Molly Ayala
The electric fan is a handy invention that has become a household staple, especially during hot summers. The first electric fan was invented by American electrical engineer Schuyler Skaats Wheeler in 1886. Wheeler, born in New York City in 1860, was an electrical engineer and manufacturer who specialized in power-saving electrical tools. He invented the electric fan by placing a two-bladed propeller on the shaft of an electric motor, and it was known as the buzz fan. Wheeler's invention paved the way for further innovations in air circulation and cooling, such as the ceiling fan and bladeless fans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Schuyler Skaats Wheeler |
| Birth Date | May 17, 1860 |
| Death Date | April 20, 1923 |
| Occupation | Electrical Engineer, Inventor, Manufacturer |
| Known For | Inventor of the electric fan, electric elevator design, and electric fire engine |
| Education | Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School |
| Work | Jablochkov Electric Lighting Company, United States Electric Lighting Company, Thomas A. Edison's engineering staff, Herzog Teleseme Company, C and C Electric Motor Company, Crocker-Wheeler Motor Company, Crocker-Wheeler Company |
| Awards | John Scott Medal for the invention of the electric fan (1904) |
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What You'll Learn
Schuyler Wheeler invented the electric fan in 1886
The electric fan was invented in 1886 by Schuyler Wheeler, an American electrical engineer and manufacturer. Born in New York City in 1860, Wheeler was educated at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School. He left college in 1881 following the death of his father and began working as an electrician. In 1882, Wheeler joined the United States Electric Lighting Company, where he worked on the development of incandescent light bulbs.
It was during this time that Wheeler began to recognise the potential of electricity, which would lead to his development of the electric fan. Wheeler's first electric fan had two blades, an open-wound motor, and required direct current (DC) power to operate. This early design was known as the "buzz fan". In addition to his work on electric fans, Wheeler also invented the electric fire engine and specialised in creating power-saving electrical tools.
Wheeler played a significant role in the early development of the electric motor industry. He was involved in training the blind for gainful employment in this industry and helped develop and implement a code of ethics for electrical engineers. Wheeler worked with several electrical engineering firms, including the C and C Electric Motor Company, where he served as the main technician and plant manager. He later founded the Crocker-Wheeler Motor Company of New York and the Crocker-Wheeler Company of New Jersey, serving as president of both firms.
Wheeler's contributions to the field of electrical engineering extended beyond his work on electric fans. He invented the use of the electric motor in connection with the Gatling gun, reducing the work of the operator to simply pressing a button. He also invented the paralleling of dynamos and series multiple motor control. Additionally, Wheeler devised an electrical voting device and was granted a patent for an "Electric Signaling Apparatus" in 1896. For his inventions, Wheeler was awarded the John Scott Medal by the Franklin Institute in 1904.
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Wheeler was an American electrical engineer
The electric fan was invented by Schuyler Skaats Wheeler, an American electrical engineer born in New York City on May 17, 1860. Wheeler was educated at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School. In 1881, upon his father's death, he left college and became an assistant electrician at the Jablochkov Electric Lighting Company. Two years later, he joined the United States Electric Lighting Company when Jablochkov's electric company went out of business.
Wheeler then joined the engineering staff of Thomas A. Edison and was part of the team that debuted the first incandescent light bulbs at the Pearl Street Station. He went on to manage the underground distribution system in Newburgh, New York, and was later in charge of implementing Edison's underground systems in other cities. Wheeler worked briefly as an electrician for the Herzog Teleseme Company between 1884 and 1885. In 1886, he co-founded the C and C Electric Motor Company with Charles G. Curtis and Francis B. Crocker, becoming their main technician and plant manager. Wheeler played a pivotal role in the development of electric motors and their application in machine tool drives.
During his career, Wheeler was associated with the electrical field for over thirty years and made significant contributions to the early development of the electric motor industry. He specialized in power-saving electrical tools and invented numerous devices, including the electric fan, an electric elevator, the electric fire engine, and an electrical voting device. Wheeler's innovations extended beyond cooling devices, as he also invented the use of the electric motor in connection with the Gatling gun, reducing the operator's workload to simply pressing a button. This was one of the earliest applications of electricity to machine guns.
