GE Swivel Top Question

[sireluxomatic]

Does anyone know around what time the GE swivel top vacuums changed from patterned woven hoses to the white vinyl ones? My folks had one when I was young (beige top/base, white in the middle), and I believe they told me they got it as a wedding present (they were married in '67). It had a white vinyl hose for as long as I can remember, so I wondered if that would in fact be the original hose. I think I have a picture of myself as a young lad playing with it, which I'll try to hunt up.

 

[compactelectra]

Bob

My folks bought a GE Swivel Top - Green with the vinyl hose. I am thinking that the vinyl hose came earlier in the US. I have one in my collection - the exact machine, but with the woven hose. Not sure of the year.

 

[sireluxomatic]

Hi Fred. I managed to find a pic in a thread about Doug Smith's collection. My folks' old machine is in the middle row, 3rd from the left. I remember it had a completely different rug/floor tool as well; much smaller than the one in your pic. Of course, Canadian and American GE's may have had differences in the parts and so on.

I have great memories of that vacuum. It was probably my favorite childhood toy, and I remember that by the time it "died" (sometime in the 80's, I think), it was completely missing the handle and the three wheels, and the rug/floor tool had become permanently welded onto the wand. Other than that, it worked well.



http://www.vacuumland.org/TD/ARCHIVE/VINTAGE/2008/2961x22.htm

 

[kenmore81]

Ahh Memories

Bob,my ganmother had the one like yours only it was baged as Whirlwind and wad all the same color only the bumper and swivel top was white,as well as the hose and attachments.But the hose on hers was vinyl,and she got it at the local home and hardware store Benny's around 1970, My aunt had the one bottom row 2nd from the left, only it was Premier brand and the hose was cloth,it was given to her by her friend across the street,I guess we were a generic GE family lol, I too used to love playing with them and like yours the handle on grans broke off and both had the smaller floor tool with duct tape trim lol.
Ken

 

[sireluxomatic]

As I remember the handle was a little flimsy anyway, wasn't it? Also, did those vacuums take a paper bag? The one my folks had only had a cloth bag...I never remember seeing a paper bag in it.

Another thing that stands out is that I would wind the cord around the body VERY carefully, taking care that one loop didn't overlap the other, while making sure the logo was still visible. Then I'd tuck it carefully into its closet and give it a little pat...it really was like a baby to me

 

[kenmore81]

Yes

They did take paper bag inserts or liners if you will they were usualy pink. But alot of people just used the cloth inner bag,and yes the handles on the models like yours and my grans were very flimsy. The handles were a little more sturdy on the ones like my aunts.

 

[aeoliandave]

Bob, I love how you describe winding the cord. To this day I do the same thing with uprights, cylinders and all. It's part of the vacuuming ritual. One of the enchantments of the Lewyt Big Wheel is the molded cord winding flutes around the rim. as well as the Hoover Tempo series. It vaquely disturbs me that internal cordwinders don't have a helical tracking guide - like a watering hose reel or shuttle bobbin winder - to keep the cord coils tidy. You could put a longer cord on a cordwinder if they had one and who doesn't want a longer cord? ROTFL!

And we all know cords have a natural position they want to take when re-wound. Its the haphazard twisting stowage technique of those who don't care that results in twisted damaged cords. I'm diligent about unwinding and re-twisting telephone cords. and when it comes to lamp cords and adapter power supplies I take the time to wind the cord flat in orderly coils. It's not really about the obsession - it's about respect for the machine...really! And it looks nice.

Whoops, too much mildly symptomatic OCD information...

Dave

 

[sireluxomatic]

Cords and Other Obsessions

To be honest, Dave, the world (at least my world) just couldn't have continued turning if the cord wasn't properly stored around that GE, not to mention the hose carefully coiled around the base of the cleaner, etc, etc.

I'm obsessive about other things too (checking my pockets at least 2356 times to make sure the keys are there on a 5 minute walk to the store comes to mind, not to mention being unable to sit down and relax until the house is spotless), but particularly so about vacuums. For example, I have a row of about 6 hoses hung over a closet rod. Each hose has to be spaced exactly the same distance apart, each pistol grip handle has to be pointing in the same direction, and they have to be carefully ordered according to the manufacturing date of the vacuum they belong to.

I try to do the same thing with cords...keep them as carefully coiled and stress-free as possible. I agree with you that it seems like an obsession, but it pays off in the long run.

And what can you say about someone who used to cover the GE with a blanket so it wouldn't get cold in the dark closet?