Don't wait until
your sheets are soaked with sweat to make a mad dash for a
$9.99 fan. Go beyond the basic blow and consider a few criteria:
noise, energy expenditure and power. Then blast away.
1. Lasko
Cyclone
($26.99 at Division Hardware, 3734 SE Division St., 235-8309)
The 20-inch round Cyclone creates a dramatic breeze, and
it has an energy-efficient motor that costs only two cents
an hour to run. All three speeds are so quiet you'll have
to remind yourself to turn the appliance off. Consider this
the basic-fan-plus. Division has a modest stock of Cyclones,
as well as other sensible Lasko models.
2.
Holmes 20-Inch
($60 at Hankins Coast to Coast Hardware, 3942 NE Martin
Luther King Jr. Blvd., 281-1218; 1758 SE Hawthorne Blvd.,
236-2372)
What do steel drums, BMW engines and 20-inch Holmes fans
have in common? A rare convergence of form and function
that borders on art. The Holmes commercial-grade fan is
as shiny and streamlined as the bumper of a '67 Impala and
powerful enough to cool an entire loft or workspace. Its
industrial motor purrs along at a velocity unequaled by
any other blower. Although the large frame could be imposing
in a small bedroom or study, most apartments should be able
to handle the Holmes. If you hesitate to spend $60 on a
fan, just think how long your Hush Puppies have outlived
your Payless sandals. And you'll be happier buying the equipment
from the endearing husband-and-wife Hankins team.
3.
Duracraft 20-Inch
($40 at St. Johns True Value Hardware, 8621 N Lombard St.,
286-0035)
"One in, one out" is the theory behind this window fan.
The apparatus actually features two square fans, which can
be rotated: One side of the fan collects fresh air, while
the other simply circulates it. For a more direct breeze,
the Duracraft can be handily transported like a boom-box.
4.
Hippo Hardware Tulip Fan
($190 at Hippo Hardware and Trading Company, 1040 E Burnside
St., 231-1444)
Hippo is the workingman's Restoration Hardware. Here, the
items that look old weren't made to look old. Some items
are new, others used and refurbished. Hippo's ceiling fans
are expensive, but they have two distinct advantages over
their free-standing cousins: They effectively circulate
warm air in the winter, and they are often as decorative
as they are useful. If you're looking to brighten and cool
or warm a kitchen, child's bedroom or casual living room,
consider the three-speed "flower" fan. The blades are carved
from brightly painted wood, and they overlap like tulip
petals. You can install the fan in place of, or in addition
to, a ceiling light--the fan can accommodate three light
bulbs. Bonus: The blades are reversible, so if you get sick
of looking at the same colors, you can switch to new shades
of green, blue, red and orange.
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Willamette Week | originally
published July 21, 1999
|
