luxflairguy
Well-known member
I post rarely...but this week I found a long sought-after central vacuum system, new, complete and just waiting for me. May I introduce the 1968 General Electric Central Cleaning System!
My greatest find!
- Thread starter luxflairguy
- Start date
Help Support VacuumLand:
luxflairguy
Well-known member
GE Central Cleaning System
picture #2
picture #2
luxflairguy
Well-known member
GE Central Cleaning System
#3
#3
luxflairguy
Well-known member
GE CCS continued
#4 I've never use the tank itself, it's too fab, but I really like GE tools, expecially the twin clean rug tool. Anyone else have any info on GE CCS's?
#4 I've never use the tank itself, it's too fab, but I really like GE tools, expecially the twin clean rug tool. Anyone else have any info on GE CCS's?
crevicetool
Well-known member
You have GOT to be kidding????
How could something like that not have been used/installed after all these years?
Fantastic!!!! Good for you!
Rick
How could something like that not have been used/installed after all these years?
Fantastic!!!! Good for you!
Rick
compactelectra
Well-known member
Greg
You know I am a central vac fan, but have never seen one of those. Fabulous! Congratulations!
You know I am a central vac fan, but have never seen one of those. Fabulous! Congratulations!
massagemiracle
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2010
- Messages
- 1,051
Congrats for such a great find!
General Electric made a central cleaner??
Being a GE nut myself, I want one too!! Now, where to put one in this little closet of a house?
Being a GE nut myself, I want one too!! Now, where to put one in this little closet of a house?
gsheen
Well-known member
never used
I just think its amazing that something this big can be lying around for all these years and forgotten about. I wonder if it was one of those "yes dear I promise I will install the central vacuum as soon as the game is finsihed"
I just think its amazing that something this big can be lying around for all these years and forgotten about. I wonder if it was one of those "yes dear I promise I will install the central vacuum as soon as the game is finsihed"
eluxomarty
New member
congrats!!
Hey Greg! What does the machine end of the hose look like? Is it the traditional GE button lock like for the canisters? I wonder if there was a power nozzle option, maybe used the Filter Queen PN made for the GE/Premier swivel tops?
Happy GE-ing!
Marty
Hey Greg! What does the machine end of the hose look like? Is it the traditional GE button lock like for the canisters? I wonder if there was a power nozzle option, maybe used the Filter Queen PN made for the GE/Premier swivel tops?
Happy GE-ing!
Marty
ge1969
Well-known member
You're right Hanzie! I had NO IDEA that G.E. ever made such a thing! I'd love to have one of those myself. Later, Toby G.
luxflairguy
Well-known member
Marty!
Here's a picture of the hose end. Good old GE button lock
Here's a picture of the hose end. Good old GE button lock
luxflairguy
Well-known member
How about under the hood!
Here's the clean never fired up Lamb 115534 motor and wiring. Note how the majority of the wiring is encased in plastic tubing. Good old GE in it's glory days. It makes one wonder how many of these were made!
Here's the clean never fired up Lamb 115534 motor and wiring. Note how the majority of the wiring is encased in plastic tubing. Good old GE in it's glory days. It makes one wonder how many of these were made!
luxflairguy
Well-known member
and the last one...
Here's the label. GE's air conditioning division. Who would have ever thought. Of note also, is the 115534 motor was good to roughly 5,000 square feet with the piping done right. VacuMaid used the same motor and said 8,000 sq. feet. Nutone 3,500 sq. feet.
I also stand corrected to my self. Nutone used the phrase central cleaning system. The GE clearly says central vacuum system.
Here's the label. GE's air conditioning division. Who would have ever thought. Of note also, is the 115534 motor was good to roughly 5,000 square feet with the piping done right. VacuMaid used the same motor and said 8,000 sq. feet. Nutone 3,500 sq. feet.
I also stand corrected to my self. Nutone used the phrase central cleaning system. The GE clearly says central vacuum system.
and, dear GOD,
made in America! Best of luck with that machine. It's wonderful to find something for which you've been hunting.
made in America! Best of luck with that machine. It's wonderful to find something for which you've been hunting.
vacman1961
Well-known member
GE Central Vacuum
I have seen quite a few of these. There is a large developement here in Dix Hills, New York, that was built by a developer called Levitt, yes, he is the builder of Levittown, NY. This developement is an upscale developement that was built by Levitt, and Levitt used everything from General Electric, all the appliances, the heat and air conditioning, the intercom system, the door bell and yes, the central vacuum system. The unit actually was built by Beam, it is the same unit as a Beam only with the General Electric name, actually, the newer developement which was built in 1972 had a sort of generic unit, it looked the same as this one, only it was white and had a 12" round red GE logo in the center, that unit was definitely a Beam with a GE logo on it, but this one was in the earlier development which was built in 1967 to 1970. There was no power nozzle on them, they were straight suction, some of the houses had a air driven power brush with an adapter on it, the power brush was called a Preco Power Brush.
