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Post by Noah C on May 19, 2017 17:44:58 GMT -5
I don't know what's going on with the Victorian, but last year's catalog had it listed as 'Discontinued - While Supplies Last'. I feel like supplies are just still lasting, it's still been an expensive fan. It's not easy to clear out that stock without major price reductions. I just checked Build.com and it says 94 In stock, sounds about right, they just aren't moving. This style I can't see moving at all with the way the markets styles are right now and all of the modern stuff out there at better price points. Also the blades are probably getting scarce to those buying online who know nothing about buying fans and where you can get blades. Design idiom has changed too much, and so has motor technology. Even though the Victorian will always be special in its own right, consumers can buy a fan that is almost/just as well built, fits in better with today's design idiom, performs better (higher wind speed and CFM), and uses much less energy for literally 1/2 or 1/3 the price that is being asked for the Victorian. Even today's fans making use of K55-type motors still use less energy than the Victorian, and many of them perform better (EX: Emerson's K55XL fans, Modern Fan Co.'s GE motor fans, etc.). Not to trash the Victorian, but this is the honest truth, and the reason why Casa still has (and is going to have) lots of sitting stock of this fan...unless they drop it to a ridiculously low price. |
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Post by Jordan U on May 19, 2017 17:58:51 GMT -5
That stock may last for years.. The market for that style of fans is so limited now, if the prices aren't dirt cheap, they're not going to sell.. Most reasonable people would rather replace a fixture with something cheaper that's current in terms of styling than pay extra for something that's already 'outdated' and will likely be replaced in the near future anyways..
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Post by Cole S. on May 20, 2017 22:48:44 GMT -5
That's the unfortunate truth, period style fans are kind of out again, at least this kind of period style fan. The new Marelli/European influenced designs are the next era of reproductions, but they fall in with today's trends because they're pretty minimalist instead of gaudy and overly ornate. Twenty years ago the Mission and 19th Century were being designed, there was an upswing in those decor styles at that point in time. Like anything, those designs will probably come back around again. I mean, who ever thought brass was gonna come back, but it has. And I've seen plenty of true shiny polished brass popping up, everyone in design swore it was gone for good. I'd be curious to see if in another twenty years we don't see a 'Victorian' again.
I'm hoping they get smart and lower the price, I'd really love to nab one. But that could be years out, remember how long Hunter sat on that Valhalla stock that I got one of awhile back...
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Post by Noah C on May 21, 2017 1:50:15 GMT -5
That's the unfortunate truth, period style fans are kind of out again, at least this kind of period style fan. The new Marelli/European influenced designs are the next era of reproductions, but they fall in with today's trends because they're pretty minimalist instead of gaudy and overly ornate. Twenty years ago the Mission and 19th Century were being designed, there was an upswing in those decor styles at that point in time. Like anything, those designs will probably come back around again. I mean, who ever thought brass was gonna come back, but it has. And I've seen plenty of true shiny polished brass popping up, everyone in design swore it was gone for good. I'd be curious to see if in another twenty years we don't see a 'Victorian' again. I'm hoping they get smart and lower the price, I'd really love to nab one. But that could be years out, remember how long Hunter sat on that Valhalla stock that I got one of awhile back... Very true; the "period-style fan" of today, if ornate, is usually so in a European/Roman-inspired way, and the gaudy, old American design idiom is currently in its decrescendo. This is the very reason we have seen fans like Casablanca's 19th century and Victorian be discontinued in recent years, or others including Hunter's 4-blade 1886, the Art Nouveau and Covent Garden, Fanimation's Americana, among numerous; one of the only fans remaining of this style in design is Emerson's Cornerstone. But the vast majority of the "period-style fans" we see released today are influenced by the industrial/mechanical era and are therefore very simplistic, "functional" and overexposed in design, and can therefore seamlessly fit and function in essentially any decor that isn't ornate. This design idiom is so prevalent it has even blended in somewhat with contemporary design (think about the numerous bare-motor, carved-wood-airfoil ceiling fans flooding the market as of now). Your Casablanca Duluth, released only a year ago, is a perfect example of modern-day "period design". However, it was also how the Victorian was sold in this era. The Victorian has been consistently sitting at the WONDERFUL price of $650 for the longest, which is simply outrageous for this type of fan with this type of styling in this era. This was preventing it from selling in even passable volume, especially when Emerson's own K55-type classically-styled fan, the Crown, boasting more customizable options and features for the end user, similar (if not superior) performance, as well as the built-in uplight, is priced $200 cheaper (and still going strong today, must I mention). But even that fits in more with today's design because it is more minimalist than the Victorian and also has a more European-influenced design, for instance. And very true about the brass finish, which was seemingly dead (And 4-blade designs are making a comeback as well). |
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Post by Cole S. on May 24, 2017 14:07:38 GMT -5
Yep, yep. That's exactly it, all of it. I think Emerson has a little more pride in their Cornerstone than Casablanca had in the Victorian at this point. Emerson is very rooted in that tradition, that mixed with innovation is really what has kept the fan division alive. Casablanca, on the other hand, despite many changes over the years, has almost always been very forward-thinking like they are now more than ever before. And I do agree, it was overpriced and honestly part of that cost had to simply be that it was a legacy model. It can't have been that vastly different to manufacture than, say, a Panama.
To confirm this once and for all, I received the 2017 catalog today from my amazing peeps at Hunter. It's actually Hunter and Casablanca combined into one catalog, but the Victorian is indeed not present at all. I did notice InteliTouch was still on the control page.
