Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Dyson is in the news frequently and so a dedicated thread.

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Model2 wrote:

http://www.abbysguide.com/vacuum/discussions/33916-0-1.html

Hello Model2:

I posted a link to another thread on this site.  Your post above caught my attention WRT another topic on this site for antique vacuums.  I thought perhaps you may know the answer to a question that Venson and I are mulling over regarding the production and sales of Westinghouse uprights in the UK prior to and during WW11.  If you peruse the thread quickly, you'll get the jist of our dilemma.  We could not decide/determine with certainty whether the pictured metal Westinghouse upright [circa 1930's] is UK made or imported from the USA.  What do think/say?

BTW, while I remotely see a connection to the early Air Way stick uprights [late 20's/early 30's] to the concept of steering [wheels on the A-W straight suction nozzle head while other uprights of the day were using revolving brushes], I would tend more to compare dyson's ball