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Help me date this Fidelity!

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Evan Atkinson
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 08:48 am

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This is a 16" Fidelity, made out of Lancaster, PA. Picked it up at Fan Fair. Wondering if more knowledgeable people than I can help me date it. A catalog image or two would be great, so I can see how it was originally.

Thanks!

Russ Huber
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 02:14 pm

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Hey Evan, did you go to the right garage sale at the right time? If that cage is original to the fan I'm gonna . The boys at Fidelity must of got bored quick with the cages they used. That fan has alotta the same features as the more ornate ribbed base earlier brother of around 04-05? My guess is around 08-10? But ya know something Evan....I don't really know jack about em other than examining photos and being brave. That thing is built like a brick poop house dude. Must weigh in at 30-40 pounds.

William Schaub
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 03:42 pm

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Looks like a nice find to me. clean it up and enjoy! that thing looks like it could run forever.

Evan Atkinson
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 03:55 pm

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Thanks Russ. I also wonder about the cage. People were divided as to whether it was original or not, but the consensus reached was that it was. All I know is that it looked like a nice early one to me and I subscribe to "bigger is better" in desk fans, so this one went home with me. Anyone have a catalog image of this baby? I know Fidelity literature is a toughie....

Steve Cunningham
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 04:21 pm

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That fan is original. They were made in Lancaster, PA. Fidelity never got any distribution deals fgoing, so marketed fans locally. Most of thse are found in that area. Bill Samek is researching these fans. I think the three tab base, precded the four tab base. All brass cages vanished around 1916-1917. My best guess would be 1912-1916. We only have ever located one Fidelity Catalog. It was lost. Long story. Another fidelity brochure, undated, showed up on Ebay. I lost it, but saved this image.

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Fidelity Fan Catalog.jpg

Evan Atkinson
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:00 pm

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Thanks Steve. I think Terry Fisher posted the same images when I asked about the Fidelity ceiling fan I have. Terry, is that you who has the catalog?

Interesting that the cage on that nice 6-wing Fidelity is a 6-wire cage and mine's a 10. Hmmmmm! Stefan Osdene? Care to weigh in? I know you have a few....

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:04 pm

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Steve, what about the cage on Evan's fan? Is that original? My 16" Fidelity is later than Evans as mine has the rectangular motor tag but the cage is a 6 S-wire one, not the 10 wire that Evan's fan has. I really don't know what's original for his fan but I have a second Fidelity (12") with a 6 wire steel wrapped cage. My 16" fan appears in very good and probably all original condition. Here's another cage that shows up on Fidelitys below.

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Steve Stephens
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:07 pm

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Similar squiggly cage on a 12" Fidelity

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$610 9:07.jpg

Steve Cunningham
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:07 pm

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I am afraid I gave you all I had on Fidelity. I'll see if I can get Bill Samek to opine.

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:08 pm

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A very early Fidelity stump with three tabfoot base. In view of this being a very early fan it would seem that any 4 foot bases might be newer or even older than this stump. I haven't seen a 4 foot Fidelity base. Ser. # 29586 on this fan.

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to Tosdene 10:07 $2551.jpg

Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 01:55 am by Steve Stephens

Evan Atkinson
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:10 pm

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I like that S-wire cage there Steve! I'm noticing some differences in your blade too. Look at the hub of mine, and the hub of the one you have pictured. The hub of mine is beveled - what about yours? Can't tell from the lighting of the picture. But the edge of the wings on your blade, closest-in, the edge that points in to the center - look how yours is rounded, and mine are square. What does that tell you?

Nicholas Denney
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:30 pm

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Steve Cunningham wrote: That fan is original. They were made in Lancaster, PA. Fidelity never got any distribution deals fgoing, so marketed fans locally. Most of thse are found in that area.

If that's true, then WHY have I NEVER, ever seen one??? :violin:

Westinghouse moved around Penn. a bit (Philadelphia, then Pittsburgh) so quite a few Westys can be found here. Fidelity may not have been as big a mfg. at the time but that doesn't explain why I haven't seen at least one in the past couple years of looking.