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Post by Noah C on May 24, 2017 17:45:21 GMT -5
Yep, yep. That's exactly it, all of it. I think Emerson has a little more pride in their Cornerstone than Casablanca had in the Victorian at this point. Emerson is very rooted in that tradition, that mixed with innovation is really what has kept the fan division alive. Casablanca, on the other hand, despite many changes over the years, has almost always been very forward-thinking like they are now more than ever before. And I do agree, it was overpriced and honestly part of that cost had to simply be that it was a legacy model. It can't have been that vastly different to manufacture than, say, a Panama. To confirm this once and for all, I received the 2017 catalog today from my amazing peeps at Hunter. It's actually Hunter and Casablanca combined into one catalog, but the Victorian is indeed not present at all. I did notice InteliTouch was still on the control page. Then again, however, Emerson can better integrate the Cornerstone in their lineup, given the fact that A. Emerson has been around since the late 19th century, and B. The Cornerstone is their replica of their original ceiling fan, unlike the Victorian, which is already a replica of an Emerson design of, I want to say, the early-mid 20th century. Part of the cost of the Victorian, though, was its legacy; and yes, the Victorian's manufacturing process is very similar to that of the Panama's, and the cost of fabrication is/ should be slightly higher than a Panama. They both utilize the same motor, and are largely constructed of die-cast zinc, which is plated with a base metallic finish, and either a clear, glossy, or matte coat atop it. The castings are more elegant and complex on the Victorian, which drives the manufacturing cost up a little bit, but not by too much since they are both made from the same material. Also, could you post some pics of the catalog when you've got some spare time? I bet everybody here including myself would be pining to see it. |
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Post by Cole S. on May 24, 2017 20:49:37 GMT -5
Right, that's kind of what I was driving at. It's Emerson's own design, there's a pride they can take in that aspect. Casablanca made the Victorian very much their own, but it just didn't really make sense for them anymore. I think that's okay. I've let go of the legacy that I wanted Casablanca to always be forever. They're building something new and different, and that doesn't have to be a bad thing. They're still making a great fan. Apologies that these pictures are not the greatest, I'm working with limited means here at the moment. I took both covers, and a couple significant fans of note. You flip it over to look the desired collection from either side. This appears to be a rough draft catalog of sorts, there is information and final images missing for certain new models. Not sure if an updated version will be printed, I was hoping to see data for the new Hunter Brunswick in here but it's not available yet.   Hunter finally goes into DC motors with the Bureau, and I'm obsessed with the design. Black, brass, marble. So classic, and really well-executed. Also interesting to see a fan of this general style at a 60" span, usually Hunter keeps these smaller. The image is apparently not finalized, so needless to say there is no relevant data present. IDK why it also says WhisperWind motor, again, rough draft?...  Casablanca's first WiFi fan is the Aya. It's also DC. I kinda love the extreme minimalism of this one, very much in the same category as the Kichler Xety but much more organic. It's almost like Xety and Orchid had a baby, really elegant. I also love the canopy shape, just have to toss that out there. Airflow listed at 6,360 CFM.  |
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Post by fancollector12 on May 25, 2017 23:27:55 GMT -5
Cole, how do I get Hunter and Casablanca to send me catalogs? I want one! By "both covers", I assume you mean on the front it's Hunter, and on the back, it's Casa? I sent both Casa and Hunter emails asking for printed catalogs but hopefully I'll hear back/get them in the mail. Kichler, Emerson, and Fanimation have all been good about it (2 of the 3- Emerson and Fanimation- have 'Please Send Me Your Latest Catalog' options on the 'Contact Us' page, and Kichler even sent me 10 catalogs in like a 5lb box), so hopefully Hunter and Casa will be good about it as well.  |
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Post by Obi-Wan Canopy on May 26, 2017 0:13:07 GMT -5
Cole, how do I get Hunter and Casablanca to send me catalogs? I want one! By "both covers", I assume you mean on the front it's Hunter, and on the back, it's Casa? I sent both Casa and Hunter emails asking for printed catalogs but hopefully I'll hear back/get them in the mail. Kichler, Emerson, and Fanimation have all been good about it (2 of the 3- Emerson and Fanimation- have 'Please Send Me Your Latest Catalog' options on the 'Contact Us' page, and Kichler even sent me 10 catalogs in like a 5lb box), so hopefully Hunter and Casa will be good about it as well. I thought you were an Expert In The Ceiling Fan Industry? Getting catalogs should be no issue. |
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Post by Cole S. on May 26, 2017 10:04:22 GMT -5
I mean, yeah. All I can suggest is emailing/messaging them and hopefully they'll work with you. I'm basically on priority list over there and still had been waiting on mine for awhile, because I work through the social media/content marketing department and they've all been working on other big projects.
Kind of, yes. Both 'covers' can be the 'front' based on how you position the catalog. The pages flip upside-down when you transition between Hunter and Casablanca inside. I make it sound more confusing than it is, you'll see what I mean if you look at one.
Kichler is insane with sending out those cases of catalogs, I got the same thing. Honestly though I kinda wish I could get that from every manufacturer. I like having a crisp clean copy to archive, one I can display, and one that I can tear through and use for reference without worrying about ripping a page or bending corners. A few more extras beyond that don't bother me either lol.
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Post by fancollector12 on May 27, 2017 0:27:26 GMT -5
Yeah they said they don't mail catalogs.  My next step is Delmar Fans & Lighting, as I've requested catalogs from them before, and have had them mailed to me (especially when I picked out my Panama for my bedroom 5 years ago). Hopefully they'll send me them |
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Post by organistjx on Jun 6, 2017 18:47:18 GMT -5
I personally find Casablanca to be almost moronic in that they're shedding so many of the models that made them who they are, and instead just bowing to trends instead of creating them. On the flip-side though, I do find it nice that Hunter has kind of gone into my style with the black and brass thing. Now, if they could remake the Spirit of Saturn and the California Gold... or even the Wind series or any Beverly Hills Fan design... that would be something else...
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