Canadian Westinghouse Floor Polisher

[eurekaprince]

I am trying to find a photo of a floor polisher I seem to remember seeing when I was a child in the 1960’s. In 1966 or 1965, my parents were looking to buy a new home for us in Montreal and I remember going along with them when they went to look at some houses. There was one house that we saw a few times which had a really modern looking two brush floor polisher in a closet off the kitchen. Even as a young toddler, I knew the difference between different brandnames, and I remember that this floor polisher had the famous “W” logo for Westinghouse on the front of the motor hood. The motor hood was kind of square and flat topped, and was a cream or beige colour.

I have not been able to find proof of the existence of this polisher anywhere on the internet…it could be that it was unique to Canadian Westinghouse and made in Canada.

If anyone here at Vacuumland might have one or at least a picture of what I am talking about, that would be great!!!

 

[paul]

Hey Brian,

The database I used doesn't allow me to specify a certain region, country, or periodical, but here are some newspaper ads that feature Westinghouse floor polishers. Unfortunately, only two identify the model number. In addition, I included Westinghouse a logo timeline from logopedia.com for reference, in case the one you remember was actually pre-1960.

Hope this helps!

_______________________________________

1. 1957 Dec. 21 THE TELEGRAPH - Westinghouse Floor Polisher
2. 1959 Aug. 26 TOLEDO BLADE - Westinghouse Floor Polisher
3. 1960 May 4 SPOKESMAN-REVIEW - Westinghouse Floor Polisher
4. 1960 May 5 DESERET NEWS - Westinghouse Polisher
5. 1961 Mar. 31 LIFE - Westinghouse Scrubber-Polisher
6. 1963 Jan. 16 NEVADA DAILY MAIL - Westinghouse Floor Polisher & Carousel Vaccum Cleaner
7. 1965 Sep. 22 WASHINGTON REPORTER - Westinghouse Floor Polisher - Model VP22
8. 1968 May 30 TUSCALOOSA NEWS - Westinghouse Poweraire canister & Floor Polisher - Model UP20
9. 1970 Nov. 18 WINDSOR STAR - Westinghouse Floor Polisher
10. Westinghouse Logo Timeline
11. 1886-1900 logotype enlarged

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks so much, Paul!

Unfortunately none of the ads shows the modern Westinghouse polisher as I remember it. Indeed, the “W” logo I remember is the last one on your list.

Up until the 1980’s, we could not sell American made floor care products here in Canada. So all American companies had Canadian factories making their products here for the Canadian consumer.

This mystery polisher had a very simple low profile box for a motor hood. And it definitely had the “W” off to one side of the front of the polisher.

Even if I am not remembering the logo correctly, I have yet to see a picture of that polisher on the internet - even with any other brandname like Regina or Hoover.

 

[paul]

You're welcome, Brian! Sorry, though, that I didn't have one featuring the model you recall. It must be rare - Doug Smith doesn'teven have one!

I'll keep checking. You might even try looking yourself using your public or university libraries' online periodical databases.

 

[paul]

Hey Brian,

Is this it?

1966 Apr 19 CALGARY HERALD

 

[eurekaprince]

Eureka! You found it Paul!!! That’s it! Thank you! So I am not “crazy” after all!!!

 

[eurekaprince]

And look what I found! Based on your research, I Googled “1966 Westinghouse floor polisher” and my search came up with an Ebay Canada listing selling a glossy Canadian Westinghouse corporate brochure showing the polisher along with other products! See link below….

In 1966, my parents were looking to move us to a new suburban house in the neighbourhood. They would often take me with them when they were looking at houses for sale. It was on one of those visits to a newly-built townhouse that I spotted this handsome Westinghouse floor polisher in the broom closet. Though the colours I remember were different (cream colour motor hood, darker brown bumper), the model is the same as the HP14 shown in the brochure and the ad you found from Calgary.

Finally! Mystery solved! Would love to see a pic of the HP14 in real life…

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/392204738314

 

[paul]

Yay! Glad I was able to help!

Here's another source for Westinghouse Canada photos:

https://library.mcmaster.ca/finding-aid/westinghouse

I do wonder if what you recall seeing as a youth was actually the Model HP-12, though, due to the color scheme difference? I have been unable to find anything more than text, so it's a possibility. A search for HP-13 came up empty.

Here's an idea: perform & save eBay searches for both models. Then you will automatically be notified when listings occur.