Object Lesson
Whoosh, There It Is: The summer of 1886 was a hot one, and the Manhattan office of C. & C. Electric Motor Co. was abuzz with something refreshingly cool-the first electric table fan. Dr. Schuyler Skaats Wheeler, a Thomas Edison protégé, built the workbench fan by attaching a two-blade propeller to a small motor, thus revolutionizing personal cooling forever.
Display a flock of fans atop a bookcase or kitchen cabinets.
Fan Craze: The 1910s heralded the Golden Age of fan design. Necessity was the mother of invention during these years as Americans relied solely on fans to keep cool. Engineers like Philip Diehl and George Westinghouse worked hard to perfect their designs made of heavy cast-iron and brass blades. Protective metal cages came soon after.
Country Cred: The new electric fans weren't just for cooling rooms. Farmers also installed them in livestock houses to keep cattle comfortable and avoid dangerous heat stress.
This story is from the August 2022 edition of Country Living.
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This story is from the August 2022 edition of Country Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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