Jewel Tea

[s31463221]

Okay I need some help on this one. I just bought two vintage vacuum cleaners today from a little store I frequent. One was a brown Airway Sanitizor in fantastic condition, the motor is strong and it has no rust, etc on it. The second one I am a little curious about however, as I can't seem to find much information about it. When I first saw it, I though it was a Eureka Roto Matic with the chrome top. The body has been painted in the past so any manufacturer logos are long gone. When I turned it over, there is a small metal tag on the bottom that says something about Jewel Tea? I've searched the archives here and performed a quick Google search and I can't find much about it except a couple of references to a Mary Dunbar by Jewel Tea. I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about this strange vacuum? This old vac is in very rough shape, it's beat up pretty good, but at least its not rusted out. Even though the cord is cracked badly I still took my chances and plugged it in. It run, but had a LOT of bearing noise so I wouldn't run it longer than a few seconds. Anyway, I will post photos of both machines when I pick them up on Thursday. Thanks!

 

[kenkart]

I Have One too!!!

Jewel Tea is, to my knowledge, still in business,They sold Eureka Roto Matics under there own name sometime in the late 50s early 60s, mine says Mary Dunbar, Mary Dunbar was kind of like their Betty Crocker, except she was a real person.

 

[kirbykid]

please post pics

 

[s31463221]

Hans

I am really glad to hear that someone else has one of these vacs as well, I am shocked at how little information is available on these machines as it seems Jewel Tea was/is rather popular. One of my co-workers remembered them from her childhood and compared them to AmWay. Anyway would you care to post a photo of yours? Since the one I acquired is so rough I think I'd like to restore it but it would be nice to see one in good shape with the labels/logos on it. Thanks!

 

[compactelectra]

Jewel Tea

Has been in business in Chicago for over 100 years.  They were at one time headquartered in Barrington, IL.   They were and still are a very popular grocery store chain in the Chicago area.  They are now know as Jewel-Osco and are owned by Super-Valu.  I remember them as a kid and when I moved back to Chicago from California - they are still here.  I don't remember them selling vacuum cleaners, but that doesn't mean they didn't.  Mom used to get dinnerware and silverware as promotional items from them when she did her grocery shopping for our family of 7.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_(supermarket)

 

[westingman123]

The Jewel Tea man

I don't have any memory of them in St. Louis, but my Aunt Ruth bought a LOT of stuff from the Jewel Tea man in Kansas. They came door to door (think Schwann's) with a catalog and a truck full of things. Should you want something they didn't have in stock, your man would deliver it the next week, if memory serves.

 

[s31463221]

Photos!

The Airway Sanitizer

 

[s31463221]

The Jewel Tea

Photo of vac

 

[s31463221]

The Jewel Tea

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