I have seen quite a few of these. There is a large developement here in Dix Hills, New York, that was built by a developer called Levitt, yes, he is the builder of Levittown, NY. This developement is an upscale developement that was built by Levitt, and Levitt used everything from General Electric, all the appliances, the heat and air conditioning, the intercom system, the door bell and yes, the central vacuum system. The unit actually was built by Beam, it is the same unit as a Beam only with the General Electric name, actually, the newer developement which was built in 1972 had a sort of generic unit, it looked the same as this one, only it was white and had a 12" round red GE logo in the center, that unit was definitely a Beam with a GE logo on it, but this one was in the earlier development which was built in 1967 to 1970. There was no power nozzle on them, they were straight suction, some of the houses had a air driven power brush with an adapter on it, the power brush was called a Preco Power Brush.
singingrainbow
Well-known member
WOW!!
First let me say, WHAT A FIND! I have never seen an early beam system, but I do have a question, what is its method of dirt collection? is it like a vacu-flo and cyclonic with the dust venting outside? or is it more like the filtered system in current beam systems? It would be great if you could post some pics of the dust bin and what is above the dust bin in the unit itself.
Thanks!
Scott
First let me say, WHAT A FIND! I have never seen an early beam system, but I do have a question, what is its method of dirt collection? is it like a vacu-flo and cyclonic with the dust venting outside? or is it more like the filtered system in current beam systems? It would be great if you could post some pics of the dust bin and what is above the dust bin in the unit itself.
Thanks!
Scott
<a name="start_14218.150383">I have seen quite a few of these. There is a large developement here in Dix Hills, New York, that was built by a developer called Levitt, yes, he is the builder of Levittown, NY. This developement is an upscale developement that was built by Levitt, and Levitt used everything from General Electric, all the appliances, the heat and air conditioning, the intercom system, the door bell and yes, the central vacuum system. The unit actually was built by Beam, it is the same unit as a Beam only with the General Electric name, actually, the newer developement which was built in 1972 had a sort of generic unit, it looked the same as this one, only it was white and had a 12" round red GE logo in the center, that unit was definitely a Beam with a GE logo on it, but this one was in the earlier development which was built in 1967 to 1970. There was no power nozzle on them, they were straight suction, some of the houses had a air driven power brush with an adapter on it, the power brush was called a Preco Power Brush.</a>
I know nothing of central vac systems other then I'm a Master Plumber and the piping scheme kind of interests me. They just borrow the same principles we have in waste & venting, except the instals look pretty rough and unprofessional to me. About using a PN with these....wouldn't that require a live wire to every wall port and therefore the hose to have an internal wire as well?
Kevin
I know nothing of central vac systems other then I'm a Master Plumber and the piping scheme kind of interests me. They just borrow the same principles we have in waste & venting, except the instals look pretty rough and unprofessional to me. About using a PN with these....wouldn't that require a live wire to every wall port and therefore the hose to have an internal wire as well?
Kevin
Some of the Levitt homes built in the Upper Marlboro area in Md near Wash Dc had these.My Mom's home had a BD unit instead-and it had the Precor power nozzle.Liked using the system.the dirt was caught in a large "Shop Vac" style paper bag.That unit pictured indeed has a quality full bypass radial discharge motor.you could run that contuously without worry-and even with a blocked airpath.the motor has its own fan-near the bottom just above the fancase in the picture.some Wet-Dry vacs have a similar motor.Excellent Quality-I would want one of these too,just to use as a GIANT canister vac!
vinvac
Well-known member
What type of dirt capture system does it use...bags...???
Morgan
Morgan
kenmore81
Well-known member
Nice!!! I never knew GE made/sold central vacs. I love the attachment set.
luxflairguy
Well-known member
GE Central System
Wow! Thanks for all the info and the questions. Here are some answers and a picture of the filtering system.
As with all Beams, this is called "filtered cyclonic" or "inverted bag filtration." Once the motor starts, the filter bag rises up into a cone and filters the incoming air/dirt. When the motor stops, the bag, which is weighted, falls back down into the lower canister shedding the majority of it's dirt. No bag, empty like a shop vacuum. This type of filtration is used by many still today. Today, though, instead of a flannelette type material, Beam used a Gortex material that works even better.
I'm never going to use the power unit. It will reside in glory next to my Pullman Holt system of the same vintage. The Pullman has the same motor but is bigger and more industrial looking. I too, got it complete, never used with full attachments on Ebay 3 years ago. I have another 15 or so units from Filtex to VacuMaid to Electrolux, Central Vac International and a couple of private label VacuMaids.
To answer the question about plumbing a system, yes the principle is similar to plumbing. But the pipe and fittings are made especially for vacuum systems. uber smooth interiors and lots of fittings of 30-45-90 degrees so that airflow is not impeeded as it makes turns. The lastest change is that previously you just made sure everything was horizontal in a run. But often dirt being pulled through the system when it came to a vertical run would run down often into an inlet. Now systems are plumbed with each vertical run doing a 90 degree turn before going vertical. I've installed roughly 100 systems in 15 years. I've been to the VDTA convention in Las Vegas several times and going through the central system install seminar three times.
The one thing that puts this GE above a Beam of the same age is the attention to detail. The GE has the covered wiring, the top lid has a gasket around the opening for the motor stop and even the top piece of the motor is painted to match the body. Beams of this age had a little lid on top of the motor. But this was also the golden age of GE and attention was paid to quality.
