|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 10, 2021 8:10:42 GMT -5
This is an installation that I did in 2006 when I was determined to hang a belt-driven ceiling fan in my living room. With no electrical ceiling box, my plan was to center the fan in the room and then “belt-it” to a hidden power source. Due to my ceiling being only 8 feet high, I initially looked at the Fanimation “Short-neck” Brewmaster, but wasn’t crazy about the “modernized” antique design, the look of their exposed motor or it’s 18” overall height. Also, I had my mind set on something that used round leather belts, like those found on the old Singer treadle sewing machines. My search eventually led to Woolen Mills Fan Company as they ended up having everything I needed to do the fan installation. Their fans are cast in molds that are made from original, turn-of-the-century belt-driven fans. I chose their “Martin” fan as it was designed for ceiling heights of 8ft or higher. It’s built from a fan designed by the D.L. Bates & Brothers Company, Dayton Ohio in the late 1880’s. With an overall height of 12” and a blade diameter of 60”, it fit well within my living room’s requirements. I opted for the patina iron finish, solid quarter-sawn mahogany blades, 6” polished bronze pulleys and of course, the round, leather belting. They also made a custom solid mahogany mounting disc for me as my Martin was their first casting from that mold. Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment Deleted |
|
|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 10, 2021 8:12:19 GMT -5
Once I got a look at the line shafts and “hand” shaft holders that Woolen Mills offered, this project took on a mind of it’s own and I was able to achieve my original goal of hiding the power source in my attic. The installation eventually morphed into something akin to an art installation. Hence the title…“Three Men And A Fan”. Besides the Martin fan assembly, remote DC motor and speed controller, I ended up purchasing both an 8ft and 4ft line shaft, six unfinished “hand” line shaft mounting brackets and eight 6” polished bronze pulleys. The “hand” line shaft holders are life-sized hands cast in aluminum and are available in a “right” or “left” hand orientation. Each of the “hand” brackets has it’s own small, solid mahogany mounting disc and two sealed bearings recessed into it’s sides for the line shaft. The bearings are secured in place with metal collars, which are placed on either side of the hands. The 6” polished bronze pulleys are cast with “leg” spokes, very similar to the Isle of Man, three-legged triskelion. Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment Deleted |
|
|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 10, 2021 8:13:34 GMT -5
The “hand” shaft holders were paired (right and left), and each paired-set painted one of three Mondrian colors (red, yellow or blue.) They were then installed in different positions that made it appear the hands were holding up and helping direct the line shafts to the hidden motor. In an artistic way, “three men” or their hands at least, were helping this fan to rotate. Attachment DeletedAttachment DeletedAttachment Deleted |
|
|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 10, 2021 8:14:29 GMT -5
Any unevenness/unlevelness of the wall where the line shaft and hands were installed had to be addressed with cork shims that I placed between the wooden mounting discs and the back surface of the hands. Aligning the three hands (two red and one yellow) holding the 8 ft line shaft proved to be the most difficult because it required six bearings (two in each hand) to be aligned perfectly to enable the line shaft to spin freely. Attachment DeletedAttachment Deleted |
|
|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 10, 2021 8:15:09 GMT -5
Both the DC motor and speed control module are located in my attic eave with an on-off switch and variable speed control located on the living room wall. The Model 098 Bodine DC right-angle gear motor is 1/17 HP, has a speed of 63 RPM and a gear ratio of 40:1. Attachment Deleted |
|
|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 10, 2021 8:15:53 GMT -5
When it came to passing the leather belt through the wall, the logical solution would have been to create a horizontal, slit-like opening. Sometimes, “what if” takes over the mind and just won’t let go. After countless measurements (and knowing if it turned out to be an epic fail, I could go back to the logical solution) I was able to achieve a super-clean pass-through. This was only possible because the two pulleys for that short length of belt were close enough together to produce very little to no “slop” in that belt when it’s moving. Attachment Deleted |
|
|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 10, 2021 8:16:31 GMT -5
In the 15 years that I have had this fan, it has required minimal maintenance. I’ve shorten the longer two belts 3-4 times to accommodate for stretch and also replaced the brushes on the DC motor twice. One of the longer belts could use another shortening as it has started to sag once again from stretching. For those maintenance-free fanatics… rubber belts don’t stretch and never need to be shortened. Attachment Deleted |
|
|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 10, 2021 8:17:10 GMT -5
“Three Men And A Fan” is not a silent fan. It’s not even a semi-quiet fan. It’s not annoyingly noisy, like a scraping blade, a worn bearing or a loud hum. It’s just that there’s a lot of moving parts and all those parts contribute to a “orchestrated” sound. With a DC gear motor, 14 bearings, 8 pulleys, and 4 leather belts with their metal connection clips all moving in concert together, some noise is to be expected. It makes sense that belt-driven fans are usually found in bars and restaurants, where the background noise will more than drown out any noise from the fans. We usually have music playing in our house, so any noise this fan makes never bothers us. Other people, maybe so.
There’s just something special about those two huge wooden blades lobbing around while the 24 little legs on the eight pulleys are running in circles and the metal belt connector clips clicking away that make me smile.
Jim
|
|
|
|
Post by Tais on Jul 10, 2021 10:50:51 GMT -5
Im so in love with the setup! Awesome job
|
|
|
|
Post by Brian L. on Jul 11, 2021 17:23:13 GMT -5
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the creativity that went into this installation and the hands definitely give it a completely unique twist on what you would normally find with belt driven fan installations.
Non fan related but ispy a blue FLOS wall sconce and an Eames Lounge Chair haha. Tasteful interior decor
|
|
|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 11, 2021 19:02:34 GMT -5
Im so in love with the setup! Awesome job Thanks Tais! It'sa fun fan to just sit and watch! Take care! Jim |
|
|
|
Post by redkiosk on Jul 11, 2021 19:51:00 GMT -5
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the creativity that went into this installation and the hands definitely give it a completely unique twist on what you would normally find with belt driven fan installations. Non fan related but ispy a blue FLOS wall sconce and an Eames Lounge Chair haha. Tasteful interior decor Thanks for the compliments Brian! Non-fan related… The FLOS "Jill" sconce was purchased new in 1982. The Eames Lounge Chair is an original 1959, that I ended up snagging for $500 from a co-worker. Her parents had bought it new. It only needed the rubber shock mounts and a cushion zipper replaced. Take care! Jim |
|
