The simple ceiling fan, that underappreciated 4-6 bladed thingamajig hanging from the ceiling.

The ceiling fan, probably one of the most underappreciated things in our homes. When I was a kid we did not have air conditioning or ceiling fans for that matter and I cannot remember anyone we knew who did. There may have been a window unit here and there but not many and I do not remember any central air systems. We had to leave windows open and in most cases we had these little fans in frames that slide open and closed to adjust to the size of the window it was being installed in.


The ones we had looked nothing like this sleek and clean looking model, ours were usually green (I do not know why I remember that), rusty, very noisy and butt ugly when compared to this model. The noise eventually fatigued our auditory system and that allowed us to sleep with what was basically a plane engine whirling in the window only a few feet away. As far as the amount of air that was moved by these somewhat worthless contraptions, it was minimal and once more than a foot or two away the thing the effect was essentially none existent.

So we also had these black fans that oscillated back and forth, now those things would move the air around, hot as it was at least it was moving. Looking back I am amazed that these things ever made it to market, the decorative grill that protected folks from the spinning blades, run by an extremely powerful electric motor were worthless when it came to protect peoples fingers. The most amazing part was that you, as a kid, could literally get your whole hand past the grill into the blades, and we still have most of our fingers – whodathunkit? I mean look at this thing.


I remember one time, as a kid, getting my hand in there and getting the skin tore off all my knuckles and having the blood and skin flung around the room by what I would learn later in life was an outstanding example of centrifugal force. Mainly because my hand was evidently not enough to trip the overload circuitry and turn this death machine off with some sort of electric brake similar to the ones on the newer circular saws. Oh, that is right, this thing would not stop, no safety measures what so ever. Looking back, we should have sued the manufacturer.


So now a day there a probably not a lot of fans like the black one, the window fans are still available and ceiling fans seem as prevalent today as running water, at least here in Florida. So we also have air conditioning throughout the house with one unit performing the tasks of cooling and the occasionally needed heat. We replaced our AC unit a couple of years ago and the computer controlled monstrosity caused me to ask about a 10 year parts and labor warrantee, which more than paid for itself when the computer controller board gave up a couple of months ago. We also have 5 ceiling fans installed in our house and that, even in summer, allows us to keep the AC temperature a bit higher and the costs of running the fans is quite a bit lower than the electricity needed to run the AC colder. All the ones installed now are Hunter brand, we have tried the lesser models but the Hunter ceiling fans have no rival, in my humble opinion. We have the 5 blade 52 inch models in plain white.

They have MANY, MANY model available from sleek retro looking things with only three blades to the antique looking brass models and even industrial looking ones for the home. They seem to range in size from as small as 22” to 60” and range in price from 19 bucks to ridiculously expense. All the ones we have cost right in the neighborhood of 100 bucks. Once properly installed they require very little maintenance really, as long as you routinely clean the dust off and occasionally tighten the blades they will provide you with years of service. Maybe not as many years as the bullet proof old black monster pictured above but they made that before the days of built in obsolescence .

And that, my friends, is all I have to say about fans.