Gorgeous art deco fan is a missed branding opportunity

fitzgerald_fan.jpgIt seems every gadget maker who springs for a dash of art deco ornamentation naturally calls it the Fitzgerald or the Gatsby. Thanks to the enforced appreciation of The Great Gatsby in our literacy programs, that's practically the only reference to the 1920's seeped into the national consciousness. It's tiresome.

So here we have the gorgeous Fitzgerald Art Deco Fan, and all I see is a lost opportunity. As gorgeous as this fan is, I'm not likely to pay $270 for one over investing in another air conditioner. But what if they'd been more original with the name? Say, evoking the spirit of art deco with another artist's surname, this time Metropolis' sublime effects expert Eugen Schüfftan? Rechristen this the Schüfffan and the pun alone would get my sale.

"Fitzgerald" Desk/Wall Fan [Horchow via DVICE]


Discussion

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#1 posted by Anonymous , May 20, 2008 6:03 AM

"Thanks to the enforced appreciation of The Great Gatsby in our literacy programs, that's practically the only reference to the 1920's seeped into the national consciousness. It's tiresome."

Could be worse. How'bout "Ku Klux Klan Revival" or
"Capone" or "Prohibition" or "Great Depression"?

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Or "The Bioshock"...?

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or The Batman

Batfan

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You can tell that it's not vintage because there's no practical way to jam your hand into the spinning blades. Where's the thrill without the danger?

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#5 posted by franko , May 20, 2008 12:21 PM

suh-weet. and while you're dropping the coin on that fan, you can buy this deco-styled tea kettle for about the same amount. it's been continuously produced in the UK since the 1940s. don't expect it to whistle, though: http://tinyurl.com/3ugpdy.

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#6 posted by Moon , May 20, 2008 12:26 PM

No "STEAMPUNK" category listing?? This is more steampunk than most of the actual STEAMPUNK listings!

Hahahahhaha! STEAMPUNK!

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No steam, Moon. But DECOPUNK(r). You read it first here!

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#9 posted by acb Author Profile Page, May 20, 2008 1:52 PM

Is it available in 220V, for Eurasian/Australian use?

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#10 posted by Antinous , May 20, 2008 3:15 PM

Just, please, please, please, don't leave it running in your bedroom at night. Or you will die.

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#11 posted by Anonymous , May 20, 2008 3:33 PM

I would call it the Lovecrafti-fan

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I like this fan. Its a pretty good copy of an actual fan from the 1930's. The original was made by the Robbins & Myers Company.

http://members.core.com/~bbbubba/R&MPeacock.jpg

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#13 posted by Jeff , May 21, 2008 6:20 AM

Antinous, you crack me up. Antique fans scare the shit out me. How many kids lost fingers before they figured it out? Didn't the Waltons have a fan like this, in the front room? They were a very hip family.

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#14 posted by Petrodon , May 21, 2008 7:01 AM

This isn't a Horchow fan, it's made by a company called Fanimation, http://www.fanimation.com/
And if you like Steampunk this is the place to buy Ceiling and Stand Fans.

Check out the "Fargo" and the "Old Havana". Also especially awesome is the Bourbon Street line, you may recognize them as the Dave and Buster's old time belt driven fans.

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