Something noticed on brown GE box fan

[Cole D]

I've thought about getting one of the GE 2 speed 5 wing box fans sometimes. I do have a 14" 2 speed model though. And I've noticed with the 20" version, that the OFF L H letting on the switch knob isn't painted in black on any that I've seen. Although the rest of their models including the 14" has it painted.

I'm thinking this must have been a cost saving measure. What's interesting though, is I always believed the W25, W26, W27 and WC-14 were all produced concurrently. Someone kept telling me though that the W27 was produced after they'd stopped making the others but I really never believed that. However, with the switch knob not being painted, it makes me think that could be the case. Otherwise why would the 14" with the same 2 speed switch knob be painted but the 20" version's knob never is.

They kept saying the W25 came out in the late 60s but I don't believe that either because when Google had their Newspaper Archive, I searched ads and never found any W25 until 1970. And even in 1972 they still showed all of the models in the ads, which makes no sense if only the W27 was still in production.


In this link, you can clearly see the W27 knob doesn't have the painted lettering and it doesn't appear it ever did.


Ebay link

[Jordan U]

I would like to get one in both sizes as well. I have a 20" one but it's in very poor condition.. I don't remember for sure what speed dial it has but I'm pretty sure it's the same one as seen in the picture..

I don't have any evidence to offer for the exact date, but I always heard very late 60s, perhaps 1968 or 1969, for their introduction.. It's possible they came out in 69 and didn't hit the shelves until summer of 70.. We see that delay with stuff now and the process was even slower during that time.

[Cole D]

Possibly, or there was older stock to sell off first. Is your 2 speed one any lighter than the 3 speed reversible? I have two 3 speed ones, W25s. I also have a 70s Westinghouse 2 speed that looks very similar to the GE W27 but is a very light gray/blue color. It seems to have been made with a Hunter cabinet and grilles that has the push button on top. The motor is a Marco though and the blades look like the GE, but a bit different and it mounts with a clip instead of the GE grommet. The GE single bearing motors had a different shaft size so used the grommet to mount. Where on other motors it fit right on the shaft. The vents are diffent though since the GE had the vent opening
and cooling fan toward the shaft where others have vents further outside.

[Jordan U]

I believe it is lighter, would make sense since it doesn't have the extra metal for the venturi.. I also imagine the motor has less copper in it only having 2 speeds and no reverse.