Early in the 80s, electric fans made. The fan was essentially a blade with an electric motor connected. In the electric fan industry, the fields of electrical engineering and aeronautical engineering developed concurrently.

Early electric motors used bipolar operation. They had direct current and all of their workings. The first blades, which typically had six pie-shaped flat brass leaves, were borrowed from windmills. Resistance was used to control speed. Resistance wire was utilized almost universally, and in a few instances, light bulbs were employed as resistance. These early fans were either a novelty item or a costly home or office equipment.

Most manufacturers shifted toward that standard after Tesla's work on alternating current motors. Motors started being enclosed from the beginning of the 1890s. Fan cages showed up. The cage's main purpose was to prevent damage to the pricey fan and blade, not to protect the user. The six wings persisted in the blade designs. Induction was used to control the Alternating Current motor rather than resistance.

Blade designs started to evolve around 1900, along with more competition. The first oscillating fans started to emerge. Initially powered by wind, the first mechanical oscillating fan made its debut in 1904. The theory of electric motors was completed by 1906. The 1930s would see the only advancement in motor design. The most significant advancement in motors was better insulation for the employed copper wires. The biggest improvement in motors was improved insulation for copper wires used to wind motors. Until the early 1890’s, these wires were wrapped with silk, and later cotton covered wire as insulation. An enamel insulation improved, smaller wires could be used, and thus smaller motors made.

By 1910, most fan makers were using rounded edge blades, if not designs they had patented themselves. All major manufacturers were making some form or wind driven, or mechanical oscillator. Motors were all enclosed by now as well as smaller in size.


Major changes occurred throughout the 1910–1920 decade. Electric fans were being produced for home use from 1910. These were designed as "Residential Fans" for bedrooms. They have six wings and moved more slowly in order to be silent. Fans remained a significant appliance. By 1912, artisans could "spin" brass housings onto little fans. Soon after, they were able to "spin" or stamp steel for bases and motors. Due to the requirement for brass in ammunition, there were shortages of brass as World War 1 drew closer. Brass cages have been replaced by steel cages by the end of this decade. Now, every blade had a rounded contour. Motors shrank from an 8" to a 5" diameter. The color of choice for almost all manufacturers on the  All blades were now rounded in shape. Motors shrank from 8” diameter down to 5”. Almost all makers used black as their color on the fan bodies, but General Electric went to a deep green color.

By 1920, refrigerated air was appearing in commercial buildings. Fan makers began to market fans more towards residential use, as the new refrigerated displaced their commercial markets. Makers began experimenting with design changes. Two competitors introduced fans designed as radio speakers, in a brown wood-grain finish. Late that decade, General Electric introduced the overlapping blade, which operated much more quietly. These early blades also were made of aluminum, rather than steel. Aluminum was being used more now in manufacturing.

 Jane Evans, a young woman, arrived in St. Louis at the beginning of 1930 to perform some interior design work. The Emerson Electric President was presented to her. She put out a radical, fashionable design. Emerson unveiled the Silver Swan in 1932. Although it was based on a yacht propeller, it had an aluminum blade. The plan was a huge success, and Emerson certainly weathered the Great Depression thanks to it. Blades were made of an ever-increasing amount of aluminum in a wide variety of styles. Ivory, Forest Green, Dark Brown, Chrome, Nickel, and many other colors were available. The final significant change was made to the motors. Motors with capacitor starts were first made by Emerson. These were far more productive and started and operated more quietly. Motors might now be as small as 4 inches in diameter. Motors were now as small as 4” in diameter and could propel a 16” blade made of aluminum. Cast aluminum blades appeared, using the latest aeronautical designs.

In the 1940’s we were a Nation at war. Fan makers used their capacity to help with the war effort. Few if any electric fans were made for the market. There were no design changes. Production restarted after war ended, with the same designs as pre-war.

Air conditioning was made accessible for residential use by 1950. A few manufacturers provided fans for homes with wooden cases so they would match the TVs. The downfall of the table fan began with the development of domestic refrigerated air. Little changed in the world of fans during the 1950s. Cutting costs has replaced design as a selling point. Cheaper fans were produced. Some people utilized nylon gears instead of brass or steel. Grey, Aqua, Turquoise, as well as paint finishes with wrinkles, were presented as colors.

Most manufacturers started to phase out their fan lines in the 1960s. The last of the quality fans were being produced by the late 1960s.