Hi Ryan,
You have a nice 1911-12 model GE "Big Motor Yoke" fan and it's definitely worth doing some work or cleaning to make it usable. I hope you don't "repurpose" it but do use it for its intended purpose; cooling and making nice breezes. These are well made, heavy duty fans that will far outlast you and the junk fans from China that you can buy today for a 20 dollar bill. They are fully usable for extended use with no problems once you have good wiring on it. The power cord should be very easy to change if needed; the head wire from base to motor will take some skill but it's not out of the realm of doing yourself.
More information and tips on repair or restoration can be found on the Antique Fan Collectors site and forum at
http://www.fancollectors.orgMany of the AFCA members run early fans 24/7 year around. Properly lubricated (20 wt. non-detergent oil) they can last many generations with wiring that has been checked and found to be good.
GE's "pancake" fans are the ones that preceded the Big Motor Yoke (there was a Small Motor Yoke model that followed the BMY) and are characterized by having a large diameter but thin motor. Pancakes from 1894 through 1907 are great fans and highly treasured. The BMY was made from 1908-1912 (1913 for the 16" model).
Attached are two very early fans that I run now and then for fun and they run every bit as well as any fan ever made. The are quiet and smooth and run very cool. Due to their rarity I do not run all the time plus the lack of a guard makes them a bit of a hazard on my kitchen counter where I might come into contact with the blade. The one with a light bulb (for resistance and speed control) is an 1890 C&C which was the world's first "mains" fan (for house current, 100 volts DC) and the other is an 1892 Crocker Wheeler. There really is no reason these fans can't be used for daily runners if they were out of the way of one's body and pets.
Steve
www.earlyfans.com
