This is a wonderful 1936 General Electric "Quiet Fan" in pristine condition. This fan was very unique in the mid-1930s because of the blades which are fully overlapping. You can see this in the video before the fan starts. These "Quiet Blades" were a new innovation at General Electric. The overlapping feature of the blades gave the fan an unusually quiet operation compared to standard fans, which used noisier windmill-type blades. The Quiet Fan came in several sizes; smaller units had 3 blades but this 16" model has 4 blades. It was the most powerful of GE's Quiet Fans, with an impressive maximum velocity of 1700 feet per minute. The fan oscillates fluidly and has an arc of 80 degrees, as the video displays. The guard is made of steel wire, with eight S-shaped spokes. Original GE fans like this one had a round, flat base made of colored felt, which would deteriorate over time. Instead, this unit has rubber grommets (visible in the video) which give the fan a very polished look and are far more durable. The Quiet Fan was designed and built in an era well before the widespread use of plastic in manufacturing; this unit is all metal. A favorite of many vintage fan collectors, the GE Quiet Fan has large shiny blades and a beautiful powder-coated gloss black finish, giving it a stunning appearance. The Quiet Fan's sound is vintage with the characteristic hum of metal blades, yet very airy and buttery smooth. It emits an unobtrusive but powerful bass hum that complements the sound of spinning blades and rushing air. Like many older metal fans, especially pre-World War 2 units, the GE Quiet Fan was so solid and well built that it still works perfectly today, 85 years after it was made.

On the desk is my favorite vintage clock, the Telechron model 711, produced between 1931 and 1936. With a clear white face, silver dura-steel case, and art deco geometry, the clock has a timeless appeal. The red dot on the clock comes on after a power outage or anytime you unplug the unit. I chose not to reset the dot for this video (it resets to white), just to give the clock face some contrast. The 711 plugs into a wall outlet and is fully mechanical, it is not quartz. In fact, the first quartz clock had only been invented in 1927, and clocks with electronic oscillators using quartz crystals were not in widespread use until the 1960s. Like the fan, this 90-year-old clock runs perfectly. The Telechron 711 is nearly silent and feels just slightly warm to the touch.

The aircraft is an Alaska Airlines Beechcraft Model 18, a twin-engine plane that began production in 1937. This is a nicely detailed and painted metal model, of which only 750 were made. The Quiet Fan's sound is reminiscent of old radial engines like those of the Model 18. When I listen to these fans I am always reminded of an earlier era of flying, when propeller-driven piston engines were heard soaring through the sky.

Outside the open window, it is a peaceful, fog-free, and breezy early evening in the neighborhood of Telegraph Hill just north of Coit Tower, in San Francisco. Pink and purple hues of light reflect softly off the Victorian houses and radiate into the room, bringing you a small taste of the mellow and weightless beauty of a California sunset.

I used 5 professional microphones to capture the sound of the Quiet Fan. Two microphones on the left and right captured the width of the oscillation in stereo. A binaural microphone (which mimics human hearing) was used to record from the front, capturing the rush of the incoming air and oscillation from that perspective. A separate dynamic mic recorded the engine rumble in fine detail. I believe this combination provides a highly realistic listening experience - this recording is what the fan sounds like as if you were in the room. If you listen with headphones or speakers you can almost feel the fan blowing on your face!

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Notes:

• Adjust volume to your comfort level
• White noise helps with insomnia, stress, tinnitus, helping to put your baby to sleep, studying, and a bunch of other things. White noise can really make your life a little better!
• Listen anytime you need to!
• Breath deeply and just let go, enjoy yourself!

I love white noise and hope that you do too. It is my passion to share this experience with people.

More high-quality white noise videos will be coming so that you will have different types of sounds to choose from and different audio experiences.

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