Vornado Air

Last updated
Vornado Air, LLC
FormerlyVornadofan, O. A. Sutton Company
Company typeLimited liability company
IndustryManufacturing
FoundersRalph K. Odor (1945), Ottis A. Sutton (1945), Michael Coup (1990)
Headquarters
Andover, Kansas
,
United States
ProductsFans and household appliances
BrandsVornado, Vornadofan
Website vornado.com

Vornado is an American firm based in Andover, Kansas, that designs and manufactures household fans and other small appliances related to air circulation. [1] The current incarnation of the company was founded in 1989, two years after the death of Ralph K. Odor (1895-1987), who founded the firm in the 1930s with Ottis A. Sutton in Wichita. [2] The name of the company is a portmanteau of "Vortex" and "Tornado".

Contents

History

Vornado Model 12D1, 20" in diameter, bakelite blade, circa 1945 Vornado.jpg
Vornado Model 12D1, 20" in diameter, bakelite blade, circa 1945

Ralph K. Odor experimented with different designs to improve airplane propellers in the late 1920s. [3] In the 1930s, Odor met Ottis A. Sutton and the two men continued to experiment with different designs for propellers and were granted several patents. Odor and Sutton realized the propeller designs could also be applied to household fans, and after the end of World War II, the O.A. Sutton Corporation began marketing Vornado fans under the "Vornadofan" brand name. [4] [5]

The name "Vornado" is a portmanteau of two words: "vortex" and "tornado". [6]

Early fans were distinguished from ordinary fans by enclosure in a short duct shaped as aerodynamically contoured cylindrical ring, with an added concentric flared intake duct ring, sharply pitched blades, stationary vanes and aerodynamic grille, and rubber shock-mounting. This archetype was also the first to eschew oscillation in favor of a stationary design focused on the continuous circulation of the air in the room. The design was advertised as making the fan exceptionally quiet, efficient and effective, delivering a narrower, more-concentrated blast of air than normal fans. [5] [7]

The company later added a line of air conditioners.

Amid sales that had fallen to half of their peak, the company ceased production in September 1958 and began liquidating its inventory, and manufacturing and office equipment were auctioned off in June 1959. [8] Sutton's air conditioner coil manufacturing line was purchased by Gibson Refrigerator Co. and moved from Wichita. [9] In October 1959, the O.A. Sutton Corp. was purchased by the discount department store chain Two Guys, which subsequently renamed itself Vornado, Inc. [10]

The consolidated company expanded the Vornado line of appliances to more than 50 in under three years, including ranges, freezers, hair dryers, and electronic can openers sold by the Two Guys chain as well as other dealers, though the manufacturing operations were outsourced. [10] That company eventually divested all retail operations and evolved into what is now Vornado Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust.

From 1997 to 2008, the Vornado headquarters in Andover hosted the Antique Fan Collectors Association's (AFCA's) Antique Fan Museum in their lobby, featuring antique electric fans sourced from AFCA members around the world, as well as some modern Vornado products. In 2008, the museum relocated to Zionsville, Indiana at ceiling fan manufacturer Fanimation's headquarters.

Vornado brand table fan, Model Type FLIPPI V6 Vornado Type Flippi V6.jpg
Vornado brand table fan, Model Type FLIPPI V6

Current

The Vornado brand name was resurrected in 1989 by Michael Coup. Operating under the name Vornado Air Circulation Systems Inc., Coup obtained the rights to the Vornado trademark and worked with original designer Richard Ten Eyck to come up with a new fan design. [11] Initially the company operated in northeast Wichita (Vornado's original hometown). The design consisted of a unique spiral front grille with patented "Vortex Action" technology, which allowed air to exit in a spiral pattern, and bounce off of walls, allowing for whole-room air circulation. The air circulators also contained modern updates of some classic Vornado features, such as the rear air inlet (which allowed ambient air to enter through the rear of the fan to be recirculated and a plastic, three-winged blade with a unique design. These air circulators were available as table, floor, stand, or window models, and were available in different colors. The "Vortex Action" technology and uniquely-designed blade was also used for Vornado-branded heaters, air purifiers, and dehumidifiers.

Between January 1989 and August 1990, Vornado sold about 135,000 of its fans with a distinctive spiral front grille. In August 1990, competitor Duracraft began offering a cheaper, visually similar fan, and by November 1992, Duracraft had sold nearly one million of them—that company's second-largest-selling household fan. Vornado sued under the Lanham Act claiming deceptive imitation in appearance—but an appeals court ruled against Vornado, because the design had been a part of their expired patent, and was now in the public domain. [12]

