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Post by organistjx on Aug 27, 2015 12:00:55 GMT -5
I recently saw a posting on Facebook where someone recently got a NIB Spirit of Saturn, and one of the things I noticed in one of the box pictures was that it said the fan was designed by a guy named 'Jean Clyde Mason'. Upon further research, this guy indeed built the world's first contemporary ceiling fan. Does anyone know anything about this guy? I found an article about him from 1995 that said he apparently designed 'leg lamps' - articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-09-17/news/9509170115_1_lamps-home-design-floral - does anyone know anything more? If so, I'd be interested in hearing... |
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Sam S
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Post by Sam S on Aug 27, 2015 13:40:08 GMT -5
He also designed the Venus, Mercury, Meridien, and Halogen Star.
The other guy is Richard Holbrook, who designed the Stealth, San Marino, and California Zephyr.
Also, the Saturn was not the first modern ceiling fan. It was Casablanca's first modern ceiling fan. The earliest modern fan I know of is the Homestead Contemporary, which is cited in the patent for the Saturn. The Saturn was designed in 1985, the Contemporary became available in 1985 so presumably it was designed earlier.
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Post by organistjx on Aug 27, 2015 14:08:31 GMT -5
He also designed the Venus, Mercury, Meridien, and Halogen Star. The other guy is Richard Holbrook, who designed the Stealth, San Marino, and California Zephyr. Also, the Saturn was not the first modern ceiling fan. It was Casablanca's first modern ceiling fan. The earliest modern fan I know of is the Homestead Contemporary, which is cited in the patent for the Saturn. The Saturn was designed in 1985, the Contemporary became available in 1985 so presumably it was designed earlier. I've heard of Richard Holbrook... do you know if either of them are still alive? Oh, and thanks for the update about the Homestead Contemporary - a lot of articles I've read have said that the Saturn was the first modern fan. |
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Sam S
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Post by Sam S on Aug 27, 2015 14:53:42 GMT -5
I forgot a couple things: Jean Clyde Mason also designed the Cascade outdoor fan, and Richard Holbrook also designed the Comfort-Touch remote system.
I don't know if Jean Clyde Mason is still alive, but Richard Holbrook definitely seems to be. His website is active, and here is what he has to say about Casablanca on it:
"Casablanca Fan Company was founded in 1974 by Burton A. Burton, a machinist and entrepreneur from our home town of Pasadena, California. The company grew quickly to become the industry standard for quality, design and performance. The iconic Panama 5, with polished brass body and solid oak blades, established an entirely new category for residential lighting fixtures. Our decade long collaboration with Casablanca resulted in a long list of innovations that changed the course of the ceiling fan industry, including integrated halogen lighting, hand-held RF remote controls, indirect lighting, and our favorite – the Stealth, shown here."
"In our first meeting with Casablanca’s management, we discussed our notion that although many people might enjoy the benefits of a ceiling fan, the traditional appearance of fans available at that time simply did not work with more contemporary interiors. When we presented the concept sketches for the Stealth, the Casablanca leadership team was polarized. Many felt it was too radical, others that it would establish a new hallmark for the brand. We were confident it was right on target. 25 years later it’s still one of the best selling models in the Casablanca line, and changed perceptions of what a ceiling fan could be."
"The California Zephyr was named after the streamlined locomotive that rode the rails between Chicago and California in the golden age of the American railroad. Our first ceiling fan is an evolution of the classic five bladed design, but with a smooth and sexy body that eliminates the traditional side-band archetype in favor of a clamshell alloy casting. We turned the blade holders, and the industry, upside down to conceal the fasteners under a sculpted emblem on the bottom side that complements the forms and details of the motor housing. First? Yep. Copied? Everywhere."
"Casablanca’s Comfort-Touch remotes were the first radio frequency controls in the industry, and the first to integrate a large display and custom software to control fan speed and direction, light level, and energy saving modes. We created the user interface, product architecture and of course, the design, for what would become the industry standard for how homeowners could remotely interact with all of the features of a modern ceiling fan."
(Comfort-Touch was not actually the first RF control in the industry, but whatever)
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Post by Obi-Wan Canopy on Aug 27, 2015 23:14:01 GMT -5
(Comfort-Touch was not actually the first RF control in the industry, but whatever) And you know this how? |
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Post by organistjx on Aug 28, 2015 8:42:25 GMT -5
In any case, I guess I owe Mr. Mason a big thanks! (Mr. Holbrook as well...)
