Post by jonasclark on Aug 9, 2012 18:36:22 GMT -5
Some of you may know about these, some may not. The originals were the LeVelle Fan-Light by Mid-West Chandelier of Kansas City, and are known as 'bird' or 'bird-wing' fans.' In the 70s-80s, some tiny company called Eagle Fan Corp. of Lufkin, Texas (anyone know more?) had a replica of at least one LeVelle Fan-Light made for them in Taiwan. The one I've seen is actually an almost exact copy of a LeVelle Model 16.
This was found on Seattle Craigslist for $50, and I found the ad later the same day it was posted. Ad title: "Ceiling fan - $50." I think that vague title kept it from being nabbed! The guy bought it new around "30 years ago" (Eagle Fan's trademark on "The Grand Duchess" name dates to 1982, 30 years ago this year), moved, took it down, and packed it back up in the original box! According to a shipping label on the box, in 1990 it was shipped from Oklahoma City to Washington at a jaw-dropping cost of $517.07 - I don't know if the owner bought it then (I've emailed to see if he remembers, as I forgot to ask) and that was the entire cost, or if that was just a cross-country move and it really cost that much to ship it!!
Fan has two pullchains: light on/off, fan on/off. Fan is one speed only, no reverse, and REALLY puts out the air! Quiet, too!
Here are some photos, I hope my first attempt at embedding works.
The fan box, front, which hints that there may have been a matching wall sconce! In the 1920s and 1930s, it was common for a ceiling light to be boosted with matching sconces (often up to eight, two per wall!) Beautiful Victorian-esque lady and Art Nouveau vines and flowers!
Side of the box. Seems it came in four finishes: AB, PB, black(!!), white(ew). And with amber or clear glass. Mine is not only closest to the 1930s model (which was bronze with amber glass), but it's the prettiest-sounding combo to me.
From below, lights on, it's a gorgeous picture, shell-shaped crackle amber slipper/pocket shades and cast brass panels! The five brass segments screw together, then the shades are held in by set screws and the whole cover is held on by the center cap and nut. There are two holes for the chains to run through - all five segments have a hole in the filigree there, but only two are tapped and have the threaded inserts.
The fan, installed! The decorative boss around the canopy is crooked here, but I fixed it after I noticed. The fan is a very close copy of the original, right down to the filigree patterns, the unusual canopy, and the canopy's decorative collar.
Here's a snapshot while running. The blades won't (easily) stay open normally (to take a photo) unless you hold them open by two blades, and even then they try to pull shut, as they have springs that close them. They're black with a nice semi-gloss finish. Look at Fanimations no-light version of the Air Shadow to see what the mechanism looks like, though the parts used on these are thinner so that the blades have a lower profile on top of the fan.
And because I know I'd get asked if I didn't do so, here's a video (actually, I wanted to put one up anyway!) For those who haven't seen one of these in action, they're pretty nifty!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=08nvrVKf2Ro
Previously, I was hoping for something rare and cool to put here, like an ornate Fasco or Homestead or a 36" NuTone Verandah... and though part of me hoped I'd find a LeVelle or a Guthfan (another odd 1930s model having a turbine-like blade with an unusual air distribution), I didn't think either of those was a likely find.
...incidentally, got a brown/PB 36" Slimline available (what used to be in that spot).
~ Jonas
This was found on Seattle Craigslist for $50, and I found the ad later the same day it was posted. Ad title: "Ceiling fan - $50." I think that vague title kept it from being nabbed! The guy bought it new around "30 years ago" (Eagle Fan's trademark on "The Grand Duchess" name dates to 1982, 30 years ago this year), moved, took it down, and packed it back up in the original box! According to a shipping label on the box, in 1990 it was shipped from Oklahoma City to Washington at a jaw-dropping cost of $517.07 - I don't know if the owner bought it then (I've emailed to see if he remembers, as I forgot to ask) and that was the entire cost, or if that was just a cross-country move and it really cost that much to ship it!!
Fan has two pullchains: light on/off, fan on/off. Fan is one speed only, no reverse, and REALLY puts out the air! Quiet, too!
Here are some photos, I hope my first attempt at embedding works.
The fan box, front, which hints that there may have been a matching wall sconce! In the 1920s and 1930s, it was common for a ceiling light to be boosted with matching sconces (often up to eight, two per wall!) Beautiful Victorian-esque lady and Art Nouveau vines and flowers!
Side of the box. Seems it came in four finishes: AB, PB, black(!!), white(ew). And with amber or clear glass. Mine is not only closest to the 1930s model (which was bronze with amber glass), but it's the prettiest-sounding combo to me.
From below, lights on, it's a gorgeous picture, shell-shaped crackle amber slipper/pocket shades and cast brass panels! The five brass segments screw together, then the shades are held in by set screws and the whole cover is held on by the center cap and nut. There are two holes for the chains to run through - all five segments have a hole in the filigree there, but only two are tapped and have the threaded inserts.
The fan, installed! The decorative boss around the canopy is crooked here, but I fixed it after I noticed. The fan is a very close copy of the original, right down to the filigree patterns, the unusual canopy, and the canopy's decorative collar.
Here's a snapshot while running. The blades won't (easily) stay open normally (to take a photo) unless you hold them open by two blades, and even then they try to pull shut, as they have springs that close them. They're black with a nice semi-gloss finish. Look at Fanimations no-light version of the Air Shadow to see what the mechanism looks like, though the parts used on these are thinner so that the blades have a lower profile on top of the fan.
And because I know I'd get asked if I didn't do so, here's a video (actually, I wanted to put one up anyway!) For those who haven't seen one of these in action, they're pretty nifty!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=08nvrVKf2Ro
Previously, I was hoping for something rare and cool to put here, like an ornate Fasco or Homestead or a 36" NuTone Verandah... and though part of me hoped I'd find a LeVelle or a Guthfan (another odd 1930s model having a turbine-like blade with an unusual air distribution), I didn't think either of those was a likely find.
...incidentally, got a brown/PB 36" Slimline available (what used to be in that spot).
~ Jonas
