Mid 60s GE Upright Information

[paul]

I could totally see that only being sold for a couple years. It was likely a test market experiment and they didn't make too many. Eureka and Regina had already beat GE to the punch with these, assuming they came out prior to the GE, so there was likely just too much market saturation. Survival of the fittest.

I'm sure you already know this, but don't forget to check old Sears catalog archives too for additional vacuum documentation.

Agreed about the G-E Sweeper assessment. I think, too, that G-E, Westinghouse, Sunbeam, Singer, Shetland-Lewyt, and others were in such stiff competition with each other in that era that they were constantly test-marketing and designing new models to edge each other out. Those that ran behind were soon taken out of the race and replaced with others. It seems to me that others like Electrolux, Hoover, Eureka, and Kirby had their own competition in the '50s, '60s, & '70s.

Yep, I know about https://christmas.musetechnical.com and have posted some scans on different threads—thanks.

Yeah, Sears Direct—at least at one time—had a comprehensive database not only for Kenmore products but other brands, as well, as they maintained a large parts inventory for them all.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Whh=at was the competition for Kirby, Electrolux, Hoover and Eureka.

 

[cheesewonton]

Agreed about the G-E Sweeper assessment. I think, too, that G-E, Westinghouse, Sunbeam, Singer, Shetland-Lewyt, and others were in such stiff competition with each other in that era that they were constantly test-marketing and designing new models to edge each other out. Those that ran behind were soon taken out of the race and replaced with others. It seems to me that others like Electrolux, Hoover, Eureka, and Kirby had their own competition in the '50s, '60s, & '70s.

Yep, I know about https://christmas.musetechnical.com and have posted some scans on different threads—thanks.

Yeah, Sears Direct—at least at one time—had a comprehensive database not only for Kenmore products but other brands, as well, as they maintained a large parts inventory for them all.

I still use Sears Parts Direct a lot to look up part numbers.

 

[centralsweeper63]

It does definitely exist, at least at the moment.

 

[paul]

Whh=at was the competition for Kirby, Electrolux, Hoover and Eureka.

I presume that you are wondering why I lumped those four brands together. I guess it would be more accurate to put door-to-door brands like Kirby, Electrolux, Filter Queen, Rainbow, Royal and others together as direct competitors than with their retail counterparts.

On the other hand as Hoover and Eureka changed from direct sales to store sales with more extensive model options, they came into closer competition in various markets such as as luxury, mid-market, and discount department stores.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Damn, I can't fix my typo. I was trying a new keyboard. Oh well.

 

[centralsweeper63]

I see what you mean now, thanks. I was wondering what their direct copies were. Actually, at some point in time each of those companies had copies.

 

[cheesewonton]

I presume that you are wondering why I lumped those four brands together. I guess it would be more accurate to put door-to-door brands like Kirby, Electrolux, Filter Queen, Rainbow, Royal and others together as direct competitors than with their retail counterparts.

On the other hand as Hoover and Eureka changed from direct sales to store sales with more extensive model options, they came into closer competition in various markets such as as luxury, mid-market, and discount department stores.

Hoover and Eureka were number one and two respectively for sales in the US and competed against each other more than they competed against other brands.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Like the big three in cars.

 

[cheesewonton]

Whh=at was the competition for Kirby, Electrolux, Hoover and Eureka.

Kenmore, Singer, Interstate Engineering ( Compact, Revelation for a short time and later Tristar ), Whirlpool ( their CVR series uprights ) and Oreck.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Thank you. Kirby had Bison, Electrolux had someone, Hoover had Eureka and then Filterqueen had EnvirotectComet, Compact had many and Rainbow had Ritello.