70 years after its invention, Vornado now has reissued the classic “Vortex Tornado” fan design that inspired the company’s name. With patented engineering, and with styling by famed industrial designer Richard Ten Eyck, this Vornado fan design is one of the most famed in fan history — at peak popularity, nearly one-third of the fans sold in American were Vornados. Now reisssued, this Vornado VFAN is available in three colors — red, stainless and the gorgeous, original 1945 green. And, it’s “real metal” — yay!
Made mostly of metal like the original and updated with enhanced safety and quieter airflow. One place to get it is Amazon for $130:
Darn fun video — seriously, you gotta!
Info and photos from Vornado:
THE RETURN OF THE CLASSIC VORNADO – INTRODUCING VFAN™
The Vornado “Fan” That Started It All Almost 70 Years Ago Has Returned
In 1945, Vornado® introduced a fan with a unique appearance – that would soon become an icon of the “Streamlined” Age of Design. Now, nearly 70 years later, the quintessential Vornado returns as an authentic reissue called VFAN™.
The original Vornado products challenged how a fan should look and function – focusing on finely tuned aerodynamics and pure power. The result was a “fan” that looked completely different, and had the ability to circulate all the air in the room. For the first time, in an era without air conditioning, everyone in the room could be cool and comfortable. With an “air circulator” there was no longer a need to stand in front of a fan to stay cool. The secret was Vornado’s “Vortex Tornado” airflow that was so unique and powerful that it literally inspired the company’s name – “Vornado”.
Today, the VFAN™ delivers the same powerful circulation on which it’s reputation was built, and its classic styling adapts perfectly to any setting. Available in Chrome, Red and the original Vornado Green the VFAN™ blends harmoniously with any decor or color schemes. Though the classic design is a decorator’s dream, Vornado has also enhanced safety features and quieted the airflow, making VFAN™ perfect for the needs of today’s discerning consumer.
True to the original, VFAN™ is built with high standards using real metal for durability and authenticity. The VFAN™ delivers true whole room air circulation – a 70 year old concept that still out-performs stationary and oscillating fans sold today. With Whole Room Circulation, everyone in the room feels comfortable. With a VFAN™ circulating the air in the room, the room feels up to 5 degrees cooler. This allows VFAN™ owners to save money by reducing their central air conditioning bills.
The VFAN™ features 3 speed settings, and a pivoting head to direct airflow in any direction. The VFAN™ comes from an age when brands took pride in their products and stood behind them – the approach Vornado continues today. That is why VFAN™ comes with a 5 Year Complete Satisfaction Guarantee. Beyond a warranty, if a customer is not completely satisfied, Vornado® will repair or replace VFAN™ for 5 years from the date of verified original purchase.
From circulators and heaters, to air purifiers and humidifiers, Vornado has a long line of products built to keep you comfortable. Now’s your chance to own the one that started it all.
UPDATE: Some of you have been wondering why the fan blades on the Vornado VFAN are plastic, Pam even thought she read somewhere that the original fan blades were also plastic, so I reached out to Brian Cartwright from Vornado for clarification on the matter.
Brian writes:
Various models of Vornado fans did have metal blades –primarily starting in the 1950’s.
However, Vornado’s original products in the 1940’s utilized “bakelite” blades. Bakelite was among the earliest forms of plastic. And it wasn’t to save cost – actually it was very progressive. The bakelite blades were quieter, created less vibration, and were more aerodynamic. We don’t have records of what drove later models to metal blades in the 1950’s – but our plastic blades relate back to those original 1940’s bakelite models.
As this awesome website states [update: link now gone], models from 1954-1949 featured 10″ bakelite blades.
Even though plastic is passé now, it actually is a pretty cool part of the product tradition.
Personally, I love these fans and immediately wanted one — as my husband has been complaining about the need for a fan in-between air conditioning and heating season. The only reason I don’t have one yet — I can’t decide on a color — all three of them are great options to coordinate with retro decor.
Readers — what color would you choose?
