White Mop Wringer Company 1963 news article

[ronni]

Thought I'd share this AMSTERDAM EVENING RECORDER AND DAILY DEMOCRAT online article from September 6, 1963: http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper4...nd Recorder 1963 Sep-Oct Grayscale - 0061.pdf

I'm wondering if WMWC was acquired by Consolidated Foods with Electrolux Corporation, if it became independent, or was sold to another company in 1968?

Also, did the company only manufacture the commercial canisters for Electrolux (excluding the motors and motor housings), or was there other product collaboration?

 

[ronni]

The information I'd read prior to discovering the aforementioned news article indicated that WMWC's resources helped to produce the Model C.A.--a VDTA article even stated that the Model C.A. was branded both as an Electrolux and as a White.

In another thread I viewed the patent, which was filed in 1961 and issued in 1965.

One has to wonder, then, if there'd either been collaboration between EC and WMWC prior to the former's acquisition of the latter in 1963 or if the Model C.A. debuted afterward (another case of EC's history being inaccurate)? If it were later, then it could be that the C.A. and CB were sold concurrently for awhile as someone had speculated in another thread.

Perhaps the instruction manuals' copyrights would provide an answer.

######

Interesting to note that Electrolux, Inc. became Electrolux Corporation in 1931--I hadn't heard of that before.

 

[ronni]

6-63 Sales Slip

This eBay listing photo of a sales slip, print dated 6-63 and used for an April 23, 1964 sale, does not list filters or the special attachments made for the Model C.A.

I've also seen a 1963 or 1964 "Complete Home Maintenance Service" flyer including the Model B-8 (without the Carpet Beautifier), Rug Washer, Model L and Hospital G but without the C.A.; so, that also indicates a later introduction.

 

[caligula]

Hi ronni:

I saw and used an Electrolux Model C-A back in 1961, and have one in holding pattern from another member once we can clear up a few shipping details.

I think the connection is that the C-A was a wet/dry machine, so the components for wet pick-up were designed by the White company and the vacuum cleaner design be Electrolux.

Contrary to what Electrolux claimed, this being that they made the 'entire' machine, the factory was in a residential area, so they could not make rubber parts! I know for a fact that the cords were made by Belden in Chicago, and the early cord winders were made in Philadelphia.

As to the C-A, it was the only wet/dry model, and I know it was a great machine. And once I get out of the barrage of bills will see about getting mine shipped here.

 

[rugsucker]

Commercial Electrolux

I have been told by an Elux mgr who started in 1955 that he was in a meeting when it was decided or announced that Electrolux would buy the White company 'to get the commercial vac'.
It might be logical to assume that only Elux developed the CA with automatic control,4 ply bag,power nozzle & other Elux features and after high manufacturing cost and sales prices was looking for a less expensive but quality comm vac.(Much like the later complicated first Upright was replaced by the lighter and easier to manufacture Discovery with huge sales figures.)As White was known as a 'mop bucket'company the CB would have been more their type of product.Early models could have painted or stainless tanks.BOTH the CA & early CB could have optional wet pick up kits.
The 'Home' flyer would not be likely to show a comm vac that had its own brochure and demo items.I have seen a picture in a 1963 Electrolux news of a salesman delivering a CA and Mo Rs to a hotel.I have 'in a box somewhere' a contract copy of a polisher and CA sold to another hotel(not sure of date).
In this area I have only known of CAs at one mens clothing store,one funeral home and have heard of a nice motel that traded CAs for AirWay 88s when maids did not like size and weight of the CA.This is in contrast to dozens of CBs.

 

[ronni]

Thanks for your reply, Alex.

I didn't know about the rubber restriction for factories near residential areas--interesting.

Vis-à-vis the Model C.A., I wonder if the one you saw in 1961 was a prototype as I wouldn't expect that mass production would occur much before the patents were approved. It's too bad that the Model G and other manuals didn't mention it or the other floor care lines like those printed during the Consolidated Foods era. Perhaps there were special flyers made for businesses which advertised them.

Admittedly, I know very little about the WMWC. Did it have its own wet/dry vacuum line prior to being acquired by EC? Perusing through a company catalog of its products from that era would be interesting.

One item I've noted is that the serial #s of the Model C.A. and earlier Model CBs did not follow Electrolux's typical pattern with the letters--they only included numerals which is an indication that they were assigned by White instead.

I'm glad for you that you will be getting your own Model C.A. and am sure you'll post a thread when you do. I'm looking forward to it! If it comes with an owner's manual, it would be great if you'd post at least a portion of it.

 

[dysonman1]

Thank Goodness I asked Questions!

