry the Cable Guy " NOW THAT'S FUNNY!" |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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....I'm not sure what you mean. That is me! Promise. |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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You can confirm your identity Raeann but having a photo taken of you with a big smile and holding your new Westy tank. Since this came up, and I wasn't a doubter and you don't look like a typical older male fan collector, a pose with your beautiful Westy will show 'em you are the real deal. |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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Ok, no need to prove who you are as I have already discovered for myself that you love camping, chemistry, shopping, rock music, motorcycles, earrings, kitties (me too), shooting, and that an old building next to your house burned down 10 weeks ago. Welcome to the AFCA and please disregard those naysayers who question your identity. What may I ask drew you to that old Westinghouse fan? They are one of my very favorite fans and are possibly the least expensive of the very old and quality fans. Isn't the internet great? I hope you love your new "world's cutest old fan". http://ink361.com/app/users/ig-28986489/photos Scroll down one row and see what appears; an old fan that looks vaguely familiar. https://www.etsy.com/people/BigBangEarringCo http://instagram.com/rosiee1205 Attached Image (viewed 952 times): Last edited on Tue Jun 17th, 2014 02:51 am by Steve Stephens |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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double post Last edited on Tue Jun 17th, 2014 02:32 am by Steve Stephens |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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LOL! See! I told you. What drew me to it was I saw it in a shop in Omaha a couple weeks ago and couldn't get it out of my head. I really kicked myself for not buying it just because of the price. Which I now realize was actually fairly reasonable! Everyone I've showed the fan to so far is very impressed - especially by the weight! Now I am finding more fan styles online I need to add to my collection. :) I will change my profile to a picture of myself with the fan soon. I never imagined my identity would be questioned! Haha Last edited on Tue Jun 17th, 2014 03:29 am by Raeann Rose |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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How about a list of sorts of the fans that appeal to you? You started with a very nice one so what will top it? GE pancakes rule some folks say and I love them too. A few friends are trying to encourage me to downsize from around 190 fans to something a bit more manageable, say 75 or 100? But that would mean giving up so many that I really do like also. You are relatively close to Indianapolis so why not come up to Fanfair? Even for a day to have a look and see the museum on Friday (over 400 fans). I don't think you have to be a member to come look and even buy from the trading floor but you do need to be a member to bid at the auction and attend seminars and a few other things. Don't put off a new interest until next year if you can go it this year. |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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Well, I love the Art Deco style so I really want a Robbins & Myers "Modernistic." I also am looking at some 1950s style Westinghouse fans. I'd probably start with those, but I'm open to anything. Remember I'm new at this and am probably not aware of what's out there! Really anything unique looking - speaker fans to name another. I'm not really a fan of the GE pancakes...looks too similar to my tank. I did think about going to Fanfair. It would be about a 10 hr trip...not sure if I could convince the fiancé to come with me lol. I would be really interested in a convention a little closer, but am not finding any info about one. |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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Give fan fair another thought. Just seeing the fan museum will be worth it although it's open free of charge most days at the Fanimation Company HQ. R&M modernistic? That the one with the diamond shaped cage badge and large overlapping blades? Great model and quiet running; also not too expensive. Nope, that's not the one; I see the Modernistic in the gallery. Fanmation make a modern version of that fan and, perhaps, some Fanimation fans might be available at a discount during Fanfair as they sometimes have been but no promises. Not quite original and restored by a former member and owned now by a NYC member who LOVES this fan. He says he can't even hear it running. Stunning semi-custom Westinghouse from the late 40s I think. Attached Image (viewed 561 times): |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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I was also curious about this fan on Ebay: http://m.ebay.com/itm/161330671951?nav=SEARCH Did they make solid brass? Or did they just strip the black off and are trying to pass it off as rare? |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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Same PowerAire model but more custom and also restored by member Josh Backens. Attached Image (viewed 598 times): |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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. Attached Image (viewed 599 times): |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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These are nice enough as made but, in comparison to these two custom versions, somewhat of an ugly duckling. This is Josh's fan before he opened the can of blue paint. Attached Image (viewed 613 times): |
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Raeann Rose Guest
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WOW! Those are both very cool. The blue really pops! I was looking at this model, I like the pinkish color. But jeez, now I may want something with a little more pizzaz. Attached Image (viewed 542 times): |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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The Westy you picture is a common model. Jeff Rusnak knows all about them and most Westy models to boot. At Fanfair a few years ago there was one, maybe several, new or minty in box Westys like that. I'm not a fan of newer fans in general but there are a few that really stir my soul. A Fanfair trip to member Randy Latocki's house and collection some years ago showed me that even newer "tin" fans can be really nice. He had an extensive collection of art deco fans nicely displayed around his house. Seeing exception examples of such fans really instills appreciation of them in addition to the early cast iron monsters I love so. The 10" and 12" Fitzgerald fans. Attached Image (viewed 535 times): Last edited on Tue Jun 17th, 2014 04:47 am by Steve Stephens |
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Ron Jeter Guest 
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I remember the Fitzgerald fans - Those are Chad Bakers! Nice Fans |
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Steve Stephens Guest
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Contratulations Ron, 3000 posts. No, I'm not keeping track but your 2999 yesterday did jump out at me. Chad did a nice job on those Fitzgeralds or someone did. |
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William Dunlap AFCA Member 
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Raeanne, Have a look at the Emerson Silver Swan. I think it meets your criteria plus....it's an Emerson. It has loads of Art Deco panache.  I know you are relatively new to the fan world. Believe me, your tastes will evolve. Emersons are really well engineered and that means less money to restore and they are usually in better shape when you find them. Once you have two or three fans, you're a goner. Best get a second job. Cheers,Bill |
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