-the Well Vacuumed Bookshelf-

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Latest addition-the Vacuum Cleaner-a History by Carroll Gantz

There are several books relating to vintage vacuums that belong on such a shelf and I will later add a few titles that are deserving if only containing a chapter or so of information.But first a look at the latest and greatest-the Vacuum Cleaner-a History by Carroll Gantz.From his years at Hoover he adds much that we only thought we knew.From his later career at Black & Decker he tells the story of how the Dustbuster came from nowhere to become the 'pet rock' of vacuums.Mr Gantz has done research including a bit of ancient history and science and then of attempts at removing dust,dirt and germs from the 1800s to the early electrics to the latest models.It also touches on general and economic history,as it should,to further explain the vacuum industry.I think we all join in thanks and applause.I am probably not the only one to feel Mr Gantz would be a valued guest and speaker at any vacuum group.
I ordered a used copy at a savings from a favorite bookstore and found it to be like new when it arrived.By coincidence the publisher(McFarland & Co,Inc of Jefferson NC is nearby as I am at eastern edge of TN.I wonder if Mr Gantz may have had lunch with his publisher at the Shatley Springs Inn or Daniel Boone Inn?Perhaps a three piecce of Southern fried chicken lunch instead of a three martini lunch.
I do have a few 'nits to 'pick' and they are in the nature of comment and NOT complaint.Perhaps the fact that I or others could spot these shows how much this book is wanted and needed and that every word will be studied.Some are corrections that can be documented and could be noted on a second printing before they become'carved in stone'.
Perhaps most annoying, to a collector, are certain images from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design.Such as-
page 105-Eureka hand held with broken/missing bag support.
" 124-Kenmore Commander is not the early version with chrome Commander
script running front to rear,detachable cord and polished aluminum trim.
(If pictures are updated I will offer to search the world or at least row
2 section B of my front room for a suitable example.)
" 126-Fairfax with GE hose and dated 1948 when the previous McAllister would
have been in production.
" 129-Westinghouse with wrong(Sears?)hose inserted in blower.
" 149-GE C-4 with wheels.On this one I am not telling but asking.Early C-4s
had a wheel dolly.This is later by hose inlet and blower cover.
Could there be a very late version with wheels?Are these by GE or a
50s do-it-yourselfer?
" 151-Kirby with spare belt on hose coupling.(The hang tag is a plus.)
" 179-Bissell Little Green with hose not seen in what was a clever storage
system.
" 185-Eureka Victory with hose not in place.
" 187-1961 Compact without a 1961 hose.
One of the highlights of my last trip to milwaukee was seeing the exellent Brooks Stevens exibit at the wonderful Milwaukee art institute.If vacuum images are updated there are many,some near Milwaukee,who could assist.
(more to follow afer a Hoover repair and Rainbow rebuild)

 

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continued-

(My nicely indented paragraphs disappeared when clicking preview & post.Is it me or
computer?)--More--
As to the Tacony images I notice that the Rexair C on page 112 does not have the original grey'Kaiser' hose.(Tom,I may know where the proper hose could be found when you have a few dollars in the aquisitions budget.Hint.)
page 65-I dought that a member of the Hoover family lived to 120.(If so please foward his diet and recipes.)
page 115-Mention of a 1939 R Loewy Electrolux.Again,not telling,just asking for more information.
page 125-Air-Way 66 was only one with smaller revolving intake
AND hose rest.The red ring appeared on 77.
page 143-A 1963 Dial-A-Matic would not have power drive.
page 147-I have serviced many 1205s and never found a solid state circuit board.This all new Electrolux did have a terminal block that made connection with the with the cordwinder when it slid in place.
page 154-The 1980 Olympics were the winter games in Lake Placid,NY.Electrolux advertised the Olympia in the 2-9-80 TV Guide Olympics issue.
page 167-The Silverado was an April 82 introduction.Any sales on blast off day(Mon,Mar 29,82)won a 5 gram sterlig silver ingot for salesman.-The often misunderstood colors of the 1984 Diamond Jubilee are sandstone(tan)&jadestone(dark green.
This concludes what I consider to be comment and NOT complaint.But as Mr Gantz tells it as he sees it by describing some
Electrolux motors as "cheaper and short lived"(which I know as a fact as I was in Bristol then)I will do the same.And as I see it this book is 99% perfect and should be on the well vacuumed bookshelf of everyone here.
And now some general questions and a hope for the future-
Page 57-Hoover 4th floor storage room.Whie a book or more could be written on this one room I have questions on 2-
(P)Hoover laundry cleaner.Was this for daily suction cleaning of clothing worn in a world of coal furnaces,dirty factories,dirt roads and open cars and trolleys until the next Monday wash day?Was it ever in production?
-Any information on the giant vac half way down the the row closest to window?
page 62-Was any Spangler or'O' built with gear drive brush or hose inlet as shown in patent drawing?
Didn't the beginnings of Air-Way include buying the assets of Duntley?(or was it Santo?)
Could the beginnings of Lewyt have been more than a conversation on an assembly line?As a contract manufacturer whose slogan was "Let Lewyt Do It"they could have had many companies who wanted a product made for the postwar 'boom'drop off blueprints.(such as Health-Mor)Some could have blueprints returned,after 2 weeks to study,and been told"not interested".(maybe Health-Mor)This was related to me years ago by a vac dealer from Long Island NY.(Are there surviving court records of the H-M lawsuit?)The same dealer told me that a Lewyt relative(and investor)took,in the razor blade tradition,future bag revenue as their share when the company was sold.
Was Freda Diamond designer or color stylist of the GE Roll-Easy?Either is impressive as just one detail here is color matched floor bristles.
When the Power Drive Dial-A-Matic was introduced could Mr Gantz have been the'mystery guest'on Whats My Line as the Hoover propelled itself across the stage?
(more soon)

