Name Changes
I always thought they were called "Dynamatic" here, but was beginning to doubt myself as everywhere on this site they're referred to as "Dialamatic". It's nice to know the brain isn't quite as bad as I thought
Which then brings me to wondering why we had the name change in Australia, and whether anyone knows of any other products (vacuums or otherwise) which get given different names in different markets.
My mum set out to buy the original Dynamatic (pumpkin orange and brown) somewhere between 1965 and 1970. While waiting for it to be delivered, the Electolux man called and demonstrated how his product found dirt even after mum had used her old cleaner (a UK Hoover 61/612). Unfortunately, she fell for it and regretted the decision terribly, hating dragging the barrel cleaner behind her throughout the house.
Within a year she'd said "enough" and went shopping again - but this time bought a GE. I've seen pictures here, but don't know the model. Extremely noisy (even compared to the Dynamatic) and not very reliable.
Suffice to say she got it right on the third go, buying what I'm assuming was the second Dynamatic model released in Australia. It was still the orange/brown combination, but had the carpet height adjuster which wasn't on the original, and the power switch in the handle.
Interestingly, some 12 years later when it needed a repair, they refitted the switch and power cord to the body as shown in Mark's picture.
When that machine finally failed a few years ago, she managed to find a Hoover upright, but I don't know the model. Green, plastic case. There are virtually no Hoover-branded cleaners available in Australia now, so if you want an upright, Dyson is pretty much all we have.
Nick