Can anyone Date this fan? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

jay_oldstuff · 10th Apr 2011, 9:51 pm

Hi chaps
I picked this fan up from the BVWS stall at Golborne today, filthy dirty just as I like them, it runs very well as found, did a few safety checks with the megger then plugged it in.
has anyone seen one like this before? it is made by H.Frost & co (engineers) Ltd of Walsall England and is designed for 230 to 250 volts AC.
one slightly unusual feature for me anyway is the speed switching, it is marked 0=off then 1 2 3 1 being fastest and 3 being slowest every other fan I have come across its been off then 1 being slowest going up to fastest.
did it have a specific function rather being just a desk fan?
any idea on date? I'm guessing early 50's but stand to be corrected.

Jay

seem to be having problems uploading pictures at the mo please bare with me

sorted it

davidw · 11th Apr 2011, 8:05 am

Nice.. picture 3 seems to suggest it hangs on the wall,which leaves the handle on the"safety" guard to adjust the position.

HamishBoxer · 11th Apr 2011, 12:09 pm

I am guessing also 50s,though may be earlier.

David

davegsm82 · 11th Apr 2011, 12:30 pm

I have a similar "Frost" Fan which I beleive is dated back to 1948. Bought for £1 at a boot sale, new flex soldered to the motor windings, still works beautifuly.

Dave.

Peter.N. · 11th Apr 2011, 4:28 pm

I don't remember anything like that for sale in '50s, I would suspect earlier.

Peter

Hunts smoothing bomb · 12th Apr 2011, 10:09 pm

Hi guys,

I saw this yesterday and would suspect late 30's to early 40's

Cheers

Dave UXB · 17th May 2011, 6:50 pm

I believe that the basic design has it's origins in American of the 1930s.
However, despite several "up-gradings", re-designs or modern materials, this design works damned well.
I think this one is about 50-60.

McMurdo · 17th May 2011, 8:09 pm

I'm guessing the speed thing is to make sure it starts properly particularly if the bearings are cold? I think I've seen a haridryer wired in a similar way.

Of course I might be wrong and it's just been miswired during its long life.

Mike Phelan · 18th May 2011, 9:09 am

I agree with that about the speed; as it's almost certainly a shaded-pole squirrel cage motor it will run just below synchronous speed.

The speed control with resistors in series will allow the motor to be on the point of stalling because of insufficient power.
Because a fan is a constant load, the designer can get away with this!

BGmidsUK · 19th May 2011, 12:21 pm

That would be perfectly at home in an old factory, at a time when common sense prevailed. The colour matches the machinery well and the guard is evidently intended to protect the fan against accidental contact rather than a user who has never had to learn about basic safety principles!

Brian

10th Apr 2011, 9:51 pm	#1
jay_oldstuff Octode Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hyde, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,074	Can anyone Date this fan? Hi chaps I picked this fan up from the BVWS stall at Golborne today, filthy dirty just as I like them, it runs very well as found, did a few safety checks with the megger then plugged it in. has anyone seen one like this before? it is made by H.Frost & co (engineers) Ltd of Walsall England and is designed for 230 to 250 volts AC. one slightly unusual feature for me anyway is the speed switching, it is marked 0=off then 1 2 3 1 being fastest and 3 being slowest every other fan I have come across its been off then 1 being slowest going up to fastest. did it have a specific function rather being just a desk fan? any idea on date? I'm guessing early 50's but stand to be corrected. Jay seem to be having problems uploading pictures at the mo please bare with me sorted it Attached Thumbnails __________________ The light at the end of the tunnel is probably the headlight of an oncoming train Last edited by jay_oldstuff; 10th Apr 2011 at 10:13 pm.

11th Apr 2011, 8:05 am	#2
davidw Heptode Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 643	Re: Can anyone Date this fan? Nice.. picture 3 seems to suggest it hangs on the wall,which leaves the handle on the"safety" guard to adjust the position. __________________ Dave G1AGK. My perception is my reality!

11th Apr 2011, 12:09 pm	#3
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,935	Re: Can anyone Date this fan? I am guessing also 50s,though may be earlier. David

11th Apr 2011, 12:30 pm	#4
davegsm82 Heptode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Blyth, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 858	Re: Can anyone Date this fan? I have a similar "Frost" Fan which I beleive is dated back to 1948. Bought for £1 at a boot sale, new flex soldered to the motor windings, still works beautifuly. Dave.

11th Apr 2011, 4:28 pm	#5
Peter.N. Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Charmouth, Dorset, UK. Posts: 3,601	Re: Can anyone Date this fan? I don't remember anything like that for sale in '50s, I would suspect earlier. Peter

12th Apr 2011, 10:09 pm	#6
Hunts smoothing bomb Octode Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wimborne, Dorset, UK. Posts: 1,407	Re: Can anyone Date this fan? Hi guys, I saw this yesterday and would suspect late 30's to early 40's Cheers __________________ Lee

17th May 2011, 6:50 pm	#7
Dave UXB Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 116	Re: Can anyone Date this fan? I believe that the basic design has it's origins in American of the 1930s. However, despite several "up-gradings", re-designs or modern materials, this design works damned well. I think this one is about 50-60.

17th May 2011, 8:09 pm	#8
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,274	Re: Can anyone Date this fan? I'm guessing the speed thing is to make sure it starts properly particularly if the bearings are cold? I think I've seen a haridryer wired in a similar way. Of course I might be wrong and it's just been miswired during its long life. __________________ Kevin

18th May 2011, 9:09 am	#9
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Can anyone Date this fan? I agree with that about the speed; as it's almost certainly a shaded-pole squirrel cage motor it will run just below synchronous speed. The speed control with resistors in series will allow the motor to be on the point of stalling because of insufficient power. Because a fan is a constant load, the designer can get away with this! __________________ Mike.

19th May 2011, 12:21 pm	#10
BGmidsUK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Leicester, UK. Posts: 809	Re: Can anyone Date this fan? That would be perfectly at home in an old factory, at a time when common sense prevailed. The colour matches the machinery well and the guard is evidently intended to protect the fan against accidental contact rather than a user who has never had to learn about basic safety principles! Brian