 

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continued-

I was pleased to see many of my vacs,including the Shetland upright and portions of the B-D Mod 4 system mentioned.As a movie has a cutting room floor a book can only have so many pages,words and pictures.I did notice the absence of the Haleys Comet,Bison and the foldable Singer Simon.And no mention of the flower power or woodgrain styling trends of the 60s & 70s.
Mr Gantz has given us a fascinating look at a product that might be considered new alongside items such as clocks,wagons,guns or jewelery but is now at an age that none alive at the beginning is with us now.The stories are well told from Bissell,Booth,Spangler and Thurman to Dyson.Mr Ganttz has shown us the old as well as the new and yet reminds us there may be nothing new.For me there is a personal connection as I have met D Aslett,D Clark,T Gasko,Vachunter(R Kautzman),C R Lester,J Lucia,F Stachnick and R Tabor who are included here.
To any who do not abhor a vacuum-This book belongs on your well vacuumed bookshelf!
To Mr Gantz-Thank You!The sound you hear may not just be the waves on the South Carolina beach but applause from across the country.
When I sold Electrolux door-to-door I was told the best time of day to sell a second vac was just after selling the first.Will anyone join me in hoping that Volume 2 could follow Volume 1?While this book has a complete look at the entire vacuum story I can think or areas that could be focused on and expanded to any degree.I feel that one of these areas would be ideal for Mr Gantz experience,knowledge and talent.(more of this on another day)
Until then,Happy Reading,Jimmy Martin
the Vac Shop
520 E E St
Elizabethton,TN 37643
423-297-6918

 

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Hi Jimmy,

count me in!

At the first meeting of the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's club which was held in Chesterton, Indiana on the weekend of May 5, 1985, that topic was brought up. It was Mike Pupek who first voiced the suggestion seconded by John Lucia. So the V.C.C.C. took on the project. While each of had a wealth of information, John with his Hoover ads, Mike with his Rexair collection, and me with an interest in non-electric, none of this was enough for a book. Over the years I thought of it, but research just didn't produce what was needed.

I have heard great things about this book, and I would hope Mr Gantz turns to the old timers of the V.C.C.C. for future info. I for one would love to talk with him. So yes, I'm in favor of volume 2.

A week tomorrow I plan to go to Indiana (the same house where we had that first meeting) and get my boxes of paperwork. I'm also making arrangements to have my machines shipped to Pa. where I plan to display them again. After that I plan to buy that book, and try to contact Mr. Gantz.

I think the club (V.C.C.C.) should thank him for writing it for us. He did what Mike, John and I could not do. And thank you for sharing this info with us.

Alex Taber.

P.S. Here's a look at our first meeting. Now we have conventions!

 

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Our first,

convention.

 

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Here's a look

at my meger collection at that time.

 

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These are some the pictures I got

Stacy Krammes at the Hoover Historical Center in 1980. I'll bring these back in a few weeks and post them so you can see em better.

 

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-hope for the future-

As mentioned above I can think of areas that could be focused on and expanded to any degree for possible future book ideas.They would include-

Manufacturing(from casting & nickel plating to plastics)and Distribution(from trains to planes)-Including engineers,craftsmen and suppliers.From the days that American companies proudly included pictures of American factories on all literature to 'Made in xxxx'fine print that most consumwers could not find on a map.

Retail sales-From Bissell moving the sweeper from floor level to eye level on display racks to Hoover inventing the in store demo to large and elegant window displays to Lewyt Marketplace to big box department stores with vacs,nuts,bolts, screws & instructions in a box that no one in store knows much about.

Door-to-Door sales-Including company leaders,top salesmen,morning meetings,company songs,banquets,prizes,trips and the vacs.

Central Vacs-from Booth & Kenney to homes such as F L Wrights Robie house to the decline and rediscovery.

And on yet another day what I feel would be ideal for Mr Gantz experience,knowledge and talent!

 

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Volume 2 ???

