Awesome list - I love love love vintage table fans and wish I could collect a few, but I'm so afraid of how attractive those big openings between the bars might be to tiny kitty paws! I actually have two of #8 in an all-metal finish. I found them for a steal at Home Goods. They're awesome for a light breeze when you don't want to be blown away by a powerful fan!

I recently saw some cut tabletop retro style fans at Home Goods in pastel yellow and pastel pink. Can't recall the exact price, but remember thinking it was cheaper than I expected, maybe $25. I was very tempted but knew I wouldn't really use it.

The blue color of my little RE metal desktop fan from Target always makes me smile ... and the fan makes me cool when I come in from my metro ride after walking several blocks in the ultra-clammy heat and sun.

Vintage fans are dangerous. I broke the tip of my finger just by moving it while it was on...my little finger just slipped right in to the sharp steel blades.

But more importantly, they are super attractive to look at and I am keeping mine even though it's a proven hazard.

Does anyone know how to minimize the loud vibration it makes on whatever it's sitting on? Maybe a rubber pad underneath?

I love the look of vintage fans as well, but didn't want to sacrifice safety for beauty. When we renovated our master bedroom I purchased the Allaire Desk Fan from Restoration Hardware in a light aqua to match our decor.

(Seen here: http://www.oldtownhome.com/2011/5/20/My-Design-Philosophy-One-Unique-Item-in-Every-Room/index.aspx - pictured halfway down the page.)

It's the perfect boost to our A/C on a hot summer night.

I love the vintage look and especially enjoy the satisfaction of reusing an existing item. But, as people above have noted, old fans can be dangerous. I compromised and bought an attractive modern metal fan from a garage sale.

I am dead from the cuteness of that pink fan, even if it is deadly. The seller must have painted/refurbished it, right? They didn't actually make things that cute in ye olden days?

My old GE fan is probably dangerous, so I don't put my fingers through the grill. Shockingly simple. However did I make it through my childhood with all of my fingers still attached?!

I do want a big tower to keep my office cool. It gets a little hotter than the rest of the house due to its position over the garage which is less insulated than other rooms.

I heard fans are remarkably less dangerous if you refrain from putting your fingers in between the blades.

I have a ceiling fan in each of the two major rooms in my apartment (living room and bedroom), so I feel like a table fan is unnecessary, but these are so cute I could almost justify it!

You can also save a lot of pain by not putting your nose into the spinning blades. BTW, don't jump from the top of any tall buildings or step in front of oncoming locomotives...

Quiltmaster: I think people are more worried about the safety of these fans when it comes to pets and kids.

By the way, Home Depot sells a bunch of reasonably priced industrial-style fans that circulate air extremely well.

-Jeff
(http://jwolski.com)

Here is the one I have:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202757016/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

The Stadler Form Q Fan is quite nice too. However it’s $200, and you’ll need an adapter, as it’s 220V for now.

http://www.questodesign.com/shop/proddetail.php?prod=Q_stadler_form

so i know it's pretty hilarious of me to have accidentally hurt myself on my vintage fan (see above comment) but no one knows how to decrease the vibration that they make??