I wonder how many 1950s housewives loved their vacuum cleaners this much...

[caligula]

But keep in mind.

High end companies like Air-Way, Compact, Electrolux, Kirby and others were sold based on an in home demo with both husband and wife present. The demo was geared to the wife on the basis of less work for her, and to the husband for trying to make the point that if he loved her he would buy the 'best.' But the bottom line was 'make the sale,' and each of the above mentioned companies and several others did just that.

But this was the world of advertizing back then. How many women got dressed up, put on make-up, and so on to clean the house? Most were in a ratty housedress, and looked a fright.

 

[real1shep]

Lol......

there was always the image of the housewife dressed up to do chores in mags and on TV, but in reality, I never saw anyone do that. And the really upscale(rich) people that did dress like that all the time, had maids do the housework.


 


And if you think about it, why would anyone want to dress up to battle dirt/grime? I think the point of the advertising was that; the cleaner you were using was so remarkably well made, you could clean in your best clothes and not get the least bit dirty. Probably a Madison Ave thing and it just stuck.


 


Kevin

 

[human]

Exactly...

Kevin wrote: Until.......

they were given an appliance for their BD, anniversary or Xmas.....

The fact that these appliances were advertised that way, only gave endless fodder for the women's movement for decades. As they say, 'the rest is history'.

I reply:
Back in the brief and miserable period known as my marriage, my then-wife and I ate lunch one day at the bar of a local restaurant and watched the bartender juicing oranges with a commercial juicer. She commented that she would like to have a juicer, so I got her one for Christmas, along with several other nice non-appliance gifts. When she opened the juicer, she was nothing short of enraged, growling at me through gritted teeth, she said, "YOU. DO. NOT. GIVE. APPLIANCES. AS. GIFTS!!!" And on what I guess was to her a matter of principle, she returned the juicer and got a different one, which she used exactly once while we were together. Thankfully, that was the last time I had to select Christmas gifts for her.

 

[caligula]

The other side of the coin.

It all depends on who's giving the gifts. In our family giving/getting appliances was common and nobody was offended.

I remenber one Christmas very well, my grandfather gave my grandmother a years supply of Estee Lauder perfume, and other items in a travel case. She hated Estee Lauder, but true to form she smiled and put with her other presents. Think she returned it? not her, it was the thought that mattered. She used every drop of that perfume, soap and other items in the case.

 

[mchmike]

So yeah now buy our cigarettes and choke to death.

 

[electrolux137]

~
~


Well, this thread certainly has drifted out of focus. To try to bring it back, I submit the following "Vacuum Cleaners for Christmas" offerings.

[this post was last edited: 10/3/2016-13:53]

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Being that our poor model 67 Convertible was on its last leg

a new Hoover would have made my mom very happy.
Anything to help with that 12-room house was a blessing.
We didn't have a dryer. She was thrilled when my brother gave her one. It was used for YEARS and YEARS.
My uncle gave her an electric can opener after taking care of his children while his wife had another child. Again, she was very grateful. We were a no frills household.
Actually, anything she was given was very much appreciated and put to good use, be it cologne, clothes, an appliance, etc.
However, one day, someone tried to influence her with an Electrolux. MISTAKE! That was a memorable day, for sure.

 

[chad]

Regarding the picture above, I have a Lionel ZW transformer, and the turbine steamer just like in the pic.

 

[cb123]

In regards to reply #23, it makes me want to smoke Virginia Slims all the way down to the burnt, carbonized filter...Yummy!!! Thanks so much for making this " Thread " relevant and worthy of responding to!

 

[vacerator]

Well,

Who would Virginia smoke, wether a gal, or a dude in drag?
Some prefer tuna, some prefer sausage. We're here to enjoy each others collections, and ideas, not criticize each other on alleged moral issues.
If I believe we all came from a big bang, where did that come from? Can't be answered. Am I an atheist? That creationist theory is by the way in the Vatican archives in Rome now.
Chad, those old Lionel items are very collectable.

 

[cb123]

Well, good for you.

...and P.S. I was enjoying it![this post was last edited: 10/4/2016-12:34]

 

[suckomatic]

A little Something I Whipped Up For the Thread....

 

[mchmike]

Holy double entendres Bat Man. But the real question is does she hmmm

 

[suckomatic]

Not anymore Grrrl. *snap*  

 

[cb123]

Well, it sure is startin' to look like someone is gettin' ready to fire up some dessert!

 

[compactc9guy]

reply

I gave my mom some appliances for her BD x mas or new year everytime she loved it and put everything to good use. In our home appliances are welcome as gifts , if we need a new one bd or occasion are usually the time of year for replacing them . I remember when i bought my mom a dryer brand new 509$ Kenmore dryer she was thrilled finally no more hanging clothes to dry .Or the time i got her a food processor or coffee maker ect .I remember when i got my Compact Electra C9 i was thrilled a real housewife ripping the box reading the manual haha I dont understand why people get mad when they get a appliance as a gift its to make life easier one them not an insult never understood .As for me my bd or x mas gifts are simple vacuum bags ect and im happy house wife in me talking haha .

 

[vacerator]

If the

family budget is tight, most mom's would appreciate a Christmas gift that makes house work easier. Then they have more time to enjoy not doing it, so you can treat her to a dinner out, a movie, etc.

 

[suckomatic]

Bless Your Hearts....

The reason a person might find household appliances as holiday gifts insulting is because it says, "This is your job, not mine.".


We've moved beyond the 50's. Everybody pitches in now. Wives have jobs and husbands vacuum and wash dishes. 


Imagine a married lesbian couple on Xmas day. 


One woman gives her wife a dishwasher.


Why?


A dishwasher is a household necessity, as is a vacuum or any other appliance.


Might as well buy her a snow shovel.


She's a partner, not a maid. 


Get her a bathrobe or a kegerator, I don't know, anything but cleaning tools.


Of course, if a couple has a pre-agreed arrangement, such as, you keep the windows clean, I'll keep the floors clean, or something like that, it would be a little different.


Still, not the best choice.


 

 

[mjm0424]

Housewives & vacuums

The tv shows that are supposedly set in the 1950's& 60's show the mothers dressed up with gloves, hat,etc.One example is that Pearl Vision commercial. I grew up in the 60's. Neither my mother,any of my aunts;or our neighbors dressed like that. I fondly remember my Aunt Dorothy vacuuming with her Hoover #65. She would set her hair in those metal curlers,with the pink stickpins. She wrapped the whole thing up in a pink scarf. Aunt Mary wore those handkerchiefs,like Tupac made so famous. Every time I saw him, I rememdered Aunt Mary pushing her green Eureka upright,circa 1957.Mother wore a big housedress,that looked like a maternity dress. She said she needed something loose fitting,because of all the bending she had to do.She set her hair in Bobby pins,wrapped in a scarf.

 

[real1shep]

The point was....

we were talking about the 50's/60's as evidenced by the kick-off pic of this thread. Not what women and spousal relationships have evolved into today. We all have some fond memories of females doing chores and hopefully, us helping them. But so far, everyone speaking to that in this thread have been men.


 


Personally, I find old advertisements like that insulting, as do I find the laugh tracks and canned comedy on old TV sitcoms. Yet when you see something like that today and have lived through that time, they do trigger memories that are often personal, positive & warm.


 


Kevin