Circa 1877 Shoo Fly – Fan Clockwork Wind Up, Victorian Era
$ 330.0
Description
Circa 1877 Shoo Fly – Fan Clockwork Wind Up, Victorian Era. The iron base is sturdy and has a nice small footprint for sitting amidst the dishes on the dining table. When fully extended, the fan’s ‘wingspan’ is a full four feet. It works like a clock just by turning the base it winds the shoo fly. This mechanical device was intended to sit on a table, gently rotating its blades and thus deterring flies. The height of the blades is adjustable, and they can be set parallel to the table or at an angle “when space is limited” (this is “an important advantage peculiar to this Fan only”). The iron base is sturdy and has a nice small footprint for sitting amidst the dishes on the dining table. When fully extended, the fan’s ‘wingspan’ is a full four feet. It works like a clock just by turning the base it winds the shoo fly. This example was made by the National Enameling and Stamping Company of Baltimore, sometime after 1893. The Shoo fly stands 36 inches tall when the blades are upright. The netting on this example has been replaced and please notice the photo with the red arrow that shows the area where there has been a repair. The fan works perfectly and is quite an interesting conversation piece. A popular Southern tool example during its time.
