"Misleading" Names of European Vac Makers...:-)

[eurekaprince]

This may sound a bit bizarre coming from a Canadian, but I have often been surprised to find out the actual home base of certain European vac-makers, when one considers the "ethnicity" of the brand name itself....

Here are a few examples:

Though Miele sounds like a French name, it's actually a German company.
Though Philips sounds like a British name, it's actually a Dutch company.
Though Rowenta sounds like an Italian or Spanish name, it's actually a French brandname.
Though Lindhaus sounds like a German name, it's actually an Italian company.
Though Volta sounds like an Italian name, it's actually a Swedish company.
Though Arthur Martin sounds like a British name, it's actually a French brandname.
Though Zelmer sounds like a German name, it's actually a Polish company....

Kind of interesting, no?

I'm sure my European friends overseas could correct me on some of this, and perhaps even add to the list!

 

[adamthemieleman]

Yes, rowenta isn't French, they're German. Well known for the irons they produce

 

[eurekaprince]

Aha! Thank you Adam. I stand corrected..my confusion stemmed from the fact that in 1988, that German company was bought by the French company "Groupe SEB" and was added to its list of subsidiaries which includes Tefal, Krupps and Moulinex.

 

[vintagerepairer]

Krups

Also German, not French. It was all a sign of the times, that a number of large companies should be acquired by another, given how retail prices have plummeted.

Adam, I assume from your comments about Rowenta irons you are referring to the fact they were known in the UK as being one of the best quality irons available at that time, as Rowenta did of course manufacture a whole range of small appliances and vacuum cleaners? Quite when it all went wrong I don't know, but towards the end of the 1990's I know Rowenta were having an increasing number of appliances failing after very little use. The overall quality of the finish was clearly still there as the appliances looked and felt as good as ever, but clearly something was lacking. There has been a distinct absence of the Rowenta brand in the UK for many years now, presumably as the owning company is making so many products under the Tefal name.

 

[eurekaprince]

I always found Rowenta's triangular carpet nozzles fascinating. Do any readers have practical experience with this Rowenta attachment? Does it clean well? Is the shape useful?

http://www.consommationelectricite.net/aspirateur-rowenta-ro4520.html

 

[sebo_fan]

No, not really. The triangular head fails to pick up much. Still, they persist in fitting it to a number of machines they make.

Braun of course is German. No question of that. Magimix sounds American to me, but in actual fact it is French.