9 1980 Circa 1955: Hurricae Aghetto, Turin, Italy, synthetic resin, aluminium and vinyl, blade diameter 200 mm 1971: Braun, Germany, HL70, designed by R. Weiss/J. Geubel, plastic, tangential impeller, blade dia 60 mm 1975: Vortice, Italy, Ariante, de- signed by M. Zanusoi, ABS plastic, blade diameter 150 mm 1964: Vortice, Italy, VQ3, plastic and chromium plated steel, blade diameter 200 mm 1955: Vortice, Italy, Atomium, Attilio Pagani, plastic and brass, blade diameter 200 mm Within a short time air conditioning units came to dominate the American market in spite of their enormous power requirements; electrical power was cheap and ceiling fans were only for those with nostalgia. Only a few US manufacturers still produced ceiling fans. This was the opportunity that some Far Eastern manufacturers grasped. They were cheap and had sufficient experience in the field, because in many countries with tropical climates ceiling fans continued to be a product that was well-liked and in frequent use - especially where air conditioners did not succeed among the general population because of their price. Ceiling fans experienced a renaissance in the USA in the late 70s, during the oil crisis and the resulting energy price increases. Suddenly cheap and low running cost ceiling fans came back into use as an alternative to energy-intense air conditioners. A real run on the traditional product set in and helped many newly formed US manufacturers to flourish. Unlike in the first decade of the century, when every part was “Made in the USA”, many components in these “new” ceiling fans came from Asia, making the price of even high-quality products affordable for mass market consumers. In Europe, fans first came into use in countries to the South, particularly Italy and southern France. In Germany, German electrical companies such as Siemens-Schuckert developed ideas for electric table fans originating in the United States and brought their own models onto the European market. However, the use of electric fans in Europe was not nearly as widespread as in the American market. In Central European countries with a temperate climate, they remained a luxury product for the few hot summer months. In the warmer European countries such as Spain, Greece, southern France and, especially, Italy, this cooling device quickly conquered the mass market. 1955
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