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Cynthia says
I just ordered 2 green ones on Amazon! Will let you know how I like them, once delivered! Thanks Kate for the post, and Pam, hope your arm continues to mend.
pam kueber says
Very cool! My cast is now off, and I’m in a brace for another 4 weeks. Then, occupational therapy. Much better already!
Carol says
Glad to hear you are mending so nicely. It’s apparent that you and Kate are two peas in a pod with this website. Both of you have done an outstanding job since your unfortunate accident. This website is a daily vice. Thank you both!
pam kueber says
awe, thank you!
Scott says
Really love this. You guys know what a sucker I am for red but the green is soooooo authentic. I’ve been searching images and was just curious if this an exact recreation of a specific model? I’m guessing perhaps for safety reasons they had to add more rings? But otherwise it seems to be a (pardon) ringer.
I already have a few vintage fans but I’ve found if you go past the “Galaxy” style era they can be quite clattery so this is definitely under consideration. I’ve decided both the remaining ceiling fans must go as it destroys the MCM illusion (I’ve yet to find a period residental reference showing one, even in Florida, plus it gives me too more places to put vintage light fixtures! 🙂
Scott says
er TWO more places 🙂
Tikimama says
The aqua green for sure! We have a ceiling fan above our bed, which I’d like to remove and replace with a vintage light fixture. The Vornado would keep the boyfriend happy – he has to have air blowing on him, and I can’t stand it! Plus it would look so cool sitting on the dresser…or even the floor!
tammyCA says
I’d pick the pretty green. Gotta have a fan every single night of the year to sleep..for the white noise & the breeze. I’ve gone through many fans, but the best one I ever had was a big vintage square one that a friend dug out of her attic for me (in the ’80s)..it had the best sound, like an old bomber plane (I even called it my B52)…I sure miss that fan!!
Steve H says
I like fan noise when I sleep too. I’ve tried the white noise machines, but they only sound like the ocean, rainforest, etc. There’s no fan sound.
Jay says
Why, the original green color for the living room and chrome for the kitchen. I just took the fans up to the attic for winter storage. None are vintage or metal – all plastic. The oldest probably from the 70s (made in USA) is way more substantial and solid then the one bought last year which is ultra flimsy (made in China).
Janice says
Vornados are a household name here in Wichita, Kansas where they originated. Our office is full of them, but in the black plastic of the “updated” line. I wish we could have these stylish ones instead! I would want the green one if I ever felt the need to buy a fan which I wouldn’t because I’m always cold!
Randerson says
We have one of the originals, in that cool green/blue color, that came from my bride’s Grandmother’s house, and it will still blow the bark off a tree!
Becky says
I’m a sucker for anything green! That would be my choice 🙂
Diane in CO says
I’m totally down for the “stainless” aka chrome(?) fan. We just eliminated our 25 yr. old ceiling fan in our kitchen remodel and have one very deep tiled windowsill with hidden outlet – just perfect for one of these Vornados. Thanks so much, Kate, for the re-issue alert and to Lisa C. for info about ordering from Ace Hardware.
priscilla says
I bought the green one and I love it. It is very quiet and powerful. My only quibble I have is that the fan blades are plastic.
pam kueber says
Somewhere *I think* I read that the original fan blades were plastic. We will ask Vornado to clarify…
Jay says
I would think it unlikely for the time. Even the photos of the vintage models from Vornado’s web site appear to be metal fan blades. The history is interesting. Can’t find any info about where the new ones are manufactured.
Kate says
I just heard from Doug Buseman, Creative director for Vornado Air who said:
From what I have seen, the re-issue of the Vornado VFAN™ takes many cues from the original of the 1940’s and 1950’s. The plastic blade of today is much like the original Bakelite (early plastic) blade on the original Vornado fans. The Bakelite blade was used because it created less vibration and noise, which is why Vornado carries on that tradition today.
Jay says
OK, very nice! That would make sense for the era, Bakelite was still being used. Injection molded plastic parts hadn’t taken hold yet in manufacturing goods.