The Floor Polisher Report

[unimatic1140]

This weeks Floor Care post on Product Stat reviews 22 different kinds of Floor Polishers/Rug Shampooers in 1961. I know at least one person had asked for this a few weeks ago, so here we go...

http://www.productstat.com/reviews/floor-polishers

 

[caligula]

Hi Robert.

I loved this, but I tend to go for machines much older. Seeing that Regina 360 made me smile, I think I have one, though I never checked the model #, and thought it was much older.

These reports are fantastic, and I look forward to reading them. Thanks for sharing.
Alex Taber.

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks for this! As a toddler, Mom seemed to think it was safe for me to use our green 1959 GE floor polisher. I remember the grey handle grip and the three vents on each side that looked like little smiles! I used to polish the kitchen floor from far end to entry, making sure to leave behind a nice even set of tracks like a vacuum cleaner.

If I remember correctly, the lamb's wool buffing pads snapped onto the brushes with snaps sporting the famous cursive "GE" logo in red! Surprised that those center snaps never scratched the floor come to think of it....

Would love to see pics of the bulky Eureka floor polisher with the four small brushes. Would anyone have pics of one - especially a photo of the underside? Can't fathom how the 4 brushes would have been laid out.....

 

[electrolux137]

~
~

Thanks Robert, I really enjoyed this.

 

[cajunvac]

Regina 360

I have my mother's Regina Polisher with a set of original polishing brushes. When she covered the oak plank floors with Solarian and wall to wall carpet She gave me the polisher to use on my red oak floors at my house. Nice to still find Johnson's Paste Wax too!

 

[caligula]

I'm turning to the experts.

Hi Guys, I mentioned in reply #1 that I thought I had a Reginia 360, this is not the case. I just looked at that polisher and as luck would have it, the little instruction booklet was with it. The booklet has no date, but the model is TS, and is called "Regina Twin Brush Polisher and Scrubber." I'm guessing early 1950's, and ideas?

Thanks, Alex Taber.

 

[gsheen]

Wow I totally enjoyed this.Thank you so much for posting it. I have never really been interested in floor polishers that much but a few years ago after moving into our current home which like most homes in SA has a 70% Hard flooring. I then became fascinated by them

I have Two hoover scrubbers, But my real passion are the Columbus polishers.

This is a special 32 Volt model sold alongside many other 32 volt appiances for use on farms that ran off Gensets right up until recently. While on Holiday visiting family I got this and Electrolux B9 also a 32 volt. I also got to see a home that to this day runs on 32 volt with a Hoover 652 as the main vacuum.

Here it is in polisher and vacuum form as well as the yet to be restored 32 volt B9

 

[Anachronism]

Had I known S.A. still had 32 volt systems 20 years ago I may have kept the 32 volt generator I acquired in 1961 and engaged in some international trade. 32V Light bulbs were all I could find to run from it.

 

[gsheen]

Steve

I didn't know it existed either, about 400km outside of Cape Town is a town called Calvinia were my wife's Aunt lives. It was one of those we decided to visit her and love the company and the town so much we go back often. They found out about my love of vacuums and now the whole town who have relatives on outlying farms around the town swap vintage vacuums for new ones or vacuum repairs. Its awesome. Every Time we go up, I come back with a car full of vintage vacuum cleaners

 

[vaclover]

32 Volt appliances..

I used to stay on a farm near Winburg in the Freestate South Africa, next to the farm where General De la Rey was born. It still had the 32 Volt Generator room outside with the Fuel tank, Distribution box and cables intact. Ive heard that the 32 Volt appliances was plugged into the light socket to power the appliance. I wonder if there was like 32 Volt Fridges and stuff? ive heard about and seen some 32 Volt sewing machines, vacuum cleaners and washing machines. You still get 32 Volt Incandescent Light bulbs for sale in South Africa. The Generator would only start once a light or appliance was switched on it wasnt neccesary to keep the generator running. I wonder why they cant develop like a strong enough motor to power a 12 Volt vacuum cleaner?Especially with todays power crises and todays technology. Wish i could only live in the past for a few days.

 

[tolivac]

When my Mom was a little girl the camp cabin we used to have at Lake Winnepasaukee in New Hampshire-the island the camp cottage was on had a 32V electric system-other cottages were on it.The last time I was there almost 40yrs ago the gen building is still there-inside the Hit-Miss gas engine that turned the DC genset is still there-but badly rusted.The battery racks were still there.The generator was gone.My Mom mentioned a 32V sewing machine her Mom and her used to use while they were there.Found some 32 V bulbs in the cottage.We were rewiring it for 120V-As a stupid kid at the time tried one of the 32V bulbs on 120V--made a good flashbulb.Saved the others.Can't remember what happned to them.Think Mom also had a radio that ran from 32V.