General Electric W13 3 Speed Electrically Reversible 3-Blade Metal Box Fan

A blue General Electric 3-speed electrically reversible metal box fan from the early 1960s, model W13.

[@carried1676]

I'd ❤️ a retro metal box fan like this. So much better than the cheap plastic models they make today.

[@JordanU]

True.

[@colin_5839]

Nice! Fan's with a story are always great! I have had a couple of these metal balded GE fans across the years... none of them ran quite right so consequently I haven't really gotten into them that much. All of the GE table fans and the plastic bladed box fans from the 60's however, all seem to run really well and I quite like them. I believe these metal bladed GE fans were from the 50's not the 60's. If they are from the 60's, it would have to be very early 60's as my plastic bladed W22 is from 1966 and I believe it is one of the later ones. Back then you could get a permanently lubricated fan and actually have it last for more than 2 months! Imagine that!? Also, most of these GE fans I have seen are pretty rust free! They seemed to like the really thin cords on these things and I think that's why many of the cords failed. The plug on yours is not original, I've seen several of these fans with replacement plugs as well so I think that was another crappy design... I think your bearings were a bit stiff... that took way too long to spin up and 4 amps sounds pretty high for one of these if I'm remembering correctly. Looks like this thing needs some love but after that it should be a nice piece!

[@coled5090]

It's the Blue Spruce color which ran 1960-64. In 1965 they made this metal blade version but in the beige color for one year. Then in 1966 they went to the plastic blades blades, then about 1969/70 they had the smaller housing with the clip grille mounts. And after about 1972/73 GE stopped making fans at the CT plant. Prior in the mid to late 50s they had the rounded side models with the frost gray color paint.

[@JordanU]

This has never been lubricated since it was made. 70 years later, it takes some time to warm up but can still run at full speed. There's a lot to be said about the quality of these fans. It severely needs to be re-lubricated and balanced, both of which will happen before it is put into service. I happen to have access to the former GE headquarters building in CT. I'm not sure if that's the same area where the plant was or not. I've never gone to explore the depths of the building but I have to wonder if there are any of these box fans floating around in there. There are still a few older GE air conditioners in a few of the walls, but I haven't seen much beyond that.

[@coled5090]

@@JordanU The GE production plant was on 1285 Boston Avenue in Bridgeport CT, it was a huge structure that went on for acres and acres. Unfortunately it was demolished a couple of years ago. That blue spruce color was used 1960-64, so it's in that time frame.

[@SamZarifYT]

I can only dream of getting one of those old GE box fans.

[@JordanU]

These aren't that scarce yet, you should be able to find one.

[@SamZarifYT]

@@JordanU Hope so, I’ve been searching for a while for one. So far the closest thing to a GE box fan was a GE vortex table fan.

[@Xyspade]

Thanks for the request the Jordan! Model W13. Yep that's pretty much how my almond colored one ran until I fixed it. I noticed there was a balance weight glued into the inside of the hub on mine, and another glob of epoxy in a different spot but no weight attached to that one; so perhaps the weight fell out over time and threw it off because I find it hard to believe it would leave the factory like that. It does look the correct shade of blue now in the new caaaaaaammmera.

[@JordanU]

Thanks for letting me know about the model, I have updated the title and description that nobody reads. It's possible there were weights added, I'll have to remove the blade and check.

[@fordmuscleluis9710]

Awesome video bro on the 60s era General electric box fan I love that start-up sound from the motor also the blades spins counterclockwise not a bad fan considering it's perfect condition for it's age I can't wait for the project video

[@JordanU]

Thanks.

[@Sonic_X_Freddy_Lover001]

I think in my opinion that older fan and HVAC products are better than today's because of how the older ones have more design put into them whereas some of the newer ones don't have as much design put into them. And not to mention, but the older models seem to last longer and are better quality than most of the newer models out there. This fan here exemplifies just that.

[@JordanU]

I agree.

[@davidzeringuethefanman6292]

I really enjoyed the video

[@JordanU]

Thanks for letting me know.

[@GrandTheft60116]

I like vintage fans

[@JordanU]

OK

[@austinwilliamson2920]

Very well made fan you sure don’t get this kind of quality anymore

[@JordanU]

True.

