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 Envirotect Conet, Compact had many and Rainbow had Ritello.

 

[paul]

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.

You're welcome. Not sure what you mean about direct copies—do you mean rebrands?

 

[centralsweeper63]

No, Rainbow was copied by Ritello. Same idea with the screen, water filter, small air purifier, sliding doors and overall design. https://www.ritello.com/

Kirby was sort of copied by Bison. You know the story there I can imagine.

I am not sure about Electrolux, they very likely had someone though.

Hoover and Eueka were selling very similar, though quite different machines. Eureka uprights and Hoover Convertables.

Compact as you know has had many, many 'copies'.

Most interesting and least well known for me is the Filter Queen copy, Envirotect Conet. It was basically the same thing with a few main differences I own two Envirotect machines, they are in storage though. Photos will be from other people. It is Korean made.

https://vacuumland.org/threads/envirotect-conet-what-is-this-thing-looks-cool.18789/

https://www.finn.no/recommerce/fors...tzM5L_mYplLlJ9BhtYhXEwNs8auIpG5EXXgVIzkyRJpoM

 

[centralsweeper63]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:f437761b-04a2-4b6e-8861-b75561ef00e0

 

[centralsweeper63]

I personally prefer the Envirotect Conet for a few reasons compared to the Filter Queen.

 

[paul]

No, Rainbow was copied by Ritello. Same idea with the screen, water filter, small air purifier, sliding doors and overall design. https://www.ritello.com/

Kirby was sort of copied by Bison. You know the story there I can imagine.

I am not sure about Electrolux, they very likely had someone though.

Hoover and Eueka were selling very similar, though quite different machines. Eureka uprights and Hoover Convertables.

Compact as you know has had many, many 'copies'.

Most interesting and least well known for me is the Filter Queen copy, Envirotect Conet. It was basically the same thing with a few main differences I own two Envirotect machines, they are in storage though. Photos will be from other people. It is Korean made.

https://vacuumland.org/threads/envirotect-conet-what-is-this-thing-looks-cool.18789/

https://www.finn.no/recommerce/fors...tzM5L_mYplLlJ9BhtYhXEwNs8auIpG5EXXgVIzkyRJpoM

Gotcha. Thanks for the links that give examples.

Btw, Bison copied Kirby beginning in 1968.

And Eureka based some of its designs and features on Hoover models.

Regarding Electrolux Corporation, as far as I know no one has determined who mimicked who, due to their 1954 releases—its or G-E's rug/floor combination tool. Not sure how that played out in Europe or NZ with those companies and their own tools/designs/features.

Anyway, having the photos next to each other on a document would be interesting.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Good to hear you enjoyed it. You air, are most welcome.

 

[hygiene903]

I also located ads for the G-E Sweeper, model VS-1, only in 1961 and 1962; although it may have been carried longer, because its presumed lightweight successor, model SV-1, premiered in 1967.

eBay photos

If I remember right, Bissell also made one that looked similar to the GE.
Jeff

 

[centralsweeper63]

I have seen that, I think.

 

[cheesewonton]

Gotcha. Thanks for the links that give examples.

Btw, Bison copied Kirby beginning in 1968.

And Eureka based some of its designs and features on Hoover models.

Regarding Electrolux Corporation, as far as I know no one has determined who mimicked who, due to their 1954 releases—its or G-E's rug/floor combination tool. Not sure how that played out in Europe or NZ with those companies and their own tools/designs/features.

Anyway, having the photos next to each other on a document would be interesting.

I could be wrong but I seem to remember a lot of vacuum companies sold flip over floor brushes. They were kind of a thing 70-80 years ago.

 

[centralsweeper63]

I have seen many varieties of flip-over tools by Hoover, Electrolux, Compact, Pinnock and more.