As Chad Baker strolls past his collection of vintage fans in his Hickory warehouse, he watches the wind-powered oscillators rotate, creating what he calls “an eclectic mix” of inspiration. Chad gathers pieces of history one fan at a time, and it all started at a 1995 yard sale when he discovered his first antique fan. “After I brought it home, I was amazed that something that old, with all the original components and bearings, still runs.” From that day forward, he kept a lookout at every yard sale, restoring one fan after another until he eventually turned his passion into Antique Fan Parts, a business that helps fan collectors acquire missing parts. For him, being a collector has a long history: beginning with toy tractors, a hobby he started with his father when he was in the fourth grade. Today, his collector’s artistry is emulated through Antique Fan Parts, revering the amazement that flows when another relic of history is restored.

Photographed, Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Hickory, N.C. JERRY WOLFORD and SCOTT MUTHERSBAUGH / Perfecta Visuals