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:31 pm

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I can't tell in my photos of that fan Evan if the hub is the same as yours or a later stamped hub as my two 12" Fidelitys have. That fan isn't mine; it was an ebay photo capture. My 16" Fidelity has a cast hub blade just like yours with the beveling. My fan also has a square "ball" joint at the top of the base that can allow the fan to be wall mounted. Does your round ball have a joint that can be taken apart and rotated 90 degrees for wall mounting?

Evan Atkinson
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:49 pm

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Steve, that's a darn good question! I was working on it last night. Yanked the motor yoke and motor from the base and the ball joint sat right there. Didn't examine it much, other than to verify nothing was broken or missing, so I'll have to get back to you on that one. I am noticing in my pictures that it appears the ball joint has a seam of sorts around its belly, but on a Fidelity, that probably just means it's a casting mark. The crudity of these fans has a very odd appeal, but their style is attractive so it's appeal nonetheless!

Nick, I think you're on the money. Bill Samek should definitely weigh in here, but my limited information about Fidelity does imply they were a small manufacturer and though they had a healthy range of products offered, the absence of a distribution deal probably severly limited their production. So, you may not have seen any because after all this time, there may not be many left of not too many made! But that said, they ARE in your area. Nearly all the Fidelity fans I've seen offered on eBay come from PA, and some from right in Lancaster. So keep looking. Where you are, you probably have the best access to find a super rare, early and unusual Fidelity. You just never know what will turn up at a garage sale, or wherever.

Last edited on Fri Aug 15th, 2008 05:51 pm by Evan Atkinson

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 06:04 pm

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Evan, maybe the ball on your fan's base is for decoration only and it not separable as are the square "balls".

Evan Atkinson wrote:
The crudity of these fans has a very odd appeal, but their style is attractive so it's appeal nonetheless!

Maybe 6 years ago at a flea market I came across my first Fidelity, a 12" oscillator missing one of the gears in back. The fan was priced at $65 but was, as you say, crude, do I initially was not going to buy it. After buying some other fans in the booth (an Emerson 29646 for $65 and a very nice but not running GE sidewinder for the marked price of $35) the seller asked me if I'd be interested in more fans if the price were right. I said if he made me a GREAT deal I'd take the Fidelity. $25 later I had it not realizing the value of these fans at the time. After getting home and running it I saw it definitely had some charm in spite of its apparent crudity. I didn't want it due to that crudeness but now appreciate their fans for what they are (unique).

Evan Atkinson
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 11:35 pm

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Steve, I'd be interested in seeing a picture of that square connector-ball you're talking about. I'll look in the galleries as well, though I think there are not many images of Fidelity fans.

They are unique, for sure. I'd like to compare Type or Model No.'s with people if they have them. That might help me date this thing.

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 11:58 pm

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Evan, here's my one and only 16" Fidelity. All original as far as I know.

Note 6 wire cage and pattern on blades showing that the lacquer was brushed on but has worn off in many areas. I don't think the pattern was intentional but was created by nature over the past 93 years.

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Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:09 am by Steve Stephens

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 11:58 pm

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side view

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Steve Stephens
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Posted: Fri Aug 15th, 2008 11:59 pm

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Rear of motor and showing the "squall" (square ball) joint that allows for wall mounting.

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Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:02 am

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The motor tag is the later style than your fancy one but not that much higher in serial number. Coming up.... the date of my fan which might help you date yours. My three Fidelitys are all hand striped around the motor but not elsewhere.

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Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:04 am by Steve Stephens

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:06 am

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Blade hub is cast but later hubs (or maybe all 12" blade hubs) are stamped. I'm no expert on Fidelitys but have bought ones when I could and the price was reasonable. No, this was not another $25 fan as was my first one.

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Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:08 am

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How about this? Can we trust the date? I swear that I didn't just pencil it in. I would think this means J.W. bought this fan on June 15, 1915. Seems like good information to me.

There is no knob on top of the switch handle as your fan has Evan.

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Evan Atkinson
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:51 am

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That original de-lacquerized blade gives it what I call "character" :up:

. Do like those curly-cue motor wires going from the brushes to the coils - I'll probably re-wire mine to be identical. Yes, I see that square ball joint - very interesting! I'll bet mine doesn't do the same thing. I'll examine it and give a report back.

