It's fascinating that desk fans have had such a consistent design for over 100 years. Most surprising to me is that they've been able to oscillate for that long

It's fascinating that desk fans have had such a consistent design for over 100 years. Most surprising to me is that they've been able to oscillate for that long, too (since 1904!): > Direct current desk fans were added in 1899. After acquiring a patent from Charles Eck for an oscillating fan mechanism, R&M put into production their unique DC "lollipop" oscillator in 1904, followed a few years later by an AC version. A sheet brass disk in front of the fan was acted upon by the air from the fan causing the fan to oscillate back and forth. Stops on the base of the fan were contacted by a pin at the bottom of the lollipop shaft to shift the disc to the other side, resulting in the fan oscillating to the other side.