The Design and Creation of the GE Roll-Easy Vacuum!

[caligula]

General Electric Roll-Easy.

Hi William1248:

I really like the Roll-Easy, so I find this information very interesting. However, your comment of the early American furniture made me think. As it was sold in the mid to late 1950's, this was also the updated version of 'I love Lucy,' which was set in a Conecticut home. The decore was exactly like that in the Roll Easy add shown here.

Just a thought.

 

[pcasa]

Design and Creation of the General Electric Roll-Easy Vacuum

The link for the "Design and Creation of the General Electric Roll-Easy Vacuum Cleaner" is broken - is there any way to access this file? thanks so much! paula

 

[unimatic1140]

Hey everyone, I found the originals...

 

[centralvacs1928]

This is really cool! I love "inside info" like this. So much more interesting than the consumer advertisements and owner's manuals are to me.

Thank you for sharing, Robert!

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Wonderful, well-written article and a great vacuum design as well! Real thought went into making household products back then.
Thanks Robert for posting these here for us all to enjoy.
Nice to meet another Dallas area local as well - Howdy Paula!

 

[bnsd60m9200]

thanks for unearthing the original article again robert! it was a great read an invaluable piece of history on a vintage machine anyone who loves 50's vacuums knows well! intra industry information is rare to find on product development.

 

[rugsucker]

"Department store-buyers-shared the salesmens confidence

There was a booklet from GE showing dept stores how they could place a Roll Easy in EVERY department at introduction to create traffic to the vacuum department.
Has anyone found TV ads?!?

 

[bnsd60m9200]

Jimmy

is this a document you have about the roll easy marketing? itd be neat to see that

 

[rugsucker]

So excited about her new roll easy

That she doesn't mind waiting for her husband to explain why there is no suction

 

[dysonman1]

Jimmy:
Notice she of the 'lost cord' has placed her slipper and foot directly under the hose connection, keeping it slightly off the floor.

 

[luxlife]

Didn’t Westinghouse make a 2-wheeler similar to the Roll Easy? Seems like I remember one in beige and it almost looked like it had fins.

 

[dysonman1]

Westinghouse also made it in blue.

 

[pcasa]

JUST GOT MY ROLL EASY VAC TODAY!

Thanks so much for posting the product development info - super cool! One question, I just un-boxed my "new" baby - incredibly good condition - but when I unlatch the canister I'm having difficulty latching the handle back down. I see the two pins and understand the closure concept - but mine is not smooth and I feel like I would have to force it to close it securely. What am I doing wrong??? Thanks guys! paula

 

[bnsd60m9200]

Paula

it's designed to have resistance to keep the handle upright when carrying it. you wont break anything. a small dab of oil at each hinge point may help, but i dont recall doing that to mine when i restored it.

 

[rugsucker]

Roll Easy

Marketing-I do have copy of booklet in a file box somewhere.I have 100s of ads and pieces of vac literature that I want to sort and transfer to file cabinet when time permits.
No suction-At first glance on smaller screen it looked as if hose was in right(wrong)opening.But I now see that if flipped over with handle at top it would be correct.It does look as if the lower wand is in one of the 'under furniture' slots.
Westinghouse-The WH Mobile in later 50s had tool storage,did not flip over and offered early turbo rug nozzle.
Paula-Great find.Is it complete?Just remember this is a mid 50s vac with some plastic parts that could age with some degree of problems.Be gentle!Your problem may only need minor cleaning and light wipe of lubricant.

 

[pcasa]

Closing Canister Lid

Yes, I carefully pushed it closed - just wanted to be sure I wasn't forcing it. I'll add some oil. I purchased on ebay - attaching the seller's photos. It's a beautiful Roll Easy. I'm missing the small suction tool and the crevice tool is in rough safe - it appears to be made from a composition material instead of plastic. Proud new mama!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Great condition

even that box!!

 

[rugsucker]

Nice Roll Easy!

Rare to find the attachment box and instructions with them.The belt would be from an upright vac such as Hoover or Eureka which might mean the GE was not used for carpets.The correct type bags seem generic(original bags & package would also be color styled to match).Hose is replaced with original ends(as with most).Short hose is possibly for Hamilton Beach hand vac.Crevice tool looks like 50s Hoover.Missing crevice and upholstery tools could be replaced with most GE attachments through early 70s if desired.Most would be white.
Happy Retro Vacuuming!

 

[dysonman1]

You have the second incarnation of the Roll Easy, like mine. Be sure not to get any oil on the black foam rubber ring that you can see when the wheel is off. It will disintegrate.

 

[opelgtkarl]

Westinghouse MC-1

Here’s the Roll Easy’s competitor, the Westinghouse MC-1. I also figured I’d get a photo of it with Roll Easy, which is the 3rd iteration of the machine.