Hunter Company Celebrates 120 Years of Success

MEMPHIS, TENN. (November 29, 2006)—Hunter Fan Co. is celebrating a milestone: 120 years of success as an American leader in the manufacturing industry. The history of Hunter Fan Co. stretches across the turn of two centuries, two world wars, and the Great Depression. The company traces its origins back to 1886, when the prominent New York industrialists John and James Hunter purchased part of the Tuerk Water Meter Company and began to produce water-powered fans. For a dozen decades, the company has defined the cutting edge of technology and style for ceiling fans and motors. Hunter ceiling fans outdate the radio, the automobile, and even the common use of household electricity.

To commemorate this event, Hunter will be introducing a limited edition replica series of ceiling fans featuring storied designs from the turn of the century. Included in this collection will be the 1886® 60-inch two blade fan. The hand-carved wood blades and authentically hand-cast vintage-style motor housing makes each fan one-of-a-kind. Other fans will feature Adapt Air™, an infinitely adjusting blade pitch system that was used prior to the invention of the reversing motor. This entire new collection will be produced in modern finishes, putting a fresh face on classic ceiling fan designs. Complementing these reproductions will be Hunter’s line of Original® fans, which have been in continuous production for more than 100 years and have the industry’s only oil bath motor and cast-iron housing.

In 1889, the company moved its headquarters from Syracuse to Fulton, N.Y.. Eight years later, they began purchasing motors from General Electric to produce its first electrically motorized fans, and the name was changed to Hunter Fan & Motor Company. At the time, prices ranged from a modest $8.50 to $15 depending on the model of fan. “If you bought a Hunter fan at the turn of the twentieth century for $8.50, you made a sound investment in a high-tech piece of household machinery that would last you a lifetime,” said Chuck Smith, president of Hunter Fan Co. “We don’t sell our fans for that price today, but we can still guarantee you a lifetime of quality and happiness from your Hunter fan. After all, we’ve got 120 years of experience to prove that our fans are second to none for performance and satisfaction.”

By the dawn of the twentieth century, Hunter Fan & Motor Company was already touting its enduring success. The cover of a 1903 catalog calls Hunter “the original Olde Tyme Ceiling Fan” and proclaims, “Only by years of experience can be learned the many little things making a perfect fan construction.” Hunter Fan Co. stands by those words today.

In 1941, Hunter Fan & Motor Company moved to Memphis, Tenn. When World War II began that same year, the company joined the conservation movement by giving up its copper and chrome finishes in favor of lacquer paint for the duration of the war. The fans produced before the war are often found in museums that chronicle the typical American home and family throughout the nation’s history. Hunter’s continuing success is based on a heritage of progress and innovation. The company has grown and evolved with the invention of the air conditioner, automobile, and microchip—all of which changed the way Hunter fans operated and were distributed throughout the United States and internationally. Modern inventions such as remote controls and high-efficiency motors have also been integrated into the company’s designs. Plus, all Hunter fans manufactured today are designed to contribute to the energy efficiency of a home or building in addition to adding style and comfort.

Today, Hunter’s line of ceiling fans includes 60- and 72-inch fans for larger homes, all aluminum fans that will never rust for outdoor living areas, and a wide variety of Old World, transitional and contemporary styles. They feature a broad palette of architectural details, from rich furniture-grade woods and hand-applied finishes to artfully crafted glass. The slogan “Made the Way it Used to Be” is not just words from Hunter, it’s a mission. For 120 years, Hunter has been a brand synonymous with quality and innovation.

“Our technology may be on the leading edge, but our quality remains timeless,” said Beau Parker, vice president of ceiling fans for Hunter Fan Co. “We see ceiling fans that are sixty or more years old all the time, and they’re still running strong. The same will be true when we are celebrating our 150th or even our 200th anniversary.”

The ceiling fans also tout features and benefits including Anti-Vibration Technology™ (AVT) for wobble-free performance, and Hunter’s “Quiet for Life” pledge reinforcing their commitment to whisper-quiet operation. Hunter also has expanded their expertise into home comfort products, such as high-performance air purifiers, low-maintenance humidifiers, portable fans, and energy-saving thermostats, as well as a patio fan and garage fan.