General Electric Roll-Easy For Sale!

[annahmarie]

Hello All,

My fiance and I have been helping fix up his late grandmother's home so his father can put it on the market. While cleaning out the linen closet I came across this awesome turquoise vacuum cleaner. I did some research and found out that there are a lot of people who love the GE Roll-Easy!

I LOVE mid-century vintage, but we simply don't have the space for this lovely little vacuum. I'm hoping that one of you will take it into your home and appreciate it as much as I do (or maybe more!)

The vacuum still works. It has its original manual with all of the accessories and parts (I double-checked the manual to make sure). There are even some bags to go along with it. The only thing that's missing is its original box. It's in pretty great condition--just the usual scuffs from regular use in its heyday. One of the dust brushes is a bit dusty--but it rubs off.

We are asking for a fair offer as we don't know it's value. We're not looking to rip anyone off. The bottom line is that it goes to someone who appreciates it. Let me know what you all think! Thanks!

Annah-Marie

 

[s31463221]

Roll-Easy

Hi there,

I am definitely interested in the vacuum. Could you please email me at [email protected] to discuss it? Thank you!

Steve

 

[annahmarie]

Hi Steve,

I'll shoot you an e-mail momentarily. I'm using my phone so I'm sorry if I lag!

Best,
Annah-Marie

 

[electrolux137]

With all due respect, you'd be much better off listing this on eBay. This machine could easily bring $500.00 or more in its almost perfect condition. Offering it here to the "highest offerer" is not likely going to be as rewarding for you.

"I hear you" that you don't want to make a fortune on it; at the same time, don't shoot yourself in the foot. This is a real treasure. They hardly ever show up anymore, much less in this condition.

P.S.: To get that white stuff off the dusting brush (it's a type of mold), spray it with clorox bleach from a spray bottle. Let the bleach sit for a minute or two, then wash the brush in soapy water and rinse thoroughly. It will look as good as new!

 

[kenkart]

Some day!!!

I intend to have one of these complete!

 

[rugsucker]

Roll Easy

These are rare and wonderful in any condition.Just from the 1 picture yours looks very 'low milage' and complete.Most original hoses were worn out and replaced by the 60s if they weren't traded or trashed.Your wands could be the best I've seen!The Roll Easy was styled by Freda Diamond to be"the Most Beatiful Vacuum in the World".I still think of one I drove past by a trash can in 1982 and didn't stop as I was in traffic and had,and still have, one.
Hope yours finds a good home at a price all are happy with.

 

[dysonman1]

It's definitely a machine that, in it's wonderful condition, would sell for at least $500 on eBay. That original hose alone is a treasure.

 

[aeoliandave]

Well, since the door of opportunity has been flung open...

Yup, I'd gladly pay $500 (and more)  for an all original Roll Easy in this superb condition.


Of course, I'd want to pick it up in person and heck, I already have 3 Roll Easys...but not the highly desirable 2nd version like yours


 


But no original hose and my first gen wands are losing their copper plateing.


 


Where in Illinois are you located? We have members probably close by that should save this beauty and compensate AnnaMarie fairly, just sayin'...


 


FYI, you have a second generation R1 with the narrower 'pinched' concave body, the hose inlet centered and a fold down metal handle. The first generation carry handle is a vinyl strap that can break,


'Tho I expect no one ever carried the Roll Easy by the handle; for convenience I imagine the vacuum was towed to the closet by the hose.


 


The first version has a wider  fatter convex barrel body between the wheels and the hose inlet off center (which caused the vacuum to veer to the side when pulled). The second blank hole is meant to accept an unused wand as a handle to pilot the vacuum around like a wagon.


 But again I expect most owners didn't use this feature much unless they were the most careful of owners such as your Husband's Grandmother.


 


The 3rd  and final version of the R1 discontinued the copper plating for plain aluminum and the wheel rubber colour was changed.


 


Never Lift or Pull a RollEasy up stairs by the hose ( as shown ib the magazine advertisments), especially an original. It's a heavy object. That's what caused so many of the original turquoise hoses to split and be replaced with a GE cotton thread or rayon woven hose by the dealerships, which is perfectly acceptable of course.


 


Dave

[this post was last edited: 6/2/2013-17:14]

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Dave!

Someone might think you really were 'into' those G.E. cleaners. Imagine that!!

 

[rugsucker]

Summer 2013 issue of Atomic Ranch,

always one of the best on the newstand,has a great article by Don Emmite(whose home was featured in 07)on many industrial designers(but not Loewy)who tranformed household pruducts into works of mid century art.It includes kitchen appliances from Sunbeam,Nutone and more as well as irons from Casco and others.The vacuums include Roll Easy,Constellation and Electrolux.It confirms an automotive heritage of the tail fin Atlas.The Christmas ad for miXMASter will make you wonder how many times you have seen this as 1 word,not 2.
Could be timely with the above discussion.

 

[portable]

<span style="font-family: verdana,geneva; font-size: medium;">Don Emmite was a member of the VCCC during the mid-90's. A very nice and knowledgable man who knows his mid-Century stuff. I think you had joined the club by then, right Jimmy? Did you ever meet Don in person?</span>

 

[kenkart]

Don..

Was at the VCCC convention in 96 in St Louis, I have lost touch with him but he is a very nice person, his house is FULL of mid century goodies.

 

[dysonman1]

I remember Don. He was a very nice and knowledgeable guy. Our 1996 VCCC Convention in St. Louis was really special. Wasn't that the first time Lady Beverly Whispertone made her appearance?

 

[kenkart]

OMG YES!!

Do you remember that monologue!!!LOL, We were so afraid of offending Tania as it was her first time around us, and I think she had just as much fun as we did,also I can still see you and I spreading vacuum bag dirt all over your living room rug to have the cleaning contest!!! and then Clay making all manner of fun of that awful monstrosity of a vacuum, what was the name of that thing, I remember he shook it while it was running and it sprayed water everywhere!! I still have the model 120 Lewyt you gave me! We sure had fun, oh, and that great restaurant where they threw the rolls at you!!That was one great time!

 

[kenkart]

1996 Convention..

I drove my 62 Plymouth Fury and David Watters drove his 65 Chrysler 300!!!I remember Jimmy Martin and John Young were in front of me going home and I got in a race with a Buick Grand National, I finally passed him...at 110!!

 

[rugsucker]

-1996-

Yes,I met Don and many other great people in the 90s.Don since organised a MCM show in TX and found a NEW GE wall hung fridg.The previous AR article on Dons home was the first time I saw the GE Partio Cart(?),a GE stove on a wheel cart to roll to the patio for cookouts.

 

[dysonman1]

@Hans

That vacuum was a Thermax - and I was humiliated. He called it a "Rube Goldberg Invention" and I think you called it "an Abomination". He said "That's no Rainbow" and shook it and the dirty water sprayed everywhere.

Do you remember Jason Davis? He cried when his Kirby model C picked up a rock or something that was in the test dirt and it jammed.

Those first VCCC Conventions were great. We were a small group, and everyone was so enthusiastic and excited to be there.

My favorite Convention was in North Canton. Alex Taber got a suite and we all brought vacuums. Stan Kann was given two Hoovers by the hotel maids. That was our first Cleaning Contest - mostly because we had nothing to do until it was time to go to the Hoover Vaults. We used the dirt that was in the vacuum bags as 'test dirt' - Lord the dust went everywhere.