Lately I have seen more and more references to Electroluxes as canisters...Electrolux never made a canister, they made tanks, Filter Queens and GE swiveltops are canisters, When did the term canister take over???I never noticed this until lately...What do you all think, am I being picky;;LOL
tank or canister
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suckolux
Well-known member
Hans, I wonder if it has anything to do with regional terms? Like sweeper and such? We always said canister! Never called one a tank that I can remember. Others may have more insight.
I say canister when im being specific. I usually just say Electrolux Vacuum Sweeper
suckolux
Well-known member
My grandmother on my father's side would say Sweeper, I think she was from Tx.
eurekaprince
Well-known member
In the non-vacuum world, let's say in mechanical engineering, a canister and a tank seem to describe a container of the same shape - known in geometry as a "cylinder." To me the two types of cylinder (a circle of a certain radius times height) refer to the size: a canister of sugar or a tank of gasoline. Canisters are smaller and tanks seem to imply larger - like a tanker truck. I like the term canister because it seems to fit the compact size of most "cylindrical" vacs.
eurekaprince
Well-known member
Andy...if you ever find yourself down in Bloomington-Normal, you should take some pictures of the old Eureka Williams factory there. I think the building was sold by Eureka's current parent company AB Electrolux. When Hoover and Eureka were competing against each other in the 1960's and 1970's, I always thought of Hoover as the "Ohio" vac maker and Eureka as the Illinois vac maker. In fact, I think Eureka was the only vacuum manufacturer in your state. Not sure if Birtland made their Kenmores in Chicago.
But would be interesting to see pics of the old Eureka factory here at VacuumLand!
But would be interesting to see pics of the old Eureka factory here at VacuumLand!
delaneymeegan
Well-known member
Amongst our Professional Collector selves, we call them Canisters, tanks, cylinders....
On Craigslist, and among the great, unwashed, vacuum cleaner ignorant Public, I've seen:
"pull-behind, flat, drag-behind, older flat style, box-type, hose kind, rides behind"...... (vs. "push kind, stand up type, and newer style" in reference to uprights).
Basically, it doesn't matter what continent or region one is from, it's a box with a motor in it, with a hose and cord.
And it's amazing how many have similar or matching cords, switches, motors, hoses and parts, the likes of which even spans the decades.
So the real difference is the shape of said box.
Even though I love my Electrolux's I never call them tanks. That has a military reference which is pointless and not relevant. If anything, they should be called the phallic vacuums, given their penis shape. And who doesn't like playing with a beautiful penis.
It appears, from Luxs, gray and dingy current selection, that even they don't use the tank name.
Canister and cylinder. Accurate and a realistic name BUT, it's obviously too many syllables for the vacuum ignorant public to remember.
Most of the public can't even spell vacuum correctly. How many times have I seen "vaccum, or vacumn, or vakkum, or vacc"? Damn-it, that's disrespectful.
I'm hesitant though for us to come together on changing the name to something like BOX vacuum, as it may be overly simple. If we start referring to canister/cylinders/tanks as BOX vacs, it may attract a buying public, the likes of which would vote for trump.
That's dangerous territory, and I don't think any of us want to contemplate what the vacuum industry would look like under a trump presidency.
The name canister and cylinder is non-threatening. It also gives us an easy leg up on those would chose to live a life, ignorant of the important contributions that vacuum cleaners have made to daily life in the last century.
We all need to step back, and be grateful for our vacuum cleaner intelligence and sophistication.
compactc9guy
Well-known member
reply
In my neck of the woods its always been a canister and an upright .Either Lux Compact Tristar Or Filter Queen . Canister vac meant either cylinder or tank like cleaner . Canister was for the , smaller more compact cleaner whit the motor separe from the cleaning tool. Upright are referred to as one piece unit or all in one . canister have more ability for bigger jobs id take a canister or tank type. i guess its just base on were your from but in my house its always been a canister or in french train-aux and vertical cleaner . my 2 cents .
In my neck of the woods its always been a canister and an upright .Either Lux Compact Tristar Or Filter Queen . Canister vac meant either cylinder or tank like cleaner . Canister was for the , smaller more compact cleaner whit the motor separe from the cleaning tool. Upright are referred to as one piece unit or all in one . canister have more ability for bigger jobs id take a canister or tank type. i guess its just base on were your from but in my house its always been a canister or in french train-aux and vertical cleaner . my 2 cents .
streakers
Well-known member
Back home
They were referred to as a 'barrel' vacuum... Tank and canister are specifically American terms in my mind...
They were referred to as a 'barrel' vacuum... Tank and canister are specifically American terms in my mind...
suckolux
Well-known member
Hmm, back home refers to where?
sitop
Well-known member
Interesting
In my area it was either an Upright or a Canister. Tank almost always had something to do with either gasoline, oil, water or septic
In my area it was either an Upright or a Canister. Tank almost always had something to do with either gasoline, oil, water or septic
human
Well-known member
I'm with sitop
streakers
Well-known member
Sorry, Back home in
Australia...
Australia...
speedqueen
Well-known member
The 1951 and 1954 Consumer Reports...
If I recall correctly, referred to the Electrolux style as a tank in 1951 and as a cylinder in 1954. They referred to the Filter Queen style as "pot, squat models" in '51 and as canisters in '54.
***I found some of the, since taken down, Consumer Reports using web.archive.org***
If I recall correctly, referred to the Electrolux style as a tank in 1951 and as a cylinder in 1954. They referred to the Filter Queen style as "pot, squat models" in '51 and as canisters in '54.
***I found some of the, since taken down, Consumer Reports using web.archive.org***
delaneymeegan
Well-known member
lol
A "pot" model !? That's just so wrong. lol
A "pot" model !? That's just so wrong. lol
we always said canister
We had a tenant who had a Constellation. she called it her 'tank'.
We had a tenant who had a Constellation. she called it her 'tank'.
And, Hans,
if you'd still care to, it would be great to talk soon.
John
if you'd still care to, it would be great to talk soon.
John
rugsucker
Well-known member
(fill in the blank) vac
I feel that tank(or cylinder) and canister are correct.It is interesting how many ways they are referred to that relate to common items.In addition to the'pot'type of the 50s there was the 'radio'style Jet 99 and the 'Hat Box'Hamilton Beach.Sears referred to their Deluxe 30s upright as having 'automotive type'headlights.And locomotive styling referred to many products including the Electrolux Mo XXX.
I feel that tank(or cylinder) and canister are correct.It is interesting how many ways they are referred to that relate to common items.In addition to the'pot'type of the 50s there was the 'radio'style Jet 99 and the 'Hat Box'Hamilton Beach.Sears referred to their Deluxe 30s upright as having 'automotive type'headlights.And locomotive styling referred to many products including the Electrolux Mo XXX.
