Sunday, July 24, 2011

Update Vintage 1953 Table Fan

I have always been so addicted to vintage electric fans... My love affair started many yrs. ago in H.S. I've collected many and I've sold many more on CL. This is one of 3 that I've been holding on to but after some research since the metal fan craze is being reignited, I decided to update it.

This is how my 1953 Knapp Monarch Jack Frost 10" Desk Fan looks after sitting in my basement for over 10 yrs. I found it in an old condemned farm house in Mt. Pleasant after graduating from H.S. (oh the things I've done for the love of vintage).


After many trips to RH, PB and Target I thought it time to start working on my VERY old pieces. So, little by little they're finding their way out of their hiding spot. 

Here's the one from RH that drew my attention. Allaire Desk Fan Brushed Nickel
Retails for $99-$149 OUCH! *crossed eyes*


I took it apart, taking pictures along the way so, if I didn't remember where all the screws go I'd still have a reference "a picture is worth a thousand words". 


I couldn't remove the blades for some reason and so I wrapped it up in a grocery bag since I wanted to keep them "original" anyways. 

I taped all the metal functioning parts w/ Green Frog tape. Can you see some green on the cord? 

 I sprayed. Let dry. VOILA!!

Before and After


What do you think? Maybe next time I should paint the blades too. I've seen the blades in BLACK and the fan SILVER. Or maybe I can paint the fan BLACK w/ WHITE blades? I think that's all I can bring myself to do since I'm not a fan of bright colors, been there done that. I'm in LOURVE w/ earth tones. BROWNS, MUSTARD, GREEN, WHITE etc. 


  
Have you ever re-done a vintage fan before? will you walk away form one now?

~Rosanna



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18 comments:

Marlee said...

I never have redone a vintage fan, and I love anything vintage, so this is awesome! Great blog, I'm a new follower!

http://marleeindebt.blogspot.com/

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Hello! I'm visiting from Thrifty Treasures. I am looking for a vintage fan to use on my porch. Thanks for posting this because I may need to paint one when I find it.

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

Are you from Mt. Pleasant, SC? We lived there for about 15 years. I taught school there before I retired.

Delaney said...

Loving the silver! Cute!
http://sweetteaserendipity.blogspot.com

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Very cute and mod. I have a couple of old fans. One is blue and one is turquoise. Haven't tired of them looking primitive yet. Smart idea to take pics along the way to help put it back together. Always easier to take apart than put back. Hopped over from 'Show off your Cottage". I am a new follower.

Unknown said...

great job. i love seeing different pieces redone that i wouldnt have thought of doing.. i bought 2 of those vintage fans at target at the end of the year for 15 dollars apiece i should have bought a few more as gifts im going to keep an eye out this year for them to go on clearance.

Unknown said...

I love old fans you did a great job with this one

Unknown said...

Thanks for all feedback. Even though I love the new paint on it, I'll be keeping the other ones "old". Cause I love that too... =D

Anonymous said...

Love your fan. Beautifully painted.

~Beth

Elle and Lou said...

I have a beautiful old fan of my Nan's, there is something about them that catches my aesthetic eye. Great work.

Honey at 2805 said...

Terrific redo on the fan. I was certainly impressed when I saw it all taken apart and then put back together again.

Hope you will please drop by and enter my $50 Overstock.com Gift Card Giveaway!! If there are 500entries, the amount will increase the Gift Card to $100.

Unknown said...

I'm so happy that so many love this little project. It's so easy. Next time I'll go bolder (I promise) since I need to explore other colors again besides cream, beige, white and browns... LOL
I will make sure to stop by yours and enter for the $50 O.com gift card WHOOOPEEE

bec @ smallbirdie.com said...

oh i love this!! thanks for sharing!!

Jen said...

Jen:
Great tute. I have a not quite so vintage fan (the base is ugly gray and beige plastic) but the blades and buttons are blue!!! It's totally functional but the fan cover is a bit rusty and I had no idea what to do with it to fix it up. Thanks for the step by step, I'm going to add it to my spray paint afternoon list of projects (gotta wait for it to stop raining, can't spray paint inside with a toddler). Now I'm excited. Thanks so much.

Unknown said...

I have one in my basement right now that I rescued from my daughter's barn. It is a little rough around the edges, but I may give it a go, and give it back to her. She'd love it!

Anonymous said...

I love this. I'm holding on to a 1940's Mathis Cooler box fan in wood case. trying to figure out how to redo. Thanks for inspiring me!New follower from the Wandering Wednesday Blog Hop. Hope you can hop on over to http://picklejarsandpears.blogspot.com

Korrie@RedHenHome said...

I would *love* to makeover an old fan! Yours is amazing.

My Creatively Vintage Life said...

Awesome Fan Redo. I love them old and rusty, but I also love the way yours turned out! found you from a blog hop and am now a new follower!