The Fan — From Palm Leaves To BLDC Motors
A friendly, in-depth history and business guide
1) What is a “fan” (in simple words)?
A fan is a machine (or handheld tool) that moves air. The modern powered fan uses rotating blades connected to a motor; the moving blades push air and create airflow. Wikipedia
2) The very beginning: hand fans (4,000 years ago)
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Ancient Egypt: ceremonial and practical hand fans are recorded ~4,000 years ago (even found in Tutankhamun’s tomb). Wikipedia+1
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East Asia: the folding fan is widely credited to Japan, later spreading to China around the 9th century CE. fancircleinternational.org
India’s “punkah”
In South Asia, punkah/pankha originally meant a handheld palm/bamboo fan. Later, in Mughal and colonial times, large cloth punkahs were hung from ceilings and pulled by a punkah-wallah to cool big rooms—an early “ceiling fan,” but human-powered. Wikipedia+1
3) Pre-electric engineering: ventilation fans
In the 1700s, scientists tackled stale air in buildings, ships and mines. In 1723–1736, John Theophilus Desaguliers presented/installed mechanical ventilating fans (paddle/centrifugal types) for public buildings—an ancestor of industrial blowers. Science Museum Group Collection+1
4) The first electric fans (late 1800s)
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Desk/table fan (1882): Schuyler Skaats Wheeler mounted a two-bladed propeller on a small electric motor—often cited as the first electric fan. Wikipedia+1
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Ceiling fan (patented 1889): Philip H. Diehl adapted a sewing-machine motor, mounted it to the ceiling, and later added a light fixture; this is the template for the ceiling fan we know today. Wikipedia
Quick note: you’ll see some brand histories say they “invented the ceiling fan” in the 1880s. That’s usually corporate storytelling around early commercialization; the widely credited inventor for the electric ceiling fan remains Philip Diehl (patent granted 1889). Wikipedia+2Hunter Fan+2
5) Power systems that made fans mainstream
Fans spread alongside electrification:
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DC era → AC era: As cities adopted alternating current (AC) and induction motors (Tesla’s 1888 patents; Westinghouse licensing), electric motors became robust, affordable, and safe—perfect for fans. National Museum of American History+2thehenryford.org+2
6) From brass cages to plastics: design evolution
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1890s–1930s: ornate metal desk fans with protective cages.
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Post-WWII: lighter metals and plastics reduce cost and noise.
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Ceiling fans: from belt-/water-driven experiments to compact electric motors; companies like Hunter (founded 1886) helped popularize household ceiling fans. Company Histories+1
7) The modern leap: BLDC fans
Today’s premium ceiling fans increasingly use BLDC (Brushless DC) motors:
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Typical old fans: ~75–90 W. Efficient BLDC fans: ~28–35 W at top speed (brand-quoted ranges). Atomberg
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Example listings show ~28 W models; independent engineering blogs caution that real consumption depends on size, airflow and speed—so test claims, but savings are real. Amazon India+2Amazon India+2
8) How the fan became a business
a) Early demand drivers
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Climate need: hot, humid regions demanded affordable cooling.
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Electrification: homes and offices got power; fans rode the wave.
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Manufacturing: standardized motors + stamped blades lowered cost.
b) What companies actually sold
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Form factors: desk, pedestal, wall, ceiling, exhaust, industrial blowers.
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Propositions: airflow (CFM), low noise, safety cages, durability, finish/looks.
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Channels: hardware stores, appliance dealers, contractors, later e-commerce.
c) Where profit comes from
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Bill of materials control: motor, controller (for BLDC), blades, housing.
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Scale & sourcing: optimize motor winding, bearings, PCBs, plastics.
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After-sales & spares: regulators/remotes, capacitors, blades, service.
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Brand trust: warranties, safety marks, and energy-efficiency ratings.
9) Starting a fan brand today (practical playbook)
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Choose your wedge:
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Value ceiling fan (high-volume, low margin),
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BLDC efficiency (28–40 W promise),
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Design/premium (aesthetics, silent), or
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Industrial/exhaust (B2B).
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Sourcing/tech: Partner with motor/PCB vendors (BLDC controller), tool up for blades (ABS/aluminium) and housings. Pilot with 1–2 SKUs.
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Compliance & trust: Country-specific safety and energy labeling (e.g., star ratings), surge protection, thermal cutoff. (Exact marks vary by country.)
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Messaging: Lead with airflow + energy cost per year, not just watts. Show a bill-savings calculator and a 3–5 year warranty to ease adoption.
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Go-to-market:
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Retail: electricians/contractors influence ceiling fan choice—build a channel incentive and quick-swap service.
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Online: comparison images, noise tests (dB), exploded-view renders, and honest “watts at speed 5” tables.
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Moats to build: distinctive design language, remote/IoT features, low-voltage start, strong bearings, and easy spare availability.
10) A quick, visual timeline you can put in the article
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c. 2000 BCE: Egyptian hand fans. Wikipedia
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9th c. CE: Folding fan spreads Japan → China. fancircleinternational.org
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1600s–1800s: India’s rope-pulled punkah for large rooms. Wikipedia
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1730s: Desaguliers’ mechanical ventilation fans in public buildings. Science Museum Group Collection
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1882: Wheeler invents electric desk fan. Wikipedia
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1886: Hunter brand origins; early commercialization of ceiling fans. Company Histories
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1889: Diehl patents electric ceiling fan. Wikipedia
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20th c.: Household expansion; plastic parts; safety cages.
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2010s–today: BLDC efficiency becomes the marquee feature. Atomberg
11) Fun FAQs
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Who “invented the fan”?
Hand fans are ancient; the first electric fan is credited to Schuyler Skaats Wheeler (1882). The electric ceiling fan was developed/patented by Philip H. Diehl (1889). Wikipedia+1 -
Why are BLDC fans popular now?
They use modern electronics to deliver the same airflow with much lower watts—so homes save on bills, especially where fans run for many hours daily. Atomberg
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