The first electric fan was made in 1886 by Schuyler Wheeler. Early fans were all DC powered. After the 1890s fans with AC motors were produced. In the late 1920s GE released a design which had overlapping blades, which made fans much more quiet. As the decades passed other materials like nylon and wood were used in the designs. There were more variations in color and style after the 20s as well, before this fans only came in black. In the 1950s air conditioning gradually replaced table fans.
Electric Fans are a vital part of computers as they not only blow cool air into cabinets where microchips are but they can come in small sizes to cool individual chips. Powerful LED lamps require fans to cool the electronics.
Left: an early fan with overlapping blades, this greatly increased the performance without increasing energy consumption.