Rex Cole
Antique Electric Fan
12" Hassock Fan
Antique Electric Fan Specs
| |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Rex Cole |
| Model | 12A |
| Size | 12" |
| Housing | Aluminum |
| Cage | Aluminum |
| Blade | Aluminum |
| Wings | 3 |
| Switch | Toggle |
| Speeds | 1 |
| Mode | Stationary |
| Type | Hassock |
| Year | 1950s |
Hassock fans are also known as footstool fans, or no-draft fans. These fans are not highly sought after by the typical collector. I believe that the hassock fan was born out of functionality rather than necessity. Fans that were pre-1930s were very much a machine. Often cast and heavy, and there was no disguising their purpose of cooling a room. The hassock fan boasted circulation in a room without blowing air directly in your face. It was disguised as a footstool, and the machine was more likely to blend in with the living room decor.
Popular hassock brands (in my section of the country) tend to be Emerson. I don't come across a Rex Cole hassock fan very often, so I purchased this fan off eBay from the east coast. I was more drawn to this hassock design because of the vertical slots on the housing, and the height of it. It is a bit taller than other hassocks that I have encountered at 15".
It arrived well packaged, which is shocking for those of us that have purchased fans from eBay that are non-collectors. Of course, it arrived with the normal dust, dirt, grime, and dry-rotted electrical cord and grommets.
It wasn't until it arrived that I realized that the housing was aluminum, and not steel. This didn't change my feelings toward the fan, I was just surprised by the material and how light weight it was. Some fans you purchase for functionality, some you buy for looks. This was definitely the latter of the two. I was surprised by the aluminum top because I didn't think it would stand up to the abuse of being a footstool.
I decided that I wanted to keep this fan, but I wasn't set on the soft green paint color. Since the blade is aluminum and could be polished to a shine, I wanted a color to sharply contrast the blade. Since the material is aluminum, I was a little concerned with how the housing would clean up during the sand-blasting preparation process. Too much pressure or heat from the sandblasting can warp the aluminum. So, I chose leave it to the experts and invest in powder coating this fan. I used Metal Prep Services in Rockford, Illinois. I chose the black diamond powder that would leave a more textured surface to help cover any potential flaws in the surface. I dig the hyper-masculine look of the black finish contrasting with the raw metal. It turned out beautifully!