B. F. Sturtevant Company
| Industry | Manufacturer of fans, ventilation and air cooling systems |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1860 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founder | B. F. Sturtevant |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
The B. F. Sturtevant Company was a Boston-based manufacturer of fans. It became a leader in the manufacture of industrial air cooling and ventilation systems.
The company was founded in 1860 in Boston by inventor Benjamin Franklin Sturtevant (born 1833 in Norridgewock, Maine–died 1890 in Boston); the plant was located near the present Government Center area. The company at first manufactured wooden pegs used in shoemaking. The process created much sawdust, and Sturtevant invented a mechanical fan that was effective at keeping the work area sawdust-free. By 1864 Sturtevant was manufacturing the first commercially-successful blower, and by 1866 the company employed 50 workers and worked exclusively on making fans.
In 1869 the company introduced the "Sturtevant system," still the basis for much interior heating of buildings. Sturtevant adapted hot blast technology for indoor heating, using ductwork to spread the warmed air.
In 1876 the company moved its plant to the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, and soon began work with the United States Navy. In 1879, Sturtevant introduced a system for ventilating the hulls of ships. In 1879, Sturtevant supplied the USS Alliance with mechanical draft fans that improved fuel efficiency so much that Navy ships were able to retire their back-up sail systems.
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