I also have an old fan similar to this one.
1950s Westinghouse Lively Aire Desk Fan (video)Except mine is an earlier model and has a metal fan blade. It's in great shape. Hasn't been cleaned in over 40 years for sure. But I did have to open it up recently to clean and oil the bushings. I've been using it quite a lot because my PC case is less than optimal on thermal management. Case side off, fan on one side of the desk and PC on the other. When it gets a little hotter I'll put it on oscillate and it will take turns cooling me and the PC at the same time.
I know it's entire history, it was bought new in 1949. By a couple that had just moved here from texas. It has decades of dirt glaze on the outside but no corrosion, inside is solid. No slop in the bushings or worm gear at all, cords are in good shape as well. I bet it would clean up really nice. But I'll wait on that.
Nice unit, built to last.
The reason for the post is I found several of these online for as little as $20 bucks. Some of them are listed in the hundreds but a surprising number are available for less than a modern cheap ass fan would sell for.
Hard to believe something that has lasted over 60 years and still functions perfectly could be worth less than a department store fan designed to be thrown out in just a few short years.