Carl Parker talks about electric fans at his work bench Wednesday, July 20, 2016, at Spindletop Antiques in Gladewater. The shop Parker owns with his wife, Carol, features a little bit of everything from antique jewelry to coins and more but the centerpiece of the business is his love of pre-World War II electric fans. Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP

GLADEWATER – Mechanical guru and vintage fan enthusiast Carl Parker is one of those unique people who doesn’t mind when summer heat sets in.

He enjoys cranking up his antique metal fans and watching the blades whirl, savoring cool breezes unrivaled by modern designs.

“These aren’t toys and they aren’t a fad,” he said. “There are so many things about them that are desirable – the longevity, the craftsmanship, the reliability. They are not a piece of junk at all.”

Parker, 60, is the master tool guy behind The Fan Doctor, a business devoted to restoring old spinning beauties to their former glory.

His repair shop is tucked in the back of Spindletop Antiques, which he co-owns with wife, Carol, at 119 S. Main St., in the heart of Gladewater’s famed antiques district.

Demand is hot for Parker’s fans, especially in summer.

“It started out small,” he said of the shop’s humble beginnings. “People started bringing me fans to fix.”

As word of his “Mr. Fix It” abilities spread, work requests began to pour in, with some customers bringing in armloads of highly collectible fans in need of repair.

Fast-forward a few years and Parker seems blown away by the number of people who love their old-school fans.

“A lot of people are having them fixed for sentimental reasons,” he said. “Others just like them. I’ve had people say there have been actually been fights in the family over who gets the fan when mom or dad dies.”

Gadgets with moving parts have always held a certain fascination for Parker, a former military aviation maintenance mechanic.

Some of his favorite childhood moments were spent sprawled out in the floor, inspecting the guts of a household gadget.

“My parents actually encouraged it,” he said. “When I took things apart, I had to put it back together … that was the rule.”

Little has changed, it seems.

On any given day, you can find Parker hunkered over his workbench, dissecting, repairing and reassembling vintage fans for people who love them.

This fan guru can perform everything from routine servicing to full-blown restorations with custom paint jobs.

Why the emphasis on repairing old versus buying new?

For the unfamiliar, old metal fans can really kick up a breeze, like a tiny tornado on a stick.

They seem to last and last, their powerful motors humming happily on a few drops of oil and minimal wattage. Many modern designs are largely made of plastic.

When it comes to bargain hunting, it is buyer beware.

People can easily peel off too many bills for an old fan it seems, only to learn it may cost more to repair than it’s worth, assuming parts are readily available.

“You have to know what you are looking at,” Parker said, citing the importance of understanding make, model, year and parts. “If you don’t know fans, know someone who does.”

Retooled fans offered for sale in Parker’s shop can sell for a few hundred dollars, depending in part on make and model. He’s a huge fan of the old Emerson brand because of the design and reliability, but he works on other types as well.

Steve Redman, of Tyler, is among the devoted followers.

“I have 14 fans I bought from him,” he said, praising the attention to detail. “I’m not a serious collector. My motivation was to have something built in an era of craftsmanship, something that will last. To me, it’s more than just a fan. It’s history.”

There are very few projects Parker won’t tackle in his quest to preserve the past.

And yes, he’s seen a lot over the years.

“I’ve dug all sort of things out of old fans,” he said with a grin. “Dirt daubers, scorpions, all kinds of things … but no money.”

Visitors who stroll through his shop can see examples working fans dating back to 1907.

There are designs for homes, offices, factories and even funerals. Each machine has a story and not everything is for sale.

One custom restored 1952 16-incher features sleek white paint and lovely sea green trim, and Parker can’t resist turning it on, just to watch it roar.

“When I come to work every day, I’m really, really happy,” he said, his hair suddenly ruffled. “It’s like a never ending love affair.”

TWITTER: @ TMT _ JACQUE

Editor’s Note: The Fan Doctor can be reached at 903-845-7969 or vintagehm@suddenlink.net. Have a lead for a future story in the Behind the Wheel series? Send your ideas to jasimmons@tylerpaper.com.