GE Swivel Top Canister. When Was It Made?

[michaelt]

Hello. I just purchased a nice GE Swivel Top cleaner from ebay. It's a small one, unlike the C7s but not a Lowboy model. It's beige on top and dark brown on the bottom and has an older style swivel top. The model # is V12C8. Does anyone have an idea when it was made? It has the deluxe bumper with the General Electric name spelled out on it, but the exhaust blows from an opening on the bottom. It appears to have 2 metal brackets on the back, presumably for attachment or cord storage.

Thanks,

Michael

 

[canisterman]

If its the one i think

That would be the second lowboy made which would be 59-60

 

[michaelt]

GE Swivel Top Canister. When Was It Made?

Hi Canisterman. Thank you for your reply. I didn't know they made Lowboy models that early. I thought they were made later. Would this one be a single-fan model?

Michael

 

[canisterman]

Yes single fan

The first low boy was grey and white with bright orange bumper and pink/orange attachments.1958

 

[rugsucker]

GE--

--should be same as vacuum of the day today.

 

[lesinutah]

I

Had a pepto busmal pink that was made in 1962.

 

[beevac]

THe first swivel top GE canister was the model 815

I have a model C4 GE Roll Around cleaner that of course has a swivel top. It is beige & sort of a paprika red. Has the double action rug unit.

 

[eurekaprince]

From Doug Smith’s website, it looks like the GE Swivel Top 815 debuted in 1952. Was the Air Way tower canister with the swivelling topside hose connection created earlier than 1952? Who was “first on the block” with a top side swivel hose?

 

[kyzzlie]

Hello. I just purchased a nice GE Swivel Top cleaner from ebay. It's a small one, unlike the C7s but not a Lowboy model. It's beige on top and dark brown on the bottom and has an older style swivel top. The model # is V12C8. Does anyone have an idea when it was made? It has the deluxe bumper with the General Electric name spelled out on it, but the exhaust blows from an opening on the bottom. It appears to have 2 metal brackets on the back, presumably for attachment or cord storage.

Thanks,

Michael

Hi, I just purchased this same vacuum and am needing to find a replacement hose, do you have any suggestions?

 

[cheesewonton]

Hi, I just purchased this same vacuum and am needing to find a replacement hose, do you have any suggestions?

eBay is your friend. GE hoses turn up with regularity.

 

[kyzzlie]

eBay is your friend. GE hoses turn up with regularity.

I was searching there, but couldn’t find any. Maybe I need to wait it out Got it for $30 on FB marketplace, such a freakin steal!

 

[cheesewonton]

I was searching there, but couldn’t find any. Maybe I need to wait it out Got it for $30 on FB marketplace, such a freakin steal!

Patience and persistence are key attributes when collecting. I sometimes stalk ebay for many years waiting for a component I need to finally show up. Then I swoop. Just this past week a vacuum arrived on my door that I have been looking for for the better part of a decade. I often will buy just a hose or power nozzle for a vacuum I want in my collection knowing that in the fullness of time the rest of the vacuum will show up. I also know that if I don't buy the part when it is available, the vacuum will show up on ebay without the part I should have bought years before when I had the chance. I am currently on a hunt for the power nozzle for the beautiful electric blue Panasonic MC-CG887. I have the rest of the vacuum in great condition but no power nozzle. One will show up eventually. I had the same situation with another modern Panasonic vacuum and in time three of the correct power nozzle showed up. There is a steady drum beat of GE parts on ebay. You might also search under the Premier brand as those are just GEs with a different name.

 

[rugsucker]

If anyone wants the first lowboy as described above I found one hiding in a corner of an estate sale garage. It's good and complete but with a brown Kirby hose on original GE ends.Needs a new home.Maybe yours?--Jimmy--423-268-4841.

 

[paul]

Hello. I just purchased a nice GE Swivel Top cleaner from ebay. It's a small one, unlike the C7s but not a Lowboy model. It's beige on top and dark brown on the bottom and has an older style swivel top. The model # is V12C8. Does anyone have an idea when it was made? It has the deluxe bumper with the General Electric name spelled out on it, but the exhaust blows from an opening on the bottom. It appears to have 2 metal brackets on the back, presumably for attachment or cord storage.

Thanks,

Michael

Hi Mike,

I did some "data and photo digging" and assembled the following models list, photos and ads for you and others as there is such limited Swivel-Top information shared online. Btw, G-E's markets in other countries had their own model IDs and stylings.

US G-E Swivel-Tops/Roll-Arounds -- Standard & Deluxe designs have 5-quart disposable bags; 2 18-inch steel wands; 18-foot cord; blower port on side, cloth filter bag

Miscellaneous Info.

*Actual Color Name listed in ad (note: ‘Woodtone Brown’-listed in the color list attachment and ‘Cocoa’ may refer to the same color)

**Known US or CA G-E or Premier period appliance color - not ID’d in ad

The first alphanumeric in the model IDs (e.g. V11, P1) seems to be a catalog or lot number as it differed with the second alphanumeric (C__)—the only designation typically used in consumer ephemera and advertising. There are likely more such designations than those listed below. G-E was known to update its model IDs—some of which are shown in the attached photo’s, so it’s also possible that the first characters represented variations.