Well, now I know where to pinstripe mine. I can faintly tell lines on my motor, but there is almost no trace.

I notice another difference. The cage of your 16", along with being 6-wire instead of 10, has the curve in the bottom, that is shown in the image Steve posted.

This makes me wonder further about my cage! Looks like your switch lever would have originally had a knob Steve - is there remnants of one, or a spot for a knob to attach?

I'll buy your story on the penciled-in date. Seems logical to me.

Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 12:52 am by Evan Atkinson

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 01:01 am

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No evidence of any of my Fidelitys ever having a knob on the switch lever although the oscillator lever seems to have been shortened or broken/worn off at its end.

Here's a switch on a later (ser. # 106332 I think- hard to read) 12" squiggle cage Fidelity. See the patent date? No signs of this fan ever having a switch knob either.

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9740_12.JPG.jpg

Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 01:07 am by Steve Stephens

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 01:09 am

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But here, on this early fan, is a knob.

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Evan Atkinson
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 01:13 am

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Love the base on that one Steve. Just beautiful.

Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 01:14 am by Evan Atkinson

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 01:56 am

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Evan, I love that base too. I don't know the serial number on it but the one I posted above that looks even earlier is Ser. # 29586. Not terribly far from yours.

Russ Huber
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 02:51 am

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Steve Stephens wrote: Evan, I love that base too. I don't know the serial number on it but the one I posted above that looks even earlier is Ser. # 29586. Not terribly far from yours.

Hey Steveo, The Fidelity with the early ribbed base you and Evan want to sleep with has a "T" handle yoke motor snug. Yours or Evan's have a thumb screw. I betcha that brass "T" handle has a lower serial than the the thumby screw.

Hey check out the cage on the old photo from Nicholas on the "Fan Photo" post. I am 99.9 % those are early ribbed Fidelitys. Did ya check out the cages on em? I'm tellin you dudes...... Fideltity got way bored with the same cage!

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 04:03 am

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My eyes aren't that good to make out what make of fans those are. But, being in Lancaster, PA, there sure is a good chance of them being Fidelitys. The given date of c.1915 seems too new. The place looks ancient. Look at those typewriters too.

Evan, here's some more help in photos for you and your fan. Look at the cage; it's the same as yours. Look at the switch handle knob; ditto. This was an ebay fan a few weeks ago.

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$788ns 7:08.JPG

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 04:03 am

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Oscillator details

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Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 04:04 am

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More osc. details

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Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 04:04 am

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Motor tag

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Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 04:04 am

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switch

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Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 04:05 am

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side view
Note the BRASS struts that must have been used on the earlier Fidelitys as most seem to be made of steel.

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Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 04:06 am by Steve Stephens

Evan Atkinson
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 07:54 am

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That's a sweet oscillator. A difference in the cage though: it is a 10-wire but has the reverse-curve in the bottom which mine does not.

Is that the one that Carlton picked up at FF? Can't be that many 16" Fidelity oscillators of that vintage around...

Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 07:54 am by Evan Atkinson

Steve Stephens
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Posted: Sat Aug 16th, 2008 03:21 pm

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Evan Atkinson wrote:

Is that the one that Carlton picked up at FF? Can't be that many 16" Fidelity oscillators of that vintage around...No, it's an ebay offering from last month.

I'm off for a few days 'cruise' aboard the San Diego Maritime Museum's "Californian" (why couldn't she be named "Fidelity"?). See you later in the week. I hope the fans blow strong to keep our sails filled. This kind of sailing will be new to me. Most of my family will be aboard.

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2008-07-28_2764_ mock-2.jpg

Last edited on Sat Aug 16th, 2008 04:11 pm by Steve Stephens

Stefan Osdene
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Posted: Mon Aug 18th, 2008 08:59 pm

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As per Evan's request, here are a few photos of the Fidelity fans in my collection. Steve Stephens already posted a few images of several of the Fidelities I own (i.e. the ribbed base model without blade and cage, the original 12" ribbed base, and the 16" with the squiggly cage pattern). I hope you enjoy these additional images.

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Three Fidelities.JPG