[@generalelectricmotor9084]

I wish I had one like that

[@JordanU]

You should be able to find one without too much effort, these aren't that scarce yet.

[@versedbridge4007]

Sounds like an old washing machine taking off on spin! I'd love to find one of those.

[@JordanU]

These aren't too scarce yet, you still have a good chance at finding one.

[@versedbridge4007]

@@JordanU I live in the south and it seems like the only fans you see are the cheap modern plastic fans in the thrift stores

[@WednesdayandStrangerThingsfan]

Good video

[@JordanU]

Thanks.

[@TheAirConditionerGuy]

Makes you wonder how a metal fan can get out of balance that badly, im sure it was dropped or something in the past. Every single one of these i have ever seen suffered from the slow start up and like you said, the worn cords! Still looking for one of these, there was one in my middle school back in philly. Not sure if its still there or not. There was also 1 3 speed white one and a 3 speed blue one both with 3 blades but were not reversible.

[@Xyspade]

It's a heavy steel blade, even just the slighest bit of extra weight will throw it off insanely. Good luck with finding one though!

[@JordanU]

I remember seeing the brown 2-speed plastic blade one in middle school. It was absolutely disgusting and rusted but it ran week after week. One day it disappeared and I was quite upset. I forget how much later, but it reappeared some time after, beautifully cleaned and repainted. I couldn't believe it!

[@TheAirConditionerGuy]

@@JordanU i love seeing restored pieces!!

[@Theutmostgeek]

Never knew GE made box fans in that style. I find it neat how its reversible. Im guessing this model was made to be used in a window too?

[@JordanU]

Correct.

[@scolopede]

I have similar GE box fans. The balance problem, I think it's that rubber piece they sandwiched on the front of the hub with three rivets. So it's kind of like a floating blade dampened by that rubber in front of the hub. I think they sit a long time and one side of that rubber ring gets more compressed than the other because of the weight of the blade and kind of warps like that over time. They prob thought that rubber thingy would make the fan quieter. Maybe drilling the rivets out, removing that rubber piece and reattaching without that rubber piece would fix the prob. Easier said than done haha.

[@JordanU]

I know the plastic ones have the rubber center, but I don't remember seeing it on the metal ones also.

[@scolopede]

@@JordanU It's right in front of the hub on the outside in plane sight but it's usually painted so it looks like it's metal and just part of the center hub. There's the outermost part where you see the end of the shaft, then you have the thick part that's about 1/4", then the flat metal part that's secured down with three rivets on the hub. That thick part that's about 1/4" is rubber. Push down on it with like your fingernail and you can tell, or with something metal like a screw driver.

[@djbrucebanner9882]

I like it

[@WednesdayandStrangerThingsfan]

Geese in house honk

[@Xyspade]

Geese near the window honk

[@fanshvacandmore14]

Geese in the pool honk

[@GrandTheft60116]

OK

[@JordanU]

OK

[@coolelectronics1759]

lol about the whole fan on the bus thing I bet you'd still be fine today just say its for a project or something Iv also gotten stuff from my school projectors, av equipment etc given to me. So not funny at all to me having the same habbet of taking home unwanted junk from school all the time too haha

[@mattdavala3790]

Oh those poor bearings.... Bearing... singular... I'm suprised that motor didn't burn out coming up to speed as its not rated to draw that much current. I think these old GE's draw 3.0 amps on high once its on speed.

[@JordanU]

The bearing will receive the care it needs. It would take a lot more than that to burn out one of these motors, these were tough fans.

[@FordTransitMan2008]

I WILL THROW TYLER ONIONS’S CAT INTO THAT

[@LemontHill]

LOL Wow bro this is even worse than the Air King 9212, 9214,9218, and 9220 high velocity fans lol worse then the 3733 lol or the fans of today but hopefully you will fix it soon lol i enjoyed the video but it does move a crapped load of air flow.

[@JordanU]

True this is just like the Air Queens because it's the same kind of blade made of heavy steel.

[@nategunning5698]

XD that needs lubrication XD

[@JordanU]

I know.

[@nategunning5698]

or it needs a new motor

[@JordanU]

It does not need a new motor.