Introductory Years of Located Models (stamped on bottom of canisters or later on stickers) by - available ad & photo features (incomplete)

Design 1 Models - higher/narrower silhouette; toggle on/off switch; fabric weave on 18-foot rubber hose (1951-55); ribbed vinyl hose (1955-58); added features during production are noted below

Available accessories: Hose, de-mothing bag, dusting brush, upholstery nozzle, crevice tool, extension tubes, flip-over rug and floor nozzle

AVC-815 1951, 2-tone **Pearl Gray, 600W

C-1 (V-13) 1953, 2-tone **Cadet Blue, 600W

C-2 (V-13) 1954, style 1 - 2-tone **Turquoise Green, 600W; C-2 (V-11) style 2 - 2-tone**Petal Pink; new flip-over floor/rug tool; new roll-around dolly (1955)

C-3 (V-13) 1955, new roll-around dolly; new ribbed vinyl hose; flip-over tool; style 1 - *Coral/*Pink, 720W; style 2? - *Pink, *Beige & *Cocoa

C-4 1957 **Desert Beige/**Cocoa Brown (going by similar-looking Canadian G-E model VC2B ad), roll-around dolly

C-5 “Pacer” 1958, roll-around dolly


Design 2 Standard & Deluxe Models (1958-72) - lower/wider silhouette, slide on/off switch, built-in casters, 65-inch hose—vinyl (1958-59) woven wire-core hose (1959-72)

Available accessories: double-action cleaning unit (introduced for deluxe models in 1957) or updated twin clean floor nozzle unless basic rug-floor nozzle is listed below; dusting brush, fabric nozzle, crevice tool, floor/wall brush (deluxe models), cloth filter bag


C-7 (V13, V15) 1958, **Cypress Green/Chrome, automatic cord reel, piggy back tool caddy, dual exhaust, larger casters

C-8 (V12) 1960, **Woodtone Brown/**Espresso Brown

C-9 (V12, V15) 1960, 2-tone **Cadet Blue/White bumper, 750W

C-10 (V13) 1962, *Cypress Green/*White, 750W

C-11 (V11) 1962, Deluxe - *Espresso Brown/Chrome/*White, cord reel; piggy back tool caddy, unverified: dual exhaust & larger casters

C-12 (V12) 1962, *Beige/*White, toe-touch power switch, 750W

C-13 (V11) 1966 *Beige/*White, cord reel, detachable tool caddy, dual exhaust, larger casters, 830W

C-14 (P2, P-5) 1969, **Celery/**Moss Green, basic rug-floor nozzle, 830W

C-15 (P1) 1971, **Celery/**Moss Green trim, cord reel, tool caddy (continued as Premier)

C-16 1971 (P1), **Celery/**Moss Green (continued as Premier)

C-17 1971, Deluxe - cord reel, detachable tool caddy, hose suction regulator (no online photo located)

C-18 (P1) Super Deluxe, 1971 - **Celery/**Moss Green/Chrome, cord reel, detachable tool caddy, 2-speed power selector, 3-button suction control, bag indicator; unverified dual exhaust & larger wheels

SC-1 Floor Washer-Dryer blower accessory, 1960


Design 2 G-E / Premier Label Models c.1961-c.1965 (no online photos located)

PRC-1

PRC-2

PRC-3


Lowboy design features - low/wider silhouette, single-fan motor, blower port on bottom, 750W (all?), 65-inch hose, 17- or 18-foot cord; dusting brush, crevice tool, fabric nozzle, basic rug-floor nozzle (c.1963), cloth filter bag


C-6 (V11) 1958, *2 Tone Pearl Gray/*Coral

C-61 1959, Design 1 & 2? (Both shown in different ads), Two-Tone Color Styling, 750W

C-65 1963, Design 2

C-85 1965, Design 2?, cord reel

C-166 1963, Design 2, Red/White

C-177 1965, Design 2

C-188 (V11) 1966, Design 2, Turquoise Blue

C-200 1967, Design 2, *Avocado/*White, toe-touch switch

C-350 (P1), 1969, Design 2, *Harvest/*White (continued as Premier)


Design 2 Canister-Upright w/Power Nozzle

C-100 1963 **Cocoa Brown (same as or similar to C-4)/Chrome


US Premier Canisters (1972-c.1980--production shift to G-E's subsidiary)
Thank you, Keith, for posting the Premier brochure.
https://vacuumland.org/threads/the-ge-and-premier-electric-vacuum-cleaner-line-up-😊.40081/

C-20, 1973, Shagmaster tool, airflow regulator

C-29, 1975, Deluxe, detachable tool tray

C-450 Whirlwind, 1977, **Harvest/**White bumper

1503 - Chrome/**Moss Green/White

1553 - White/Chrome/Black?, TURBO-Head, detachable tool caddy; (C-17 design)

1754 - White/Chrome/Royal Blue, TURBO-Head, detachable tool caddy; (C-18 design)

3501 - White/Red or Orange

3508 - White/**Harvest

3511 - White/Chrome/**Harvest

3553 - White/Red or Orange, TURBO-Head, detachable tool caddy

3595 - White/Harvest, TURBO-Head, detachable tool caddy

 

[centralsweeper63]

Very interesting Paul, looks good.

 

[paul]

I

 

[centralsweeper63]

Paul, your research ability never fails to amaze me.