As I'll be away for a few 
days, I'm sending today's post a day early. 
   On this day (August 7) in the year 1852, the following text appeared 
in "Gleason's Pictorial Drawing Room Companion" Vol. 3, No. 6 (Boston; 
7 August 1852) page 93:
- - - - - - - - - - -

          FANNING BY STEAM.
  Mr. Whipple, the daguerreotypist, No. 96, Washington Street, has a 
most admirable plan
for the comfort of his visitors this hot weather.  In one corner of the 
room, near where his pictures are taken, is placed a fan, made on the 
principle of the wind-mill, which, being set in
rapid motion by the steam engine used in the preparation of his plates, 
gives a current of air
equal to a strong "Nor'-wester."  As one can imagine, this is most 
refreshing when the thermometer is up to 90 degrees, and not a breath 
of air stirring in the street

* * * * *
A note from Gary: In my DagNews post of 1-11-98, I quoted a passage 
found a children's book, published in Boston.  I feel certain that the 
author can only be describing Whipple's gallery:

  "We went to Mr. Shine, who takes the best daguerreotypes; but I 
certainly thought we should never reach his rooms: we had to go up 
stairs after stairs, till mamma almost fainted, she was so tired.
  When we reached what would be called the attic, but which was 
beautifully finished off with several large, airy rooms, we were warm 
enough.
  Papa said the light was better about taking pictures to be so high 
up, where you could have a clear sweep of the sky, than to be lower 
down, and have only what light could come in through small side 
windows.
  You'd have laughed to see how we became cool; on one side of the 
room, there was something that looked like a large windmill, and it was 
twirled round and round, swift as breeze; and all we had to do was just 
to take some chairs and sit in them before it, and we were fanned down 
at a rapid rate, I can tell you."

From "Grandmother Lee's Portfolio." (no author stated) Illustrated by 
Hammatt Billings (Boston: Whittemore, Niles, and Hall. 1857) pp. 63-66.  
The full passage, with illustration, is available on The Daguerreian 
Society web site at:
     http://www.daguerre.org/resource/texts/lee.html

(I'll mention that as of 8-6-98, the server for the web site is under 
maintenance, and may not be available for a day or two.)
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Posted for your enjoyment.     Gary W. Ewer     
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08-07-98