On this day in 1889 the patent for the Electric Motor Fan was granted. U.S. Patent No. 414,758.
The Electric Motor Fan was invented by Philip Diehl, of Elizabeth, New Jersey. This patent application was granted on November 12, 1889 as U.S. Patent No. 414,758.
Mr. Diehl’s invention has for its object to provide an electric motor which may be cheaply constructed and which is more particularly intended for running a rotary fan, the parts of the motor being so arranged that they can be conveniently assembled or taken apart. Mr. Diehl also constructed and arranged the parts of the device constituting the complete electric fan that the fan proper may be at a desired height of the ceiling from which it is to be suspended and at the same time have the fan-carrying shaft so short that it will have but little weight.
This invention, as we know, can be a life saver on those unbearably hot days but back when Mr. Diehl invented the Electric Motor Fan it wasn’t used in homes. The electricity in homes was very expensive and used for lighting so fans were typically used in factories, hotels and restaurants to keep the workers cool. Around the 1920’s is when fans started being introduced into homes, but not just anyone could afford a fan, they were seen mostly in the houses of the wealthy.
The Great Depression did not do the fan industry any favors either. It wasn’t until World War II that fans started making their way into the homes of everyday people. With the war going on people were working overtime and could now afford the electricity needed to run the fan.
Fans started to lose their popularity in homes when central air conditioning came around but they eventually made a steady comeback. People want fans in their houses now so they can save on their energy bills. Running a fan is less expensive than running the air conditioner and they are very affordable.
