General Electric Model AV-1

[psvacuum]

Can anyone help me date a GE AV-1 vacuum cleaner? I've seen references to the AV-3 and AV-5, but cannot find out anything about the AV-1. GE never responded to my inquiry. Could this be GE's first model? Still runs. I was actually using it until about 10 years ago.

 

[kirbykid]

ive got the ge av4 and mine is from about 1939 so yours should be 1934 ish

 

[portable]

<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Hi Pamela,</span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The AV-1 has been a mystery that I am working on, as well as a number of other GE's models. We do have a GE model list that has circulated through the club that shows that the AV-1 stopped being manufactured in 1939. It's hard to say when it first was in circulation, until I can find more evidence about that. </span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">kirbykid ventured a good guess - probably about 1934-35. Can you take pictures of your AV-1 from the back and side and post them here? There was a very similar headlight model that also went out of production in 1939, owned by one of our members.</span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> Anyway, if you can, please take some pictures of your AV-1 and post them here. </span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Thanks, Pamela.</span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium;">John</span>

 

[psvacuum]

General Electric AV-1 - More Pictures

Thank you for your replies. I always thought this was a vacuum my dad had bought for my mother, but they weren't married unti the mid-1950s - so I guess I'll never know how this came into our family.
Anyway, here are more pictures.

 

[psvacuum]

General Electric AV-A More Pictures

The back.

 

[psvacuum]

General Electric AV-1

Front access to belt.

 

[psvacuum]

General Electric AV-1

Close-up of front.

 

[psvacuum]

General Electric AV-1

Side view.

 

[psvacuum]

General Electric AV-1

Top of the bag, which used a little piece of wood (now broken)to keep the bag's shape, instead of metal.

 

[kirbykid]

here is mine

 

[kenkart]

AVI!

This machine was rated number 1 in 1936 by Consumers Union,the fore runner of consumer reports, believe it or not they said it was a BETTER cleaner than the 150 Hoover...an opinion I do not share, but it was a really good low priced cleaner, I will see if I can find the article.

 

[oreck_xl]

It's unfortunate you never got a reply from G.E. They've been out of the vacuum cleaner manufacturing business about 40 years now, and production dates are as John pointed out something of a mystery. I myself was always curious about when they merged with Premier, why some G.E. tank cleaners have full runners others have mini-runners, why they stopped making vacuums and how much later did Premier fold?

- Hershel

 

[portable]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Pamela,Thanks for the pictures. It answered a question about the height adjustment and the rear wheels. </span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Hans - Thanks for that info about Consumers Report. That narrows down the age of the AV-1. Generally, C.R. reviewed machines that were one or two years old (or less), so that puts the AV-1 in the 1935-1936 range.</span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Hershel - there is a history somewhere here on the Forum of the GE/Premier change in ownership: I believe it was written by "Rugmaster". You can probably do a search here on the Forum to find it.</span>

 

[psvacuum]

General Electric Model AV-1

Given that it was probably made in 1935-36, must have belonged to one of my grandmothers. So the worn handle represents 3 generations of woman's work (and men -- my dad used it after my mother passed). Thanks for all the information. If you can find the consumer's union article, I would love to have a copy. For now, definitely will be lugging this thing around for hopefully many more years as part of my personal history.