Shampooer/Polisher History (Electrolux and Others)

[jfalberti]

Was this

Electrolux's answer to the Kirby Handi Butler?

 

[kirbyvertibles]

haha I never thought of that, I wonder too if it was competing with kirby

 

[kirbyvertibles]

compact

compact

 

[kirbyvertibles]

top

Top of compact

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I'm sorry second pic sucks, I bought a new computer and new internet through a mobil hot spot (only option I can get out in the sticks) ok so I hate laptops and I hate windows 8 and I hate my internet of course it doesn't work as fast as the phone. Oy what are us hillbilly folk gonna do? Lol anyhow what do you know about this compact?

 

[kirbyvertibles]

does anyone know anything about this polisher

 

[floor-a-matic]

That Compact polisher resembles a Electrolux Automatic E polisher; could it be from a C2?

 

[jfalberti]

It also looks like a

Filter Queen Pow-r polisher/scrubber.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

it's not a c-2 unless it's just an early one? Joe I didn't even think about the FQ polisher, it does look a bit like it.

 

[electrolux137]

Further to this thread about polishers...


Here's an oddity. This is a very old blower-powered polisher that was sold with Eureka UPRIGHT cleaners including the deluxe Model M and the standard Model K. This would have been in the late 1930s; I don't know the exact years. (John Lucia, are you there?)

I only know this because of some Eureka parts & repair literature that John Lucia sent me quite a few years ago. In it were diagrams and (I think) photos of the polisher in use with the Model M.

It's hard to imagine this thing really did much of anything, given the relatively low power of the Eureka's exhaust. I'd guess that the felt ring around the revolving brushes did as much polishing work as the brushes did!

It's an oddly beautiful thing, though, and I think it's really cool how the designer called for a glass window on the top so you could see the vanes spinning when the polisher was running.[this post was last edited: 6/8/2013-23:14]

 

[electrolux137]

Another view.

 

[electrolux137]

View of the underside. Note the radiating brush strips and circular ring made of carpeting material.
[this post was last edited: 6/8/2013-23:15]

 

[electrolux137]

Now, here's another oddity: The Red Devil electric polisher. Why am I including this with my postings about the Eureka air-powered polisher? You'll see in a minute...

 

[electrolux137]

A closer shot of the motor unit.

 

[electrolux137]

Nameplate. Note that the machine was manufactured in Irvington, New Jersey. That's nowhere near Detroit, Michigan. (Hint hint!)

 

[electrolux137]

Okay now, here's the kicker. LOOK at the brushes of the Red Devil Polisher. Where have you seen that before?!

 

[electrolux137]

Yep! The brush configuration is NEARLY identical to that of the Eureka!

There are slight differences, such as the color and material of the outer ring (carpet material for the Eureka and felt for the Red Devil), and the way the brush strips are attached to the metal disk, and the configuration of the little holes (purpose unknown - perhaps for aerodynamic considerations - the holes might allow for air flow through the disk and thus less resistance against the wind as the brush revolves.)

 

[electrolux137]

Here's a closer view of the Eureka brush so you can more clearly see the slots that the brushes slide into. Note where the yellow lines are pointing.

 

[electrolux137]

And the same close-up of the Red Devil brush.

Okay, now, really! There HAS to be a connection here. I mentioned that the Red Devil polisher was made in New Jersey, nowhere near Michigan (the original location of the Eureka factory). Perhaps there was a 3rd-party company who made the brushes for both companies. Fuller, perhaps? Those brush strips do look like the Fuller brush strips used in many attachment brushes including for the Electrolux combination floor tools.

 

[luxman107]

I love the hedge trimmer attachment. I wonder how many people use it amd actually took their vacuum outside to trim hedges with it.

 

[floor-a-matic]

I sometimes use the Rug Washer for scrubbing floors (with "scrubby" pad) before using the FloorMATE; it does really nice job.

This unit has a unique sound, which I refer to as the "buzzing bees" sound.

 

[normvac]

Charles

I am confused about how the Eureka Polisher worked. Did you
use it attached to the exhaust ( hose attached, where the cloth
(1930's style) would go ? Is it attached with the suction
tools to the front of the upright Eureka. Maybe it was used
for a Tank (? 1930s )Eureka? Thought they only made uprights
back then ?
Thanks for the help.
Norm Brown

 

[electrolux137]

Norm, it attaches (via the hose and wand) to the blower end of the motor. I don't know whether or not it was sold with tank machines or not. The only illustrations I've seen of it, as I said, show it with the Model M upright.

 

[rugsucker]

Eureka polisher

Charles is right.I also found one with a one owner Eureka upright.(I think G instead of M).Mine had box and instruction folder with picture mentioned above.The window is a simple but great idea as was Brooks Stevens first clothes dryer window.Unlike dryers I can think of no other air turbine see through vac atts until the modern tools with tinted plastic.I think this was gone by the time of Eureka tanks.- Eureka had a bit of a problem in the early days of tanks as they wanted a Eureka customer buying the upright and wanting atts to also purchase the tank to get them.The government called this an unfair sellig practice.