What were the early import Hunters motors?

[Cole D]

I know from reading in the early 1980s Hunter started selling the Comfort Breeze with the stack motor, which I believe was the first non cast-iron oil-bath Hunter. Supposedly these were meant to sell at Dan's Fan City, but ended up at other retailers too. Also to my knowledge this was the only Hunter ever made with a stack motor.

Then I'd guess in 1984(?) is when Hunter started selling their first imported fans with a spinner motor inside. Models like the first Low Profile, Studio Series, etc. Does anyone know what size motors these had? I know basically anything in the 1990s (probably late 80s as well) in the 52" size like Passport, Summer Breeze, later Comfort Breeze was 172mm with pretty good motors. Were the mid 1980s ones any larger than that? I mean I'm sure they were likely also 172 but could they have been thicker?

I've always been interested in the 1980s imports in general (especially GE vents) with those big heavy cast iron spinners. I've seen a few at Habitat over the years and those things sure weighed a ton! I would put their quality right up with a stack motor. I don't think Hunter's imports ever used these though, I'm thinking they were all stamped steel spinners.

[Noah C]

I believe '83 was the first year Hunter sold spinner motor fans, and those early Hunters used stamped steel motors. Mid '80s 52" Hunter motors were 188mm; they were huge, very chunky, and were rated for .85 amps; at the very beginning of their production, they had isolation rings. The OG Comfort Breeze was the only Hunter made with a stack motor, then the 2nd-gen used that giant spinner motor after Hunter got rid of the isolation ring. The 3rd gen mid '90s Comfort Breezes had 5 blades and that 172mm motor Hunter used in half their lineup.

Many of those 70s/early 80s imported fans' cast-iron spinner motors were as good or better than many stack motors quality wise. Certainly better than the K63 and probably about the same as the weird and mysterious '70s CEC Cast Iron stack motor. Hunter's fans never used these motors.

[Parkman]

I didn't realize it was that early in the 1980's. If only they still made a quality product like they used too.

[Cole D]

Apr 12, 2020 9:46:34 GMT -5 Noah C said:

I believe '83 was the first year Hunter sold spinner motor fans, and those early Hunters used stamped steel motors. Mid '80s 52" Hunter motors were 188mm; they were huge, very chunky, and were rated for .85 amps; at the very beginning of their production, they had isolation rings. The OG Comfort Breeze was the only Hunter made with a stack motor, then the 2nd-gen used that giant spinner motor after Hunter got rid of the isolation ring. The 3rd gen mid '90s Comfort Breezes had 5 blades and that 172mm motor Hunter used in half their lineup.

Many of those 70s/early 80s imported fans' cast-iron spinner motors were as good or better than many stack motors quality wise. Certainly better than the K63 and probably about the same as the weird and mysterious '70s CEC Cast Iron stack motor. Hunter's fans never used these motors.

Cool thanks for the info. I did some searching and found a thread with some pictures of early Low Profile with that ring. I didn't realize the early spinner motors were bigger.

A Subway here used to have the Hunter Studio Elites (may have been a Florida only model for Scotty's). The Subway is from 1985 or so, I'd guess they were original. Probably had the bigger motors. Since 2006 or so it has the MX Excels.

[fancollector12]

The early spinner motors had an iso (isolation) ring, such as the early Low Profiles. They were 188mm motors in the 52" fans, I believe.

[Noah C]

Apr 12, 2020 9:46:34 GMT -5 Noah C said:

I believe '83 was the first year Hunter sold spinner motor fans, and those early Hunters used stamped steel motors. Mid '80s 52" Hunter motors were 188mm; they were huge, very chunky, and were rated for .85 amps; at the very beginning of their production, they had isolation rings. The OG Comfort Breeze was the only Hunter made with a stack motor, then the 2nd-gen used that giant spinner motor after Hunter got rid of the isolation ring. The 3rd gen mid '90s Comfort Breezes had 5 blades and that 172mm motor Hunter used in half their lineup.

Many of those 70s/early 80s imported fans' cast-iron spinner motors were as good or better than many stack motors quality wise. Certainly better than the K63 and probably about the same as the weird and mysterious '70s CEC Cast Iron stack motor. Hunter's fans have never used these motors.

Apr 18, 2020 4:05:13 GMT -5 fancollector12 said:

The early spinner motors had an iso (isolation) ring, such as the early Low Profiles. They were 188mm motors in the 52" fans, I believe.

Right on, but a little late to the party, Vince.