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Sam S
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Post by Sam S on Aug 28, 2015 9:12:14 GMT -5
(Comfort-Touch was not actually the first RF control in the industry, but whatever) And you know this how? Those Dimango Mood Setter remotes from the 80s used RF, no? And there were also Fasco American Spirits/Great Rooms with electronic RF wall controls, and remote controlled Emerson 1895s. I'm sure there were others as well. Comfort-Touch didn't come out until the early 90s. |
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Post by Obi-Wan Canopy on Aug 28, 2015 11:44:55 GMT -5
Those Dimango Mood Setter remotes from the 80s used RF, no? And there were also Fasco American Spirits/Great Rooms with electronic RF wall controls, and remote controlled Emerson 1895s. I'm sure there were others as well. Comfort-Touch didn't come out until the early 90s. Do you know which are RF and which are IR? How do you know when CT was developed? |
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Post by Noah C on Aug 28, 2015 15:34:33 GMT -5
It seems as though both Jean Clyde Mason and Richard Holbrook (the designer, not the diplomat) aren't deceased
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Post by Brian L. on Aug 28, 2015 17:22:01 GMT -5
Richard Holbrook is now designing furniture If I remember, he has his website
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Sam S
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Post by Sam S on Aug 30, 2015 0:14:51 GMT -5
Those Dimango Mood Setter remotes from the 80s used RF, no? And there were also Fasco American Spirits/Great Rooms with electronic RF wall controls, and remote controlled Emerson 1895s. I'm sure there were others as well. Comfort-Touch didn't come out until the early 90s. Do you know which are RF and which are IR? How do you know when CT was developed? Dimango mood setter patent : patents.google.com/patent/US4538973A/enUsed RF and patent issued 1985. Comfort-Touch patent: patents.google.com/patent/US5187472A/en?q=ceiling+fan&inventor=Edward+F.+HartPatent issued 1993. Hart also invented Inteli-Touch a decade earlier and Homestead Homestar system. Also, the first page of the 1990 Casablanca catalog is all about Comfort-Touch, and it's described as a brand new system. However none of the fans list CT as an option, and it says "contact the factory for details" which makes me think it was a special order item at first. Next year the Stealth came out which was the flagship CT "launch" fan. |
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Post by Obi-Wan Canopy on Aug 30, 2015 8:59:37 GMT -5
Do you know which are RF and which are IR? How do you know when CT was developed? Dimango mood setter patent : patents.google.com/patent/US4538973A/enUsed RF and patent issued 1985. Comfort-Touch patent: patents.google.com/patent/US5187472A/en?q=ceiling+fan&inventor=Edward+F.+HartPatent issued 1993. Hart also invented Inteli-Touch a decade earlier and Homestead Homestar system. Also, the first page of the 1990 Casablanca catalog is all about Comfort-Touch, and it's described as a brand new system. However none of the fans list CT as an option, and it says "contact the factory for details" which makes me think it was a special order item at first. Next year the Stealth came out which was the flagship CT "launch" fan. You do realize when something is designed, patented, and released are not all the same? I do know for a fact the Saturn was designed prior to 1984. I dont know when it was patented or released. |
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Sam S
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Post by Sam S on Aug 30, 2015 13:30:03 GMT -5
Dimango mood setter patent : patents.google.com/patent/US4538973A/enUsed RF and patent issued 1985. Comfort-Touch patent: patents.google.com/patent/US5187472A/en?q=ceiling+fan&inventor=Edward+F.+HartPatent issued 1993. Hart also invented Inteli-Touch a decade earlier and Homestead Homestar system. Also, the first page of the 1990 Casablanca catalog is all about Comfort-Touch, and it's described as a brand new system. However none of the fans list CT as an option, and it says "contact the factory for details" which makes me think it was a special order item at first. Next year the Stealth came out which was the flagship CT "launch" fan. You do realize when something is designed, patented, and released are not all the same? I do know for a fact the Saturn was designed prior to 1984. I dont know when it was patented or released. Of course, but comparing those patent dates I think it's safe to say the Dimango Mood Setter was released prior to the Comfort-Touch. It doesn't seem like a smart move to apply for a patent, get approved, and then just let it sit for years, inching closer and closer to expiration, before releasing the product. I believe the Saturn was released in 1987. I know I shouldn't have said it was designed in '85, I meant to say patented. |
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Post by Max C. on Aug 30, 2015 13:48:05 GMT -5
I believe the Saturn was released in 1987. I know I shouldn't have said it was designed in '85, I meant to say patented. I know the manual for my 1987 Casablanca Victorian mentions the Saturn... |
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Post by organistjx on Sept 13, 2015 17:31:49 GMT -5
It seems as though both Jean Clyde Mason and Richard Holbrook (the designer, not the diplomat) aren't deceased Well, that's good to know... |
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