fan fetish

by | Oct 15, 2011 | Antiques, Favorite Finds | 44 comments

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I admit.  I have a thing for fans. 
 

Maybe you’ve noticed. 

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    44 Comments

    1. The Midwest Cottage
      The Midwest Cottage on October 15, 2011 at 7:08 am

      I thought you were talking about "fans" like me! I am a HUGE "fan"! J/K –antique fans are so neat.

    3. Cailan
      Cailan on October 15, 2011 at 8:03 am

      second fan to the last is my favorite – I'm on the lookout, but no scores yet!

    4. May
      May on October 15, 2011 at 8:45 am

      yup, yup…a fan of fans…me too!

    5. WhyCuzICan
      WhyCuzICan on October 15, 2011 at 9:08 am

      Oh yeah, I noticed, Marian.

      …and I smile 😀
      ~Suzanne&Kevin; in NW Illinois

    6. LisaM
      LisaM on October 15, 2011 at 9:23 am

      I love them too. What is a fair price to pay for a vintage fan?? (And do you actually plug them in? I'd be scared to, I think…)

    7. Margaret
      Margaret on October 15, 2011 at 9:30 am

      Me, too. I have my dad's, which looks like the last one. Memories of it humming away on summer days, while napping, incredible. Lisa, I agree about the hesitation to plug it in. The old plugs aren't polarized, and therefore could cause a spark in the wall, resulting in a fire. Best to have it professionally rewired. Mine sits, but I might plug it in, but NOT nap!

    8. Jessi
      Jessi on October 15, 2011 at 9:35 am

      Are those blue pumpkins in the last picture? What a pretty shade of blue! And have you ever re-wired a fan? I would imagine them to be sort of like an old lamp. Thanks! I love your blog, I read it everyday! 🙂

    9. Vickie @ Ranger 911
      Vickie @ Ranger 911 on October 15, 2011 at 9:45 am

      I've never met an old fan I didn't love! To me, they are a work of art and I have one of those "art" pieces in just about every room of the house.

    10. Ann from On Sutton Place
      Ann from On Sutton Place on October 15, 2011 at 9:52 am

      I thought you were going to say you had some stalker "people" fans…which if you do is a little on the creepy side. :o)
      Great pics as always.

    11. COTTAG3
      COTTAG3 on October 15, 2011 at 10:09 am

      Me too! I have a few of them and love having them sit around the house. We actually use a couple of them occasionally 🙂

    12. Anonymous
      Anonymous on October 15, 2011 at 11:19 am

      Yes, I've noticed, and I'll admit, you're makin' me have a thing for fans as well…..sigh…such is the life as a MMS follower…
      ellery
      medusarossa@hotmail.com

    13. Sarah
      Sarah on October 15, 2011 at 11:24 am

      Yummy. Well no wonder you do, all the fans you've come across are gorgeous!

    14. DeeGeeRN
      DeeGeeRN on October 15, 2011 at 11:54 am

      Love them too… Reminds me of my grandma's house when I was growing up in the 50s 60s… Sigh!!
      You use them so nicely!
      Love what u do!!
      Carol from Indy

    16. hadassah
      hadassah on October 15, 2011 at 12:56 pm

      i love your fans – hopefully one day I can find one. 🙂

    17. Loribeth
      Loribeth on October 15, 2011 at 1:17 pm

      I love the look of them, but I always wonder about the safety of them, especially around small children. Do you actually use your fans or are they just for looks?

    18. Elizabeth
      Elizabeth on October 15, 2011 at 1:50 pm

      I HAVE noticed your fan fetish, which is what has fueled my love for vintage fans. I bought an old GE fan, which still oscillates, a few months ago at an antique store. It's a silvery, gray-blue/rusty color – cost me $36 (for those wondering prices)… Not sure if that was a deal, if that's pretty standard, or if I got totally ripped! Def worth it to me though, cause I LOVE it 🙂 Have a nice weekend!

    19. Gwen @ The Bold Abode
      Gwen @ The Bold Abode on October 15, 2011 at 2:06 pm

      You know, you always manage to blow me away… Yuk, yuk, yuk…

    20. glamour drops
      glamour drops on October 15, 2011 at 2:07 pm

      So definitely a fan of fans then! I love them too. I have an old cream enamel one, which has been handed down from my husband's grandmother – which I adore – although would never turn it on because of the older style open basket.

    21. Bonnie
      Bonnie on October 15, 2011 at 3:17 pm

      I am old enough to remember using these older fans and feeling a little embarrished we had such an old fan. Now, I would feel great about it. They are better than new ones and give me that nostalgic feel.

    22. Rhissanna
      Rhissanna on October 15, 2011 at 4:13 pm

      Please, just one more fan pun? Yes, everyone needs fans!

    23. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing
      Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing on October 15, 2011 at 5:18 pm

      My FIL has a cool old one that Ihave hinted for him to part with. He has parted with a lot of cool things for us, but this one he ain't budging..LOL!

