Ercole Marelli is known for his iconic electric fans, but his legacy is looking after his employees
Marelli was the founder of the Italian company that manufactured electric appliances, including a ubiquitous, sturdy fan; but despite the rise of Fascism he was committed to employee welfare
Their mass-produced products were beautifully designed and well made, and there were certainly a lot of them. Wherever in the world you’re from, there was probably a Marelli fan oscillating in a corner.
Even here in Hong Kong, possibly the world’s hotbed of air con consumption, you can find at least a couple: the award-winning Italian restaurant Testina found and shipped over a couple of 1950s vintage models from Milan to mount on the walls to blow around some dolce vita nostalgia. (Full disclosure: I designed Testina and specified the Marelli fans as part of the decor.)
Marelli fans were designed and produced to last forever. Made with materials such as cast iron for the bases and solid brass for their motors, they are virtually indestructible. Even when they inevitably break down, there is nothing about them that cannot be repaired relatively easily. I own a couple from the 50s, but over the years I’ve come across tons of them from even the 20s, still plugging along.
In 1891, Ercole Marelli opened a little workshop in Milan’s Porta Genova neighbourhood. From a single worker, his company quickly became a world leader in the production of small electric contraptions, particularly fans.
