You're Rolling In Clover...with the GE Roll-Easy

[aeoliandave]

It arrived safe and sound from Brainerd Minnesota, cocooned in a 4" layer of bubblewrap - claps hands in glee - and nothing would do but to stage a photo shoot.

First, a bit of history. The song 'I'm Looking over a Four Leaf Clover' that one could assume was the reference for the phrase 'You're Rolling in Clover' was written back in 1927.

I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER
Words by Mort Dixon, music by Harry Woods
Written in 1927 - However, Art Mooney was the person who revitalized and recorded it to become on a hit during 1948. During that time, it stayed three weeks on U.S. Billboard Charts. Mooney was born on 4th February 1911 in Brooklyn, New York and died in Florida in 1993. Some of his most popular songs are: Nuttin’ For Christmas, Bluebird of Happiness, Baby Face and Honey-Babe.

I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before.
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain,
Third is the roses that grow in the lane.
No need explaining, the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over a four-leaf clover
That I overlooked before

More likely, the phrase was better known to WW2 guys & gals, subsequent war brides and their soldier husbands long after hostilities ended. What better reminder on the kitchen windowsill of those 'Romance among the Ruins' times than a small pot of posies that came as a premium with the lucky housewife's brand new GE Roll-Easy vacuum cleaner?

"Roll Me Over in the Clover" was a naughty little number that was hugely popular in England in 1944. The lyrics, for the time, were extremely racy and the subject matter was, well, sex. This song is a soldiers' song, popular during World War II. The rhyming, melody and rhythm probably have stayed the same over the years, but it seems like it's too tempting to change a verse or two in this song for all the words to have stayed true. Here is a version of the lyrics, reprinted from "Songs from the Front & Rear: Canadian Servicemen's Songs of the Second World War" (Anthony Hopkins, published by Hurtig, Edmonton, 1979):

Now, this is number one
And the fun has just begun.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]
Roll me over, in the clover,
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

Now, this is number two,
And he's got me in a stew.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number three,
And his hand is on my knee.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number four,
And he's got me on the floor.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number five,
And his hand is on my thigh.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number six,
And he's got me in a fix.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number seven,
And it's just like being in heaven.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number eight,
And the doctor's at the gate.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number nine,
And the twins are doing fine.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

[CHORUS]

Now, this is number ten,
And he's started once again.
Roll me over, lay me down,
And do it again.

I have clover in flowering bloom over half my lawn...have yet to find a Four Leaf sprig.

 

[aeoliandave]

But I do have a pair of matching turquoise vacuuming shoes..

and a few Roll-Easys.

 

[aeoliandave]

The stories of how these Roll-Easys came to be in my collection is well documented in the Archives but finding this Roll-Easy poesy pot on Ebay really got the adrenaline pumping.

The pottery is a perfect scale replica of the 2nd & 3rd version Roll-Easy with the narrower concave barrel, there are no makers marks on it and it is unmistakably genuine. Dug up a clump of clover from the lawn and by the time I got the shot set up, they were wilting. LOL

I'll find an artificial Flower Crafting Store and get me some convincing faux-ever fake.

 

[aeoliandave]

Back in their nesting spot of Turquoise Heaven, the one on end to the right behind Sully I keep plugged in. With the 40 foot pool hose attached it's ideal for giving the bedroom lounge the once over when the mood strikes. The tall blue robotic device far right is a portable 8.000 btu dripless AC unit that keeps the Lounge at a decent cool dry 70 Fahrenheit all muggy summer long, for 4 years now. There's a 12,000 btu Kenmore version standing by to perform it's magic in the adjacent Attic Vacuum Lounge once the vapour barrier is completed.

Good thing, too, because our heatwave begins Monday - by Wednesday we're expecting temps approaching 90 feeling like 100 with humidex factored in.

Dave - jest aRollin' Along, takin' it Easy...the General Electric way...

 

[sireluxomatic]

Dave, I'm not sure which is most impressive; the vacuums, the planter, or the shoes.

 

[arh1953]

It was too unusual not to have posted it for future referenc

I'm glad I didn't keep kicking up my thread about the planter, I had a feeling you were trying for it. I'm glad you got it!

Here's a jazzy lyric from a long forgotten group called "The Holy Modal Rounders".

Roll me over in the clover
Roll me over just like Rover
Do it just a little slower
Slightly to the left and lower

 

[arh1953]

Your otherwise excellent photo shoot

gave me vertigo!! Balancing on the second floor deck like that! I get sick on a seven foot ladder! LOL

 

[shag]

Dave with all that clover on your lawn, have you caught anyone rolling in it?

 

[airway88]

Those are so cool!

Did they ever have a roll easy with a power nozzle or a matching turbo nozzle?

 

[thermokid]

Roll me overn the clover!!!