    24. Anonymous
      Anonymous on October 15, 2011 at 5:43 pm

      Fan-cy that!I just HAD to say it-ha ha! Maureen in NJ

    25. HeartVintageDesign
      HeartVintageDesign on October 15, 2011 at 5:59 pm

      I too love vintage fans! They just don't design them like that anymore!

    26. The Cranky Queen
      The Cranky Queen on October 15, 2011 at 7:20 pm

      FAN-ANTICAL ABOUT VINTAGE FANS! Thanx for sharing. Tiff

    28. Heaven's Walk
      Heaven's Walk on October 15, 2011 at 8:05 pm

      lol! Nope, you're not alone, Marian! lol! I have three and I though I was obsessed! hehehe!

      xoxo laurie

    29. Leigh-Ann
      Leigh-Ann on October 15, 2011 at 8:37 pm

      I love vintage metal fans too!! I've got a few to start my collection and they are awaiting rewiring before a lot of use. I can't wait!!

    30. Cindy
      Cindy on October 15, 2011 at 8:40 pm

      I do too! I can't even sleep without a fan blowing… and if i'm anxious i'll go sit in front of a fan. When i was giving birth i had my husband fan my face… When i was a kid we had this fan on a stand and turned it on at night, and on hot summer days. I took that fan everywhere with me as i grew up, i loved it. It must have been at least 30 years old when it finally died. I still miss that fan…

      Cindy

    31. Chalk Paint Ideas
      Chalk Paint Ideas on October 15, 2011 at 8:58 pm

      Hi Marian! I loved your fan photos! Particularly the Century one. Where do you find vintage fans like that? They are very attractive.

      Thanks for sharing your lovely photos!

      Chalk Paint Ideas Lady

    32. gertie @ The Old Block House
      gertie @ The Old Block House on October 15, 2011 at 9:09 pm

      I love fans too! Crossing my fingers that tomorrow the huge one in my booth sells, so I can move it along and fill the space with a couple of smaller ones.

      If anyone is looking for a fan, I'd suggest checking auctions. I've seen them go as low as 2 for $2.50.

    33. Liz
      Liz on October 16, 2011 at 4:23 am

      I also love vintage fans and I use them, as well as sell a fair amount of them.
      If you are buying to use (what is the point of just looking at them?), you should check with the seller to see that the wiring has been thoroughly checked, and the fan has been cleaned and oiled.
      So your $2.00 fan at auction rocks; however to rewire it, as well as give it a thorough going over takes time = money.
      Tiny (6")rare fans can sell for $95.00, small and medium fans $35.00 – 65.00, large fans (also a bit rarer) $85 – $145.
      Liz
      http://www.bittersweetdesignstudio.blogspot.com

    34. TechnoBabe
      TechnoBabe on October 16, 2011 at 4:54 am

      There is something about fans, isn't there. We have a Casablanca fan that is about seven years old but looks vintage. Nice pictures of your fans. And the different settings showing the fans.

    35. MommaHen
      MommaHen on October 16, 2011 at 5:43 am

      I love fans too. Plug them in, they work MUCH better than the plastic junky ones available today….Just make sure the kiddos aren't around!

    36. lynne
      lynne on October 16, 2011 at 7:24 am

      I love them, too!! Just make sure you don't actually use them if you have kids around. Because, somehow, it's very hard for a kid to resist putting their finger in to try to touch those moving parts… yes, I'm old enough to remember having actual working ones around, and yes, I'm the kid who couldn't resist that temptation.. Wasn't a serious injury, but stayed in my memory all these years (and helped my neurotic nature a bit, I think, haha).

      What an awesome collection you have!! I'm hoping to find one to put next to my Westclox Baby Ben wind up clock. Beautiful connection with yesterday, bandage-related scares aside. 😀

    37. Beth
      Beth on October 16, 2011 at 6:28 pm

      They do add a unique look to a vignette! I never really would have considered buying a vintage fan until reading your blog. I seen a few at the flea markets I was at this weekend, but they were pretty large and more money than I had extra of. ;^) Still keeping my eye out for the right one next year maybe.

    38. Good Time Charlie
      Good Time Charlie on October 16, 2011 at 7:09 pm

      All fantastic advice. I am sorry to say I have probably been guilty of doing a few of the no-nos on this list. Always room for improvement!

    39. SueAnn
      SueAnn on October 17, 2011 at 3:18 am

      I think old fans are awesome! I have one…an Emerson and I love it!!
      You have some very cool fans dear one!
      Hugs
      SueAnn

    41. Chrissa
      Chrissa on October 18, 2011 at 1:41 pm

      I HAVE noticed! I have to show you mine one of these days.

      I can't run it because it literally runs itself off the table.

    42. Angela
      Angela on October 19, 2011 at 5:31 pm

      I totally get it! I have five vintage fans throughout my house. I'm looking at two in my living as I type this!! 😉

    43. Yvonne
      Yvonne on October 21, 2011 at 7:01 am

      I have been looking for such a fan for some time. In winter I kind of forget about it. But the wish is still there…one of those days I will get one.

    44. June Tan
      June Tan on December 5, 2011 at 9:40 pm

      I love your pictures! You’ve styled it so wonderfully – so much so, I could be a fan fan as well!

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