"Rare" General Electric Canister?

[fantomfan57]

The one Goodwill that NEVER lets me down. Went in today directly to where they keep vacuums. As I approached I saw buried a familiar shape. My friend in Temple already has one. Rectangular body, tan....I placed it right into my basket and headed to the register. So far I noticed one corner of the tool rack is broken off.

I have yet to ID, but wanted to take a picture of BEFORE. (Oh, and proof). Right out of the truck and in front of the garage.

Here she is!

 

[fantomfan57]

Okay.....

1st. report.
motor sounds great! cord looks great so far (does have a replacement plug), rubber bumper/seal is flexible, there is a pink bag (so I have the collar template), foam bag dock is pliable, wheels fine, air intake bonnet got washed, but the elastic will need to be replaced. Inside surface paint chipping, exterior paint is passable, but needs TLC. Will have to remember to use a dust mask when I get ready to sand the interior (possible lead paint).

Underside punched wording says Model VIIVTI?

Very happy with this find.

 

[dysonman1]

What you have there is the economy model. The deluxe model had the automatic cord rewind as well as the suction control right on the machine where the hose connects. Nice cleaner. Same motor as the swivel top models.

 

[gregvacs28]

I know that feeling at Goodwill (or any thrift store).

The Situation : You see it, you quickly without trying to draw attention, move toward the hidden jewel, hoping no one else is also advancing, but, with your heart beating faster, you are ready to fight it out and defend your territory. Then you steady your grip and carefully lift the item into the cart as if it were a ticking bomb, and survey the surroundings for attackers. Again you are fully, but subtly, ready to take on ANYONE who would dare challenge you. Then you cooly proceed to the cash register as fast as possible, hoping no one will realize you are even there or the gem you've attained (really no one in the store gives a damn, but....)

She rings it up. The price could be 5 times your mortgage payment and you would then only shyly complain that there might be a teeny-tiny problem with the price; but with feigned interest, the cashier nonchalantly says " OK, that's $6.72. Do you want a bag?". A bag you ponder while nodding no and laughing internally feeling a sense of madness welling up making you a bit uncomfortable, and hand her the payment. You then proceed to put the item back in the cart. You just want to get out of there as quick as possible before the mob hunts you down to fight you for your prize. You don't even look back as you quickly leave the store and realize the outdoors posses other safety problems before getting to your car. There you quickly transfer the item to your car, thrust the cart off to the end of the parking lot into a bush, get in your car, and peel rubber out of the parking lot and head home.

Or, maybe not...

Anyway, it looks like a Lewyt, doesn't it. I've never seen it before. It's nice. Is it loud ?

 

[fantomfan57]

Thanks Tom and Greg

Economy or not, I love it!

Greg, your story was a laugh riot! I mean I really was laughing out loud. You have talent friend. I am sure I laughed because...it was true. As for the motor, it is not too loud.

My friend in Temple has another model with a tray on top for tools. Was her Dads and she remembers him changing the brushes. He also held up the motor to test it while standing in the kitchen.

I bought 2 packages of bags from Ebay and sent them to her. She said she wants to share. So I will either accept donations (hint, hint) or make some replacement bags.

I have yet to spa it. I will work on it Friday while my truck is in the shop.

Cheers all!

 

[fan-of-fans]

Nice find, I don't think I ever saw one like that before, looks like all of the attachments are there too. I don't ever vacuums that old in Goodwill.

 

[gregvacs28]

Spa Day

What does spa day look like for your vacuums? Will there be pictures or video?

Have you ever involved a dishwasher for washing some parts?

Spa day is like the two week mark after a honey moon, isn't it? Not like I've been married, but...... it's still an enjoyable time during the human-vacuum relationship isn't it?

I mean, for me, spa day, is as therapeutic for me as it is for the vacuum... I would hope. Layers of scum, rust, and filth presumably get removed from the vacuum and a new shiny version of the vacuum arises. At the same time, while we spend a lot of time rubber gloved and possibly sweating; we feel like we've given birth.

Ah, vacuum love. It's so pure and original.

I still stay this little gem looks like a Lewyt. I'm wondering if GE sold their vacuum line to Lewyt before.... they went bye-bye.

 

[fantomfan57]

Hey Greg and Cole...

I will be checking the condition of the attachments today, but first look is they are all there. I am particularly interested in the floor tool having never seen one like this. I may involve the dishwasher.

As for the spa, no there will be no pictures/videos until the vacuum is finished. I already notice that most external parts are riveted and the motor mount screw heads are unusual (proprietary) I guess to need a Authorized GE service person access.

The shape is a bit taller and narrower that Lewyt vacuums.

Thanks again Greg for you vacuum love narrative.

Thanks Guys.

 

[eurekaprince]

I always liked the design of this GE cleaner. So simple and convenient to have a “tool box” right on top of the canister where they are so easy to just “grab and go”! Also love the subtle beige and white colour scheme - very understated and “confident”.

Kind of reminds me of the Eureka 1600 series Sweet Sixteen boxy canister vacs that came to market several years after this GE debuted.

 

[huskyvacs]

@ gregvacs28

You nailed that description of a typical Goodwill run for me!

The last time I was there and picked up an Oreck XL2, which, aside from a little bit of cat scratching marks on the bag looked like it just came out of the box. I continued to browse the aisles with it in my cart (I got to Goodwill for more than just vacs), you couldn't even count on one hand how many people were eyeing that vacuum sticking out of my cart! It also came with a overstuffed opened package of about a dozen genuine green Oreck brand bags and there was a spare belt on the bottom slot as well. It was half off day so I got it I think for $15, it was originally priced at $29.99.

 

[dysonman1]

The rug tool is unusual in that it was GE's 'copy' of the Rainbow Jet Air rug tool. Air is drawn through the top slots to assist the cleaning action of the brushes - which works well until the single ply bag clogs with fine dust. The attachments certainly could be dishwasher cleaned, I do that all the time.

Vinyl hoses are also great when dishwasher cleaned - just don't use liquid dishwasher detergent as they contain bleach. Colored tools and hoses can fade from the bleach (I did that one time with a Rainbow top dome and regretted it instantly).

Those screws are not proprietary to GE - Lowes carries the screwdriver in their tools department. GE used an "upside down" motor in their canisters (the air goes over the windings first, and is then drawn into the fan or fans).

If the elastic in the motor filter gives way, a large cable tie will work to keep the cloth secured around the motor base.

Try to find and use genuine GE bags, as they are a somewhat different (and stronger) material than the bojack bags. I got a pack of genuine bags from my friend Hans and the genuine are definitely better and stronger. The bojack bags always tear.

GE is one of my all time favorite makers of canister vacuums. Congratulations on owning that awesome piece of history.

 

[fantomfan57]

Thanks everyone...

There is a lot of flaking paint especially inside the bag chamber. There is more inside the bottom chamber.

I was in the middle of deciding what to do as there are a lot of un-painted brackets and parts which are riveted to the inside. Ideally I would prep. and paint, but it will take some taping to isolate those metal parts from the painted surfaces.

Of course there will be care not to inhale the paint chips as they may be lead based.

I stopped working on this vacuum when I found a Euro Miele S5210 and started renovating it. This involved replacing the motor with a 120 from a 240 euro one.

Replaced the cord on the cord reel, clever or lucky, and that worked. Now waiting for a combo connector, board/motor speed controller and power switch.

Have hose but not wand or floor tool, but I already love this vacuum.