In the late 1990s, Vornado introduced a line of reproduction fans, starting with the Silver Swan table fan, which was based on the Emerson Electric Silver Swan table fan from the Art Deco era in the 1930s. The line expanded with modern reproductions of Vornado's own "VornadoFan" air circulators. The "Alchemy Series" was introduced in 2017, featuring custom finishes and a custom storage bag included with each product.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), from January 1993 through February 2004, Vornado received over 300 reports of defective heater units overheating, melting, smoking, or catching fire. The CPSC alleged that Vornado Air Circulation Systems, Inc., failed to promptly report these incidents to the CPSC as required by law, saying Vornado only reported the incidents to the CPSC after CPSC staff started asking questions, in February, 2004. [13]

In December 2006, Vornado Air Circulation Systems sold most of its assets to a private equity firm, which formed a new company, Vornado Air, LLC., in Wichita's neighboring suburban community of Andover. [14] [15]

In January, 2008, the CPSC reported that a liquidating trust, acting on behalf of the by-now dissolved manufacturer, Vornado Air Circulation Systems, Inc. (formerly of Andover), agreed to pay the government a $500,000 civil penalty, settling the prior CPSC allegations against Vornado Air Circulation Systems Inc., regarding the 300-plus unreported defective heater units. Vornado did not, however, concede any violation of law. [13]

On August 14, 2014, the CPSC announced a recall of 79,000 Vornado-brand electric heaters (Vornado VH110 Whole Room Vortex electric space heaters) which had been made in China for Vornado Air, LLC, of Andover, and sold for about $60 at several major retail store chains and online sellers. The recall followed 29 reports of units overheating and melting, including seven reports of heaters catching fire, resulting in one report of smoke inhalation and one report of property damage caused by soot and smoke. [15]

In 2017, Vornado introduced their line of Energy Smart air circulators (fans). The fans feature Direct Current (DC) motors, are manufactured at Vornado's headquarters in Andover, and have an infinitely-variable speed controls with either a manual rheostat-type control, or a digital pushbutton control panel. The Energy Smart line has since expanded to air purifiers and humidifiers.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central heating</span> Type of heating system

A central heating system provides warmth to a number of spaces within a building from one main source of heat. It is a component of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, which can both cool and warm interior spaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot tub</span> Large tub for hydrotherapy or pleasure

A hot tub is a large tub full of water used for hydrotherapy, relaxation or pleasure. Some have powerful jets for massage purposes. Hot tubs are sometimes also known as "spas" or by the trade name Jacuzzi. Hot tubs may be located outdoors or indoors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flue</span> Exhaust for a fireplace, furnace etc

A flue is a duct, pipe, or opening in a chimney for conveying exhaust gases from a fireplace, furnace, water heater, boiler, or generator to the outdoors. Historically the term flue meant the chimney itself. In the United States, they are also known as vents for boilers and as breeching for water heaters and modern furnaces. They usually operate by buoyancy, also known as the stack effect, or the combustion products may be 'induced' via a blower. As combustion products contain carbon monoxide and other dangerous compounds, proper 'draft', and admission of replacement air is imperative. Building codes, and other standards, regulate their materials, design, and installation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vornado Realty Trust</span> American real estate investment trust

Vornado Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust formed in Maryland in 1982, with its primary office in New York City. The company invests in office buildings and street retail in Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric heating</span> Process in which electrical energy is converted to heat

Electric heating is a process in which electrical energy is converted directly to heat energy. Common applications include space heating, cooking, water heating and industrial processes. An electric heater is an electrical device that converts an electric current into heat. The heating element inside every electric heater is an electrical resistor, and works on the principle of Joule heating: an electric current passing through a resistor will convert that electrical energy into heat energy. Most modern electric heating devices use nichrome wire as the active element; the heating element, depicted on the right, uses nichrome wire supported by ceramic insulators.

Two Guys from Harrison is a former discount store chain founded in 1946 by brothers Herbert and Sidney Hubschman in Harrison, New Jersey, originally selling major appliances such as televisions. The chain acquired the manufacturers of the Vornado appliance brand in 1959, and spread beyond the New York City metropolitan area to more than 100 locations in upstate New York, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, and as far as California. The company's financial success started to decline in the late 1970s, and it was defunct by 1982.

Vornado may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convection heater</span> Type of heating device

A convection heater is a type of heater that uses convection currents to heat and circulate air. These air currents circulate throughout the body of the appliance and across its heating element. This process takes advantage of thermal conduction in order to heat the air, reducing its density relative to colder air and causing it to rise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDK</span>

Kawakita Denki Kigyosha, is the brand name used by Matsushita Ecology Systems Co. to manufacture the group's ventilating products. Before becoming part of Matsushita Electric, KDK was a separate company not affiliated with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. KDK was registered as a trademark in 1912 but originated in 1909 as Nippon Electric Industry Co. Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fan (machine)</span> Machine used to produce air flow

A fan/f/n is a powered machine used to create a flow of air. A fan consists of a rotating arrangement of vanes or blades, generally made of wood, plastic, or metal, which act on the air. The rotating assembly of blades and hub is known as an impeller, rotor, or runner. Usually, it is contained within some form of housing, or case. This may direct the airflow, or increase safety by preventing objects from contacting the fan blades. Most fans are powered by electric motors, but other sources of power may be used, including hydraulic motors, handcranks, and internal combustion engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act</span>