After 'the Vacuum Cleaner-a History' by Carroll Gantz I feel the ideal area to focus and expand on would be Industrial Designers(known & unknown),their clients and the products they transformed,in particulr,the Vacuum Cleaners that became works of art and sculpture(prize winning or not).

Mr Gantz would have first hand knowledge of a second generation replacing the first as related at Hoover as well professional associations with groups for the housewares,vacuum and design industry.He would have sources such as the Lifshey collection that was preserved after the excellent 'Housewares Story'.There is also a massive,far ranging,private archive in the northeast that was unused on this book.I have felt that portions of the 'Collectible Automobile'format could translate to form a part of a book on many products as they have many designer interviews as well as prototypes evolving into finished versions.As with anything book publihing would have limitations and it is ironic that next weeks Sunday throw away ads will show ordinary vacs with extrordinary color and style.But just imagine--

Chapters on designers,Loewy near beginning,then H Dreyfus,D Chapman,F Diamond,B Stevens,G Walker,G Florian,W D Teauge,and more,and Dyson.Stories of how they lived as thay changed they way America lived.When it came to houses,cars and more it seems no one lived better than Loewy!How their likes(brown for Dreyfus)influenced the products.Personal stories as B Stevens seeing F L Wright on a cold,cold night as he was designing an early travel trailer for H Johnson in Racine.

The Vacuums- including Hoover 150,1939 Montgomery-Ward tank,Air-Way 66 and Attachmenys,Apex Strato,Singer Magic Carpet,GE Roll-Easy,Hoover Dial-A-Matic,first Mighty Mite and more and more.

Pictures including-An electric plug that can be clipped to a cord after it is wound.And while you are at it mold the brand name in.Simple?Yes, but someone did it first!,a recessed handle flush with a chrome lid on an apex canister,matching Air-Way attachments and the AttachaCarrier to store,the hand grip of a Singer Magic Carpet with on/off-handle release and cordwinder controls at your figertips,maybe some new pictures of the first DAM-But no,the 'wheres the bag'-'wheres the motor'-'why the dial'ad is still as new as tomorrow,the 1948 Eureka tank tilted upward as it tapers toward the blower,clear Compact attahments with glitter in them and more and more.

A few of my thoughts on how to next fill the well vacuum bookshelf!
Any one else ?McFarland & Co? Mr Gantz? Anyone??

 

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the National Trust Manual of housekeeping-

-by Sandwith & Stanton from Viking.I found a 1991 copy yesterday that was printed in Great Britian,sold at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and came to me at a local thrift shop.Much information on caring for large homes with fine antiques in addition to routine cleaning jobs.Also information on equipment.In this volume they liked models from Hoover,Electrolux,Nilfisk,Columbus and more.Pictures of Queen Mary's doll house Hoover as well as housekeepers closet with
Dustette,canisters and polishers.(An earlier edition showed Senior(Convertible)in closet.
As above I can fill a well vacuumed bookshelf with titles including vacuum information.As I have had little response I am recalling a phrase a former Elux division mgr would use at times.It was-"Can you read?Read this!"
I would now ask-Does anyone read books?Does anyone care that Mr Gantz has written an exellent history that I feel everyone here should have?Does anyone have an opinion of my review with comments and questions?Does anyone have any answers to my questions such as the wheels on GE?Has anyone else found the Housewares Story that Mr Gantz refers to?Does anyone want vac related books on their shelf?
I can add more or I can rest my fingers.

 

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Vacuum Cleaners by Elaine Marie Alphin-

-Carolrhoda Books-1997.--For the child in all of us, a 48 page childrens book with a surprisingly good condensed vacuum history. The illustrations, from 20s Hoover window display to Jeff Koons Shop Vacs make it well worth the 1/4 inch it will need on your well vacuumed bookshelf.(The Italian canister from Museum of modern Art was a gift from Phillip Johnson.)

Happy reading.
(If anyone one reads books. I am hearing much silence here.)

 

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Last Seen Wearing...-1952-Mr Hillary Waugh-

-reprinted by Impress Mystery.-(This classic mystery is not what I had in mind for this but it does raise a vacuum question as you will see.)-For me, this was a page turner that I could not put down. After getting used to train travel between big cities and no one having a computer on cell phone this mystery was as up to date as the next CSI.Is involves a college student missing from her dorm at a northeast college, how see was found and the person responsible for the condition she was found in. The police use a "small vacuum" to check a crime seen for evidence. One of the best known modern uses of vacuuming for hair/fiber evidence was in the Atlanta child murder cases of about 1980. Before that we know Filter Queen was used by crime labs of 40s & 50s.The question is-What 1952 era "small vacuum" could have been used by police? The book, that is well written and accurate on many things, mentions vacuuming wall, floor, furniture, car, etc. and labeling for lab. Small vacs would have included Hoover Dustette, Royal hand, Premier Spic-Span, GE Tidy and more. Does anyone have information on what might have been used at this time?