aeoliandave
Well-known member
There is so much obscure information to be gleaned from studying vintage advertisements...
such as, how the first Eureka Roto-matic 800 series model became a 'Super' Roto-matic with the addition of a streamlined low profile four caster Roto-Dolly 'donut' replacing the earlier snap on caster cross brace style.
The Uureka 800 series Roto-matics that take the 8" diameter 'J' bag always had four Attach-O-Matic tool clips riveted to the base. At first and as late as 1952, there were no wheels and of course advertisements trumpeted the swivel-top hose connection's feature to clean about an average room without moving the vacuum, borrowing Air-Way's lead and preceding the Hoover Constellation by several years.
The first Roto-Dolly in 1953 was a simple cross brace with 4 casters that clipped to the base. But this arrangement allowed the overhanging clipped tools to get clipped again and again as the cleaner was pulled past furniture across the floor and around corners.
Partway through 1955 the new improved streamlined donut-style Roto-Dolly with a rubber bumpered rim that extended beyond the tool overhang appeared, saving the tools and imparting a floating ring look with hidden casters similar to the Fairfax dolly. The Roto-Matic was now referred to as the Super Roto-Matic.
In 1956 the All New 'decorator colours' yellow Super Rotomatic model 910 debuted with 'exquisite new styling' and the Style 'K' double size throw-a-way dustbag. The larger body integrated the bumper ring 4" higher up the sides and the woven hose was replaced with the new lighter vinyl coil hose.
But the handy tool clips were eliminated. Solution? A colour-matched cloth girdle similar to the early Filter Queen girdle with 4 hanging pockets was provided, secured to the seam line between the lid and bucket.
Another observation - 1955 seems to be the tipping point when most manufactures switched from cloth and vinyl weave to vinyl wrapped hoses, as Hoover had been doing for decades. GE, Eureka, Singer and Lewyt with it's second Big Wheel all featured the new vinyl coil hose in 1955.
But what about Westinghouse? Well, The T-6, introduced in 1953 came with a vinyl coil hose, beating all it's competitors, save Hoover, to the punch. I'm not sure when Filter Queen switched to vinyl.
So here we have the lovely and talented Betty Furness in 1953 explaining Short Cuts to Cleaning with the new Westinghouse T-6. Also mentioned is Raoul Lambert, well-known industrial designer of the T-6, about whom I have found no other information on Google.
such as, how the first Eureka Roto-matic 800 series model became a 'Super' Roto-matic with the addition of a streamlined low profile four caster Roto-Dolly 'donut' replacing the earlier snap on caster cross brace style.
The Uureka 800 series Roto-matics that take the 8" diameter 'J' bag always had four Attach-O-Matic tool clips riveted to the base. At first and as late as 1952, there were no wheels and of course advertisements trumpeted the swivel-top hose connection's feature to clean about an average room without moving the vacuum, borrowing Air-Way's lead and preceding the Hoover Constellation by several years.
The first Roto-Dolly in 1953 was a simple cross brace with 4 casters that clipped to the base. But this arrangement allowed the overhanging clipped tools to get clipped again and again as the cleaner was pulled past furniture across the floor and around corners.
Partway through 1955 the new improved streamlined donut-style Roto-Dolly with a rubber bumpered rim that extended beyond the tool overhang appeared, saving the tools and imparting a floating ring look with hidden casters similar to the Fairfax dolly. The Roto-Matic was now referred to as the Super Roto-Matic.
In 1956 the All New 'decorator colours' yellow Super Rotomatic model 910 debuted with 'exquisite new styling' and the Style 'K' double size throw-a-way dustbag. The larger body integrated the bumper ring 4" higher up the sides and the woven hose was replaced with the new lighter vinyl coil hose.
But the handy tool clips were eliminated. Solution? A colour-matched cloth girdle similar to the early Filter Queen girdle with 4 hanging pockets was provided, secured to the seam line between the lid and bucket.
Another observation - 1955 seems to be the tipping point when most manufactures switched from cloth and vinyl weave to vinyl wrapped hoses, as Hoover had been doing for decades. GE, Eureka, Singer and Lewyt with it's second Big Wheel all featured the new vinyl coil hose in 1955.
But what about Westinghouse? Well, The T-6, introduced in 1953 came with a vinyl coil hose, beating all it's competitors, save Hoover, to the punch. I'm not sure when Filter Queen switched to vinyl.
So here we have the lovely and talented Betty Furness in 1953 explaining Short Cuts to Cleaning with the new Westinghouse T-6. Also mentioned is Raoul Lambert, well-known industrial designer of the T-6, about whom I have found no other information on Google.
