For many Americans, summer is the best time of year. A time to shed the flannel, throw open the windows, fire up the grill, and start focusing on road trips, snow cones, water slides, outdoor festivals, all while meeting a serious challenge – staying cool.
In many parts of the country—especially the South—summer heat can be too much of a good thing, with temperatures regularly climbing into the triple digits. That’s why roughly 90% of U.S. households reported some form of air conditioning in 2020—from central air systems (making movie theatres a great place to chill), to window units, and portable ACs.
Without some way to move the hot, stagnant air, life—in many parts of the country—can feel unbearable, even be unbearable, and become deadly.
painting by Alexandre Cabanel
So how did our fellow Americans manage to beat the heat before the invention of air conditioning?
“Back in the day, staying cool was definitely a family affair,” recalls Jon Winter, octogenarian, and co-founder. “I remember hearing about going down to the cellar for a big block of ice, cut from last year’s freeze. They’d set it in the middle of the parlor, gather in a circle, and start frantically waving hand fans—trying to blow cool air off the ice and around the room.”
Hand fans themselves go back thousands of years, with origins tracing as far back as ancient Egypt; with some featuring images of Cleopatra being fanned with huge feathers and palm leaves.
“The principle behind the fan is simple,” explains John Jenkins, president & CEO. “Moving air over your skin, evaporates the sweat, and draws heat from your body, making you feel cooler.” It’s thermodynamics.”
Then, after centuries of technical evolution, came the Dawn of the Electrical Revolution.
On September 4, 1882, electricity officially began to flow into American homes for the first time. Thomas Alva Edison flipped the switch at the Pearl Street Station in Lower Manhattan, lighting up four hundred electric lamps for eighty-two lucky customers—and changing domestic life forever.
“Electricity was originally just for light,” says Winter. “But other inventors quickly jumped on the bandwagon.”
Among them was Schuyler Skaats Wheeler, an electrical engineer who, in the 1880s, mounted a twin-blade propeller onto one of Edison’s DC motors—creating the world’s first electric fan. “A lot of people think Edison invented it,” says Winter. “But it was Dr. Wheeler who used Edison’s motor to spin air.”
“The copper windings created a magnetic field,” adds Jenkins, “which spun the rotor and turned the brass blades—pushing air forward.”
“Those early fans were effective but dangerous.” says Charlie Bryan, director of operations. “The wiring was exposed, and the blades didn’t have a protective cage or shield, making it a nightmare, especially around kids and pets.”
Circa 1885, the Edison Manufacturing Company began producing their own line of electric fans.
“These early models were relatively expensive,” says Winter. “And since most people didn’t have electricity in their home or office yet, they were for wealthier Americans.”
That would soon change. As electricity become more available, companies like General Electric, Westinghouse, and Emerson began mass-producing safer, more affordable versions for everyday Americans, including overhead fans, box fans, and even fans without blades.
Today’s electric fans are cooling off more people than ever before; light, powerful, and pretty much everywhere, the electric fan has remained one of the top five home appliances in the United States, if not the world. Many originals are on display in the Museum’s galleries.
“It has been over a hundred years, and these inventions are more popular than ever,” says Winter, waving at the displays. “It’s hard to imagine life without our fans, toasters, or even prostate warmers.”
“I remember as a kid seeing the first electric prostate warmer,” remembers Winter. “After all this time they still sell them, which astounds me.”
Stay grounded.