Pink GE Swivel Top find

[andy]

I found this in an antique store yesterday. I'd looked around, but there were no vacuums. Usually if that's the case I just walk, but I asked the owner if she ever ran across old vacs. She said "Oh, I've got one in the basement, I'll bring it up". Moral of the story is always ask!!

 

[andy]

Here is the hose. It's in wonderful cosmetic condition. I've also seen some of these models with a brown hose. I hope this is original.

 

[andy]

Bag package

original bags

 

[kirbyotronic]

Great find! Still searching for one of those.

~Alex

 

[sireluxomatic]

Now that's a wonderful find...as you say, ask, and you will get.

 

[aeoliandave]

Splendidly complete, Andy. Of course the cloth hose isn't original to the pink model but it is beautiful and from the color...well, you'll just have to find a Swiveltop to match now...

Dave

 

[xraytech]

great find Andy, that is a very attractive vacuum.

Sam

 

[normvac]

Andy, I have to agree with the rest of the gang that is a great find. I had one and gave it to Jeff Schoff. Haven't
heard if he's got it ready for show !!
It orginally had a brown plastic hose in the 50's when it came
out new. The hose was bad news, as it kept splitting out
at both ends. The machine end and the handle/wand end.
I remember a friend of the family had one and I never got to
use it. It was traded for new lux 1205 w/PN in the late 60's
Norm

 

[camelotshadow]

Pretty in pink...

always a thrill to find a oldy but goody

 

[rugmaster37]

Pretty in pink...

Andy,

Great find as well. This machine is right around the time that G.E. was hitting it's high point as a vac manufacturer.

No the hose is not original as you were told, but was a strange early molded plastic material that cracked and split towards the machine and attachment ends where the most stress was at, just as you were told. This same hose material was used for all of the Roll Easy's as well. It was for this VERY reason that General Electric went back to the woven hose material that continued to be used until they stopped production in 1972. Unless your talking about the ultra rare ealy PowerNozzle GE Swivel tops. These used the early electric hoses similar to Eureka at the time.

I see your attachments have that Lexan mold on them. Im sure you may know, or will read on here that a wipedown with diluted bleach in water, will kill the mold and make the atttachments nicer looking. For some reason the ealry lexan did that, but later G.E. corrected it.

Great find, and yes...it does PAy to ask for sure...

Chad

 

[aeoliandave]

Mmm,Chad, I was thinking that hose would look good on a Roll-Easy or a turquoise Swiveltop or Compact.

As for the GE tools, yes that mold can be stopped in its tracks with bleach and you may find is useful to chip off the psoriasis-like larger flakes first with a toothpick. The plastic used is GE's own Cycolac ABS version of Lexan and is virtally scratch & mar-proof. They licensed the less expensive Lexan derivative - developed and used during WW2 for airplane window panels - to other appliance manufactures and I'm sure receive royalties to this day.

 

[andy]

Thanks for all the info!

I was wondering what I was going to do about the mold. It has a funny smell too, so I hope the bleach will kill that.

BTW the motor runs perfectly.

 

[hygiene903]

Nice GE, Andy!

And as Norm said, I have a similar one that he gave me a while back. The swiveltop on mine is polished aluminum instead of pink, and I have the original hose, which I have repaired since this photo was taken, and also cleaned up the attachments. About the only thing I need to do yet is to use rubbing or polishing compound on the painted parts to bring back the finish. It is also a powerful machine which I enjoy using. Thanks again, Norm!!
Jeff