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 is a United States law signed on August 14, 2008 by President George W. Bush. The legislative bill was known as HR 4040, sponsored by Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Ill.). On December 19, 2007, the U.S. House approved the bill 407-0. On March 6, 2008, the U.S. Senate approved the bill 79-13. The law—public law 110-314—increases the budget of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), imposes new testing and documentation requirements, and sets new acceptable levels of several substances. It imposes new requirements on manufacturers of apparel, shoes, personal care products, accessories and jewelry, home furnishings, bedding, toys, electronics and video games, books, school supplies, educational materials and science kits. The Act also increases fines and specifies jail time for some violations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radiator (heating)</span> Heat exchanger for space heating

Radiators and convectors are heat exchangers designed to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of space heating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rival Company</span> American home appliance manufacturer

The Rival Company is an American manufacturer of small appliances that produces products under the Bionaire, Crock-Pot, Fasco, Patton, Pollenex, Rival, Simer, and White Mountain brands. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Holmes Products Corp. in 1999, and later became a brand of Sunbeam Products, a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation, which purchased Holmes in 2005. Jarden, in turn, merged with Newell Rubbermaid in 2016. It is now part of the Newell Brands company.

Rinnai Corporation is a Japanese multinational company based in Nagoya, Japan, that manufactures gas appliances, including energy-efficient tankless water heaters, home heating appliances, kitchen appliances, gas clothes dryers and commercial-use equipment such as rice cookers, grillers, fryers and salamanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. O. Smith</span> American manufacturer

A. O. Smith Corporation is an American manufacturer of both residential and commercial water heaters and boilers, and the largest manufacturer and marketer of water heaters in North America. It also supplies water treatment and water purification products in the Asian market. The company has 27 locations worldwide, including five manufacturing facilities in North America, as well as plants in Bengaluru in India, Nanjing in China and Veldhoven in The Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rheem Manufacturing Company</span> American HVAC manufacturer

Rheem Manufacturing Company is an American privately held manufacturer that produces residential and commercial water heaters and boilers, as well as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. The company also produces and sells products under the Ruud brand name. It is an independent subsidiary of Paloma Industries.What became Rheem started in 1925 as a supplier of packaging to the petroleum industry, and is currently headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. The company is one of the largest manufacturers of both water heating and HVAC equipment in the United States, and also produces and markets products in Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bahrain, China, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Iraq, Kuwait, Mexico, New Zealand, Perú, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, and Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malleable Iron Range Company</span> Household appliance maker (1896–1985)

Malleable Iron Range Company was a company that produced kitchen ranges made of malleable iron and other related products. The company existed from 1896 to 1985. Its primary trademark was Monarch and it was often referred to as the Monarch Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Ten Eyck</span>

Richard Ten Eyck was an American industrial designer noted for his airplane designs for Cessna, Beechcraft, and Bell Helicopter. He is perhaps best known for his design of electric fans for Vornado Air during the 1940s and 50s.

Holmes Group, Inc. v. Vornado Air Circulation Systems, Inc., 535 U.S. 826 (2002), is a United States Supreme Court case regarding the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

References

  1. "Vornado expanding headquarters with $1M warehouse addition". Wichita Business Journal. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  2. "History of Vornado Realty Trust – FundingUniverse".
  3. "Vornado Plane Material [Ralph K. Odor]". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  4. "About Us". Vornado Air LLC. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Our history of making history," official website, Vornado Air, LLC, retrieved June 23, 2017.
  6. "History – Vornado".
  7. "FAQs," official website, Vornado Air, LLC, retrieved June 23, 2017.
  8. "Tihen Notes from 1959 Wichita Eagle" (PDF). Department of Special Collections, Wichita State University Libraries. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  9. "Briefly Stated" (PDF). Air Conditioning, Heating and Ventilating. August 1959. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Vornado Realty Trust". FundingUniverse. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  11. Siebenmark, Jerry (February 23, 2003). "Making 'good stuff' that lasts is what pleases Vornado's Michael Coup". Wichita Business Journal. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  12. "VORNADO AIR CIRCULATION SYSTEMS INC v. DURACRAFT CORPORATION", No. 94–3191, Decided: July 05, 1995, United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, also posted at Findlaw.com, retrieved June 23, 2017
  13. 1 2 "Vornado Trust to Pay $500,000 Civil Penalty for Failure to Report Defects and Hazards with Electric Heaters,", Release #08-180, January 31, 2008, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, retrieved June 26, 2017 PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  14. "Consumer Product Safety Commission" (PDF). Federal Register. February 5, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Vornado Air Recalls Electric Space Heaters Due to Fire and Burn Hazard," Recall #14-256, August 14, 2014, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, retrieved June 26, 2017