Wheeler was also committed to ethical practices in his field. He helped develop and implement a code of ethics for electrical engineers and was recognised for his contributions, receiving the John Scott Medal from the Franklin Institute in 1904 for his invention of the electric fan.
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Wheeler also invented the electric fire engine
The electric fan was invented by Schuyler Skaats Wheeler, an American electrical engineer and manufacturer. Wheeler was born in New York City in 1860 and became an assistant electrician at the Jablochkov Electric Lighting Company in 1881. He then joined the United States Electric Lighting Company in 1883 and worked with Thomas A. Edison on the debut of the first incandescent light bulbs at Pearl Street Station. Wheeler also worked briefly for the Herzog Teleseme Company as an electrician from 1884 to 1885.
In 1886, Wheeler invented the electric fan, a small device with two brass blades powered by direct current. This invention earned him the John Scott Medal in 1904, awarded by the Franklin Institute. Wheeler's other notable inventions include the electric fire engine and an electric elevator design. He also played a role in developing the C and C Electric Motor Company and later founded the electrical engineering firms Crocker-Wheeler Motor Company and the Crocker-Wheeler Company, serving as president of both.
Wheeler's patent for his Electric Fire-engine System was filed on May 23, 1882, and officially approved by the United States Patent Office on February 24, 1885. This invention, along with his work on the electric fan and other electrical devices, solidified his place in the early development of the electric motor industry. Wheeler specialized in power-saving electrical tools, and his innovations helped pave the way for modern cooling and ventilation technologies.
In addition to his work on electric motors and power-saving tools, Wheeler was also involved in various other projects. He invented the use of the electric motor in connection with the Gatling gun, reducing the operator's workload to simply pressing a button. Wheeler also devised an electrical voting device for the Automobile Club of America, where he served as the first vice president and consulting engineer. This device allowed members to vote instantly by pressing a button from their chairs, streamlining the voting process and providing immediate results.
Schuyler Wheeler's contributions to the field of electrical engineering were significant and wide-ranging. Through his inventions, he improved ventilation, cooling, and voting technologies, earning him a notable place in the history of electrical engineering and American innovation.
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Fans have been used for millennia, including by the ancient Egyptians
The use of fans was also prevalent in China, where fans were made of woven bamboo and feathers. In the 8th century, the Japanese invented folding fans, possibly inspired by the way bats fold their wings. The heyday of the handheld fan was during China's Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644), when exquisitely painted fans were popular. The first electric fan was invented in 1882 by Schuyler Wheeler, an American electrical engineer. Wheeler's electric fan paved the way for the invention of the ceiling fan, and modern fans still follow the same basic concepts that he developed.
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The first electric fan had two blades and was dangerous
The electric fan was invented in 1882 by Schuyler Wheeler, an American electrical engineer and manufacturer. Wheeler invented many electrical devices, specialising in power-saving electrical tools. The first electric fan he developed had two blades, used an extremely dangerous open-wound motor, and required direct current (DC) power to operate. This initial design, known as the "buzz fan", earned Wheeler the John Scott Medal in 1904.
Wheeler's electric fan was a significant technological breakthrough, paving the way for the invention of the ceiling fan. Even today, modern fans still largely follow the same concepts that Wheeler developed.
Wheeler's invention was not the first attempt at a mechanical fan, however. The Chinese Han dynasty inventor Ting Huan created a rotary fan in around 180 AD, employing seven wheels, each 10 feet in diameter, to cool entire halls. Later rotary fans were also used for winnowing grain and ventilating mine shafts.
Wheeler himself was involved in several other pioneering electrical engineering firms, including the C and C Electric Motor Company, which he helped establish in 1886. He also worked with Thomas A. Edison on the debut of the first incandescent light bulbs at the Pearl Street Station. Wheeler was also the first to use electricity for instantaneous voting, allowing club members to vote by simply pressing a button from their chairs.
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Frequently asked questions
The electric fan was invented by Schuyler Skaats Wheeler, an American electrical engineer.
Wheeler invented the electric fan in 1882 by placing a two-bladed propeller on the shaft of an electric motor.
No, Wheeler invented many other electrical devices, including an electric elevator, an electric fire engine, and an electric motor in connection with the Gatling gun.
Wheeler was also known for his work in developing and implementing a code of ethics for electrical engineers. He was also the first vice president and consulting engineer of the Automobile Club of America.
