GE Brochure

[danemodsandy]

Thanks!

Countryguy, I stand corrected about the number of casters on a GE swivel-top; it's been about twenty years since I used one. I still remember seething after about the fifth time it tipped over in one afternoon's vacuuming. It reminded me of a malfunctioning R2-D2.

And yes, Charlie, they were not much fun to empty!

The one I recall was green and white, with green tools. It had the tool caddy, but no cordwinder. And the guy who owned it never HEARD of coiling the cord neatly. I would do that after I used it, but if he grabbed it, he'd put it back in the closet "as-is", with the cord tangled up around everything in there.

WTH, it was his machine, not mine.

 

[compactelectra]

I Agree

The green and chrome machine has nothing but nostalgic value to me since my mom bought one. The one she got had a chrome handle with the cord winder and a vinyl wire-reinforced hose. The one I have has a braided green hose. I can shoot more pictures if you are interested. The machine was not that great for all the reasons already stated - messy to empty, easily tipped, no floor brush, poorly designed rug nozzle, etc, etc. It was, however, a great improvement over the Kenmore Commander it replaced. I remember as a kid sitting at the bottom of the stairs with the new machine on a Saturday night in absolute awe. The awe wore off when I replaced the hose and attachments with a set from Hoover. I was quite precocious and since Mom really didn't care about vacuuming, never noticed.

 

[charles~richard]

Many GE's?!

GE sure did make many variations of the same basic machine. The one I remember was exactly like the one Fred describes, except that the attachments, as I said earlier, were white as was the braided vinyl hose - white with green stripes. I have seen quite a few of the Swivel Top machines over the years and in an astonishing variety of colors and trim/attachment combinations!

Some time ago I saw on eBay the identical GE to the one I remember -- same white hose etc. I kept my eye on it but for some reason at the last minute the seller pulled the plug on the auction.

 

[danemodsandy]

What Was the Non-GE Version?

Does anyone recall who made the swivel-top after GE exited the small appliance biz in the '70s (if memory serves)? I remember seeing the same machine sold under another brand name- GE obviously sold off the tooling, as it did for another of its flagship small appliances, the GE Mustang portable stereo. The tooling was sold to Emerson, and the "new" machine called the Emerson Wildcat.

 

[compactelectra]

Non GE Version

Was called Premiere. I am not sure what the actual history and ownership was though.

Fred

 

[countryguy]

More Pics

Compactelectra,
I'd love to see more pics of your GE swivel top

Gary

 

[compactelectra]

OK Gary

Here they are. I usually don't photograph machines that haven't been given the once over cleaning, but didn't realize this machine needed a cleaning until I shot the photos. I think I got this one from Chad S. If I did - thanks!! Chad I know that at one point you expressed regret about parting with it. If you want it back, let's talk.

Fred

 

[compactelectra]

Back Shot

Replaced plug, but a cordwinder model. My mom's had a metal handle and a off-white wire-reinforced hose. I always felt a bit cheated since they had a great Hoover dealer in Park Ridge (Hillary's hometown.) Mom finally got a lavender 33 but with no attachments.

 

[compactelectra]

Top Shot

With the cover off. Consumer Reports noted how messy this model was to empty and how it was exceptionally difficult to clean stairs with.

 

[citation]

more GE memories

I never knew anyone who had one but I remember seeing the moss green and chrome version in the the stores. It will live on, of course, as the vacuum June used to keep her house spotless on "Leave It To Beaver". I think it was the same one all the years the show was on. Color unknown, b & w show. I guess it lasted better than Aunt Bea's long string of Hoovers - but that's a topic for another time. Cheers! Tom

 

[countryguy]

GE Swivel top

Compactelectra,
thanks for sharing the pics. That is the same version of the swivel top I had before I got my current one.

Gary

 

[portable]

Was called Premiere. I am not sure what...

the actual history and ownership was though."

Well, Compactelectra, GE had bought out the Premier Company (the one that made the Premier Duplex, but by the time of the buyout, Premier was in sad shape. I forgot when it happened (early 50s?) The Premier actually stayed around a long time. I can;t figure out why - basically, GE was competing with itself, tho' toward the end of their production of vacuums, GE stopped making their own version of the Premier-like machines. Appliance manfr's are a strange breed.