The first unique ceiling fans made their appearance in upstate New York in 1886 and were the invention of John Hunter and his son James. Of course they were not powered by an electric motor but instead used a stream of water along with a turbine which, in turn, through a series of belts powered the two blade fan. This water turbine system was capable of powering several fans which made them popular in larger areas such as restaurants, retail stores, and offices. Some of these original fans can still be seen today in parts of the Southern United States.
The company that was originally founded by John and James Hunter has grown over the years to be one of the foremost manufactures of ceiling fans and ship their products to countries around the world.
The first fan powered by an electric motor was invented by Phillip Diehl in 1882. Diehl had designed a motor for Singer sewing machines and redesigned it so it would work with a ceiling fan. The incorporation of a self-contained electric motor eliminated the need for the water turbine system. Ceiling fans proved to be very popular and, as a result, spawned some serious competition. To give himself an edge, Diehl created a light kit for his fans so they now served two purposes.
By 1917 most fans were made with four blades instead of two which not only made them quieter but they were able to move more air.
By the 1920s the popularity of these fans had spread throughout the United States and even began appearing in other counties but in the period from the Great Depression (1930) until the 1950s they all but vanished from the American scene. Those that remained where seen as more of a curiosity than anything else.
However, during this period, ceiling fans became even more popular overseas particularly in warm weather countries. Many of these countries did not have a developed infrastructure which would support air conditioning so the use of ceiling fans was an effective way to provide some cooling.
Then in the 1960s fans began being imported into the U.S. Market. They were slow to gain acceptance but their popularity gained immeasurably in the 1970 energy crisis as they required much less electric power than air conditioning.
This revival prodded an awaking of the dormant U.S. manufactures and prompted the founding of a new company in 1974 called The Casablanca Fan Company. Other companies that increased production included the Hunter Fan Company, Emerson Electric, and Lasko.
Throughout the 1970s and into the late 1980s, the demand for ceiling fans remained constant. Newer companies jumped on the bandwagon but many did not survive.
Then during the 1980s the fan market changed dramatically. Fans manufactured in the United States were selling from $100 to $250 for just the stripped down models, while the most elaborate imported fans were going for a mere $85.
In the early 1990s the cost of air conditioning began to drop steadily and concurrently the sales of ceiling fans dropped as well. Along with the declining sales there was a decline in research and development in the U.S. and many features were eliminated to keep costs low. Features that were once standard such as variable speed and reversible motors were no longer available as were the solid wood blades, high-quality stator/rotor motors, and die-cast steel construction.
Beginning in 2000 manufacturers realized that if they were to compete successfully they would have to take a different approach on how to sell their wares. As a result they began creating fans that were not only functional but also provided an aesthetic enhancement to the living space where they were installed. This included variations in the blade design which the owner could change without having to replace the whole unit as well different lighting configurations including up lighting, down lighting or a combination of both. Unique ceiling fans have now evolved as a part of the decor just as any piece of furniture and have gained new life beyond their original purpose.
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