2 12" Amber Galaxy Oscillators!

[Jordan U]

I just realized that I forgot to post the remainder of the fans that I bought a few weeks ago at an estate sale store, which is outrageous, but anyway here are the Galaxy fans, and hopefully I will have time to post the Marvin fan sometime in the next week or so.

They are very similar at first glace, they are the same type but different styles. I think one is newer than the other based on the style of the plug. The only other visual difference is the motor housing having different vents and the cage is slightly thicker on one.

These are amongst my favorite fans, I really like them a lot.

First fan (this is the one in my avatar picture), which I think is newer:











Second fan, which I think is older and runs a little better:










If you want a picture of the two side-by-side, I will take one by request. I just have them in different locations so it wasn't convenient to do so at the moment.

If you have any information to provide about these fans such as their ages, that would be greatly appreciated!

[Deleted]

LOVE IT

[fancollector12]

Nice! I have a smoky gray Sears and a brown/amber Galaxy, but I can't remember if the Galaxy has that back cover or the other style back cover they made them with... I know my Sears has the other style back cover.

[Jordan U]

Oct 14, 2014 0:09:47 GMT -5 fancollector12 said:

Nice! I have a smoky gray Sears and a brown/amber Galaxy, but I can't remember if the Galaxy has that back cover or the other style back cover they made them with... I know my Sears has the other style back cover.

I have a blue Dayton oscillator, with the rounder blade, and it has the motor with the horizontal vents covering the entire back of the housing.

[Jordan U]

Oct 13, 2014 23:46:52 GMT -5 @emersonfd said:

LOVE IT

Thanks! Me too!

[Dob]

I have dozens of these. Good to fix up and sell for more than I paid, and they last a good while.

Thicker cage is later while the thinner cage with the horizontal vented motor is earlier. The blue blade ones are basically the same, just different color. I always wondered if they were made side by side as a color option or if they fluctuated throughout the years switching from blue, to amber, back to blue. I have seen round-blade amber versions and blue pointed-blade versions.

Contrary to not-so popular belief, these motors use oil and NOT GREASE.

After so many years, when they end up in our hands, most of the wicking inside the motor around the bearing has deteriorated and fell out, which leaves practically nothing left. What is left looks almost like dried up grease. That is actually a fibrous material they used to hold the oil, almost resembling sawdust clumped together with grease.

Cotton balls for wicking DO NOT work in these motors, they just get stuck on the rotor and jam things up. Your best bet is using oil lantern wicking, or a felt washer with a hole in the middle if you can find one. I have yet to find a suitable replacement for the wick.

[Jordan U]

Oct 17, 2014 19:28:55 GMT -5 Dob said:

I have dozens of these. Good to fix up and sell for more than I paid, and they last a good while.

Thicker cage is later while the thinner cage with the horizontal vented motor is earlier. The blue blade ones are basically the same, just different color. I always wondered if they were made side by side as a color option or if they fluctuated throughout the years switching from blue, to amber, back to blue. I have seen round-blade amber versions and blue pointed-blade versions.

Contrary to not-so popular belief, these motors use oil and NOT GREASE.

After so many years, when they end up in our hands, most of the wicking inside the motor around the bearing has deteriorated and fell out, which leaves practically nothing left. What is left looks almost like dried up grease. That is actually a fibrous material they used to hold the oil, almost resembling sawdust clumped together with grease.

Cotton balls for wicking DO NOT work in these motors, they just get stuck on the rotor and jam things up. Your best bet is using oil lantern wicking, or a felt washer with a hole in the middle if you can find one. I have yet to find a suitable replacement for the wick.

I'm surprised the thicker cage came later, I would have expected it to be exactly opposite. Though I figured this due to the plugs each have. I've never seen a blue blade one with this blade shape, all the ones I've seen in blue are the more rounded version.

At the same time, I've never seen an amber rounded blade either. If you have seen them, then my guess is they were sold at the same time. In my case, I thought they were from different periods because the blade shape changed.

I didn't know people thought these took grease, I don't see why they would. That makes absolutely no sense why something this small would take grease. The wicks in mine are shot, I just put oil in them every year and do without the oil wick. As you said, there doesn't seem to be any good replacement.

I have three 12" ones and a 9" one, I'd like to get more of both sizes. I like to use these around my house because they're so reliable, quiet, and I don't have to worry about the dog getting to the blades.