Nice Fan Jordan! Despite them not being the best quality fans for the time ( especially when you consider what GE was making only 20 years prior) I also really like these 4 bladed Vortalexes! I actually finally got myself one shortly before leaving for school! Mine is a pretty early 12" version from the early 40s. Yours is definitely a later one, probably a product of the 50's. The switch on mine is busted in the same way but I have heard that ACE hardware sells a switch that is almost identical to the original. As for the head wire I would contact Tony Clayton, he is the best of the best when it comes to reproduction cloth cords! He uses real original machinery with modern wire and even uses some real antique cloth as well! Had him made me some 4 conductor headwire for my GE brass blade fan and it came out perfect! You are 100% correct about the lack of difference in speeds being due to the face that it's running on a higher voltage than it was designed for. Speed coil fans like these have a much greater difference in speeds when run at the rated voltage of 110 or 115 volts. Maybe you should consider making a speed controller box like I have made! It works amazingly on pretty much any fan and can really make a big difference in their usability! I can actually run my 16" AOU nice and slow and use it like a normal desk fan using that box. I'll have to make a video of that thing at some point... When you do tear into it, I have a couple tricks for you from taking mine apart, remind me to pass those along! Looking forward to seeing how the resto comes out!
Good video bro on 16" General Electric Vortalex Fan I absolutely love that long spin down time which is one of my favorites hopefully you'll get the oscillation fixed bro I enjoyed it
Because those fans are a potential finger remover/hair tangler...The plastic switch piece is removable like a key so kids can't turn it on...Though you probably know that. I own two of them, a 16" and 12". You could buy a parts fan that has one or maybe there's a chance you could find just the plastic switch piece. One of mine didn't have one, so I bought an extra parts vortalex that had one and swapped it into my 12". I have to sleep with a fan on every night, and my 12" Vortalex is my daily driver fan. Going since the 50s, but 7 years almost every night and day (except when I'm not home) since my resto on it. My 16" is a CAT# F11V163 from 1952. One with the spot welded on handle.. My 12" didn't have a handle at all from the factory..So I drilled holes into the casing of the motor and tapped threads to mount a handle from the parts fan on top of it with screws..Came out really nice.
Neighbor was just throwing exactly this away, only thing missing is the top cover for the gears. Other than that its solid and works perfectly. They don’t make em like this anymore
Quick question: What oil do you generally use for fans with oil ports? I just got a TPI CF-18 and it works great, but the spin down is too fast and I’d like to oil it.
Hi Jordan, I have the same fan but it has a green “GE” badge on the grill and a different rear handle. Mine too does not oscillate, did you ever uncover the problem and get it fixed?
I have not -- I tend to not use the oscillation anyways as the aging wire doesn't need the extra movement and stress. Perhaps some day I will revisit just for concept.
@@JordanU Yup, everyone thinks every vintage fan is worth many tens or even many hundreds for some reason. OOooOO It'S OlD so It'S A rAre TReaSure!!!!! no thanks
