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fan fetish

I admit.  I have a thing for fans. 
 

Maybe you’ve noticed. 

Marian Parsons 

Paint Enthusiast | Writer | Artist | Designer

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44 Responses

  1. 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…)

  2. 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!

  3. 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! 🙂

  4. 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

  5. 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?

  6. 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!

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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!!

  10. 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

  11. 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.

  12. 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

  13. 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.

  14. 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!

  15. 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. 😀

  16. 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.

  17. 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.

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

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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