That reminds me of some records that my Father had wwhen I was little from a nasty red head named Rusty Warren. I loved listening to those party records..... Oh to be young again!!

 

[kenmore81]

I agree

Your balancing act kinda gave me the sweats Dave. Nice set of Roll-Easy's, I so love the planter. I will find my swivel-top some day lol.Be carful they don't get to close or you may have a surprise =).Of corse I can't find the picture but I had the baby GE from the 60's(oreck look a like) in mind.
Kenny

 

[aeoliandave]

No vertigo problems with looking over the edge of a cliff.

I've been blessed with the balance of a one legged stork, the scrambling agility of a monkey and the height fearlessness of a flying squirrel, yet go figure... I can't make my way down the sidewalk without tripping over my own two feet. Don't even mention dancing... Dave

 

[arh1953]

I am curious

Are there modern bags that can be adapted to fit the Roll-Easy? I'm going to check here to see what I can cobble up. What are your thoughts? And yes, there is eBay.

 

[aeoliandave]

Yes Alan, I am pleased to say there is one modern bag that will do very nicely with one simple modification!!!!

If you have one original bag do not throw out the cardboard gasket square...but not to worry, I have made a pattern.

I wrote a thread about it a long while back. I'll post the link when I find it.
Dave

 

[aeoliandave]

Wasn't a Thread, it was an email answer for Mark Kroll

Question:
December 6 2008.
HI DAVE.
I WAS ON LINE LOOKING TO SEE IF ANY ONE
KNOWS WHAT TYPE OF BAGS FIT THE GE ROLLEASY.
I CANT SEEM TO FIND THEM ANYMORE.
HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW ONE THAT FITS CLOSE?
THANKS, MARK KROLL

Answer:
Ouch, that's a tricky one, Mark, Roll-Easy bags no longer in production and I've never seen knock-offs at vacuum repair shops. For an actual or after market Roll Easy bag be aware that they were also referred to as the Roll-About.

Just did a survey up in the bag bin and the closest thing dimensionally to a Roll-Easy bag is the 'wrap around the motor' Hoover Type H for the Celebrity 'saucer' Series. In fact, it's so darn perfectly alike, that's what I'd use because they are still made and readily available.

BUT! and its a minor but, you will have to trim the width of, and thicken, the cardboard mounting square of the H bag.

Do you have at least one Roll-Easy bag? Save the mount square as a pattern to trace & cut out copies on a thick piece of artist's matt board. I'd use 1/8" thick or slightly thinner. The R-1 bag clamp can accommodate 3/16".

The Roll-Easy cardboard mount is a full 1/8" thick. This thickness and rigidity is necessary to to effect a tight seal in the Roll-Easy bag's spring clamp. Thinner cardboard, such as the the Hoover Type H is made of will buckle under suction, trust me. So, whatcha do is glue your new matt board shape on to the Type H mount over the inlet hole with white glue, let it dry, trim the H edges and yer good to go. The same bag is used in both versions of the Roll-Easy, the 2nd being narrower between the wheels.

As I noted, the H bag has the same dimensions and volume of the R-1 bag. I've cobbled up a diagram on the R-1 bag mount dimensions in case you don't have a bag.

Another detail that may not matter but:

As you know the Roll-Easy bag slides into the U-shaped clamp base. The original bags have this 1/16" matching shape glued to the back of the card and the bag paper is glued to this. It allows easy insertion of the bag with no interference. The clamp U is 1 3/8" wide.

It won't be necessary if you carefully peel the Hoover H bag away from it's cardboard to clear the clamp. Or you could peel and trim the H cardboard to match this shape and glue that to the new mount.

Just thought I'd mention and attach a pic.

Pardon my ignorance but are you a VCCC Forum member? Post the results for us, please.

Dave Kerr aka aeoliandave

----------------------------

Well, I never heard back from Mark Kroll but I can re-confirm that the Hoover Type H for the Celebrity 'saucer' Series is as perfect a substitute as you are likely to find.

Here's the backside shape of the Roll-Easy bag gasket. As you know the smaller hole is a finger pull for removing the bag. Trimming the Hoover H bag mount to this shape and glueing that to your new Roll-Rasy gasket will let the bag slide in easily without fouling on the clamp guides.

So Alan, get out your craft scissors and go to work...you'll be very pleased.

Say, another article for the 'How-To' tab, Fred...

Dave

 

[aeoliandave]

Previous aftermarket bags for the Roll-Easy...in pink!

 

[aeoliandave]

Roll-Easy bags called the Rollabout.

 

[aeoliandave]

The original Roll-Easy bag packaging.

 

[arh1953]

Thanks very much Dave!

I thought I had a Roll-Easy bag in my big one. It's the Hoover Type H, and it had been artfully fitted in it, and is about a quarter full. I will check my stock for some H bags, and use your pics and see what I can do!