When I was President of the VCCC, I arranged for the club to go to Electrolux's Bristol plant for a tour. As President of the club, I got to walk the tour with Electrolux's CEO (at that time) along with a few other club members. It was during that tour I convinced him to give the club a Commemorative Edition (I've had nothing to do with the VCCC for more than ten years so I don't know if it still exists).

On that tour, I had a chance to talk with an engineer who worked on the CA. He gave me two original instruction manuals for the CA. I asked a LOT of questions about the machine. Apparently, Electrolux bought the White Mop Wringer Company because they had already developed the CA and wanted to get into a commercial RETAIL market with it. The machine was labeled a WHITE for that market (and those catalogs), as well as labeled an Electrolux for their door to door salesmen to sell.

The machine labeled WHITE was sold with the optional wet pick up kit, but not the power nozzle. The Electrolux labeled machine had the same wet pick up option (the kit) as well as the Power Nozzle option. The receptacle on top for the power nozzle's cord was on both versions.

At that time, I was given a new fiberglass filter for the CA, as well as two bags labeled WHITE and one labeled Electrolux.

Later, Evan Rogers would give me his beautiful model CA with ten foot hose, and complete attachment set. Its' serial number is 7706.

Six years ago, Rich Luisi (Vice President of Aerus) gave me a brand new, old stock cloth bag for the CA.

All CA's were manufactured in Old Greenwich at the Electrolux factory.

 

[caligula]

Not a prototype!

Hi ronni:

No the C-A I saw and used was not a prototype, it was one of the first off the assembly line. Here's the story.

My grandfather, Alexander Rowan, was the house director for Choate school (now Choate/Rosemary Hall) in Wallingford, Connecticut. My grandpa bought all the vacuum cleaners and had a standing contract with both an Electrolux dealer, and one from Kirby. As my grandpa knew my interest in vacuum cleaners, each time he acquired an updated Electrolux or Kirby for the school he brought it home for me to use. I got to run it for the day, and give it a good workout then he took it to the school for the crew to use in classrooms etc.. I was only about 10, maybe 11, but I liked that machine and have wanted one ever since. Now I have my eye on one, but need to get out from a barrage of other payments before I can get it.

By the way, it's out of respect for my grandpa that I decided to go with my middle name Alexander, and drop the Robert which was from my other grandfather who was never in my life.

Alex Taber

 

[caligula]

Wallingford is only 55 miles away from Old Greenwich, which was where the Electrolux was manufactured. So my grandpa got the vacuum cleaners 'hot off the presses' so to speak. Also once a product has been seen or patent applied for it can be marketed, as 'patent pending.'

I'm not about to get into the White mop company conversation as I don't know anything about it, my interest is Electrolux. And on that I got from the horses mouth so to speak because I knew the man my grandpa dealt with very well.

 

[ronni]

Thanks for the replies. I apologize, Jimmy, for missing yours last evening. Good information and much appreciated.

I'm glad you asked so many questions during your Electrolux tour, Tom. Your information helped put the puzzle pieces together!

Alex, I appreciate the details of your 1961 memory of the Model C.A. I'm sure your grandfather would be honored that you've chosen to use his name and share a bit about him on this forum.

I just consulted the Copyright Catalog that listed the "Electrolux heavy duty cleaner" manual as 17Jul61 along with the "Electrolux heavy duty cleaner salesmen's guide for operating model C-A."

 

[rugsucker]

CA instruction manuals

I have seen 2 different versions.The older one I only recieved as a copy of an original.I later saw a newer manuaul that was slightly different in that it had more cautions of not overfilling optional wet pick up tank and to use defoamer to prevent suds.I was not able to copy.It was full size and deluxe, as was everything on the CA, with matching tinted covers that could have been used on a luxury car brochure of that era.

 

[ronni]

Jimmy,

I read that the earlier iteration of the Model C.A. had a 700-watt motor, so that would have been another update in the revised manual.

If you can, please post your manual copy. I've never seen one.

 

[rugsucker]

CA

Motors were similar to Mo G but were for CA only and identified with red carbon brush holders.
My copy is not the best quality.Will try to post next time it is seen from 'a box somewhere.'I think it included a copy of a sales folder.It does show with a drawing that the CA is so much better than a comm vac of the 'bucket with a motor on top'type that Black & Decker,Craftool/Craftsman,Delta & others were making.And later comes the CB!

 

[ronni]

Was either Model C.A. motor used in the early Model CB?

Looking forward to whenever you're able to post the manual(s)!

 

[paul]

No. 3440 Round 44-quart Bucket

The No. 3440 seems to be the bucket that was retrofitted for the CB. Photos are from eBay.