Description
An extensive comparison of 2 16" oscillating table fans, a Lasko 2016 and a Lakewood 1600DX.
Both units were likely sold during the mid-1990s, making these competitor products. I unfortunately do not know what the original retail prices were on these fans so I can't make a call about either being a good value, but I doubt either were expensive.
A lot of collectors seem to consider Lakewood a more 'premium' product than Lasko. I can see this to a degree with the 20" box fans, but as soon as you deviate from those, I'm generally disappointed with Lakewood's offerings. The oscillating fans from the 90s were no exception. I tend to consider the Lakewood oscillating fans a very lousy product, meanwhile the Lasko units were arguably a gold standard of excellence.
This pair is a very good example of how technical data and specifications can often be misleading and irrelevant when comparing products. The Lakewood unit generally looks better on paper, with a higher air flow volume and higher efficiency. However, in practice, the efficacy of the Lasko unit to move air around a room is many times superior. There are so many factors that effect how a fan moves air around the room, and while CFM is very relevant for certain types of fans, it's almost irrelevant for others like this.
I would overall consider the Lasko a vastly superior product to the Lakewood. It was far more effective at stirring up the air in the room, it was quieter, it used less power (though not a significantly less amount), it's easier and safer to operate, and the build quality is much sturdier. The only bad thing I can really say about the Lasko is the motor doesn't have oil ports. The Lakewood is extraordinarily brittle, doesn't push the air very far, oscillates way to fast, is louder on high, and while it does move a higher volume of air at a higher efficiency level than the Lasko, it's not super relevant in this case as it's not a window fan. The point of a portable fan like this is to stir up the air inside a room, not exchange it.
I like both of these fans a lot, I acquired them both earlier on in my collecting days and I remember the days vividly. I also remember cleaning them up for the first time and using them around the house. They bring back many good memories of the 2010s, back when life was a lot simpler. As much as I like them both from a collection and nostalgia standpoint, when it comes to regular use during a hot day, I will go for the Lasko almost every time.