Good to know that the Preco power brush was used with these. I love them and have about 6 of them under various labels from Preco to Westinghouse to Singer and unlabelled. They work well. Preco nozzles originally had a metal neck and later changed to plastic which then became it's weak spot as it would split. But they are workhorses!
O.K. Here's the Picture of the filterbag.
Greg
Wow! Thanks for all the info and the questions. Here are some answers and a picture of the filtering system.
As with all Beams, this is called "filtered cyclonic" or "inverted bag filtration." Once the motor starts, the filter bag rises up into a cone and filters the incoming air/dirt. When the motor stops, the bag, which is weighted, falls back down into the lower canister shedding the majority of it's dirt. No bag, empty like a shop vacuum. This type of filtration is used by many still today. Today, though, instead of a flannelette type material, Beam used a Gortex material that works even better.
I'm never going to use the power unit. It will reside in glory next to my Pullman Holt system of the same vintage. The Pullman has the same motor but is bigger and more industrial looking. I too, got it complete, never used with full attachments on Ebay 3 years ago. I have another 15 or so units from Filtex to VacuMaid to Electrolux, Central Vac International and a couple of private label VacuMaids.
To answer the question about plumbing a system, yes the principle is similar to plumbing. But the pipe and fittings are made especially for vacuum systems. uber smooth interiors and lots of fittings of 30-45-90 degrees so that airflow is not impeeded as it makes turns. The lastest change is that previously you just made sure everything was horizontal in a run. But often dirt being pulled through the system when it came to a vertical run would run down often into an inlet. Now systems are plumbed with each vertical run doing a 90 degree turn before going vertical. I've installed roughly 100 systems in 15 years. I've been to the VDTA convention in Las Vegas several times and going through the central system install seminar three times.
The one thing that puts this GE above a Beam of the same age is the attention to detail. The GE has the covered wiring, the top lid has a gasket around the opening for the motor stop and even the top piece of the motor is painted to match the body. Beams of this age had a little lid on top of the motor. But this was also the golden age of GE and attention was paid to quality.
Good to know that the Preco power brush was used with these. I love them and have about 6 of them under various labels from Preco to Westinghouse to Singer and unlabelled. They work well. Preco nozzles originally had a metal neck and later changed to plastic which then became it's weak spot as it would split. But they are workhorses!
O.K. Here's the Picture of the filterbag.
Greg
Wow, what a find!! This really (really really) looks like an early Beam...the differences you pointed out are noticeable, though. Do you think GE had Beam make the special changes to meet their requirements, or do you think GE just did a very close copy of the design? I would suspect the former personally. How strange would it be for GE to want to build the unit themselves, yet retain the same filtration design, same steel rolling and punching equipment (vent holes are a giveaway), same motor/lid securing means, etc...?
As a side note, I traded in a B & D power unit once and loved the way the motor was constructed, but didn't have room to save the unit. Sometimes I wish I had. Do you happen to have pictures of the motor in yours? I think mine was a 620...squarish, short but heavy machine with a "toilet lid" on top. Quite loud as I recall. Is that the one you've got too?
As a side note, I traded in a B & D power unit once and loved the way the motor was constructed, but didn't have room to save the unit. Sometimes I wish I had. Do you happen to have pictures of the motor in yours? I think mine was a 620...squarish, short but heavy machine with a "toilet lid" on top. Quite loud as I recall. Is that the one you've got too?
hoovercelebrity
New member
Black & Decker
This was the central vac that was installed in my grandparents' home. When my mom bought the house, we upgraded to a new Beam unit; had all of the valves upgraded to accept a modern hose. I gave the old B&D unit to Reggie in Colorado... not sure what ever happened to it. Yes, it was HEAVY and LOUD!
That GE is beyond fabulous. Love the tools and the GE logos on everything. Did the GE inlet valves also say GE on them? Are there pictures of the valves in the manual? I don't blame you for not wanting to use it; but I bet it's super tempting...
Fred
This was the central vac that was installed in my grandparents' home. When my mom bought the house, we upgraded to a new Beam unit; had all of the valves upgraded to accept a modern hose. I gave the old B&D unit to Reggie in Colorado... not sure what ever happened to it. Yes, it was HEAVY and LOUD!
That GE is beyond fabulous. Love the tools and the GE logos on everything. Did the GE inlet valves also say GE on them? Are there pictures of the valves in the manual? I don't blame you for not wanting to use it; but I bet it's super tempting...
Fred
luxflairguy
Well-known member
Black & Decker
I would love to find a Black & decker. I have literature on them, but nothing more. Thanks for a real picture! I would also like to and am killing myself that I didn't go after a Kenmore canister recently. The Kenmore uses an interesting filtering system that's rather unique.
I'll get out all the systems this weekend and take a group shot!
I would love to find a Black & decker. I have literature on them, but nothing more. Thanks for a real picture! I would also like to and am killing myself that I didn't go after a Kenmore canister recently. The Kenmore uses an interesting filtering system that's rather unique.
I'll get out all the systems this weekend and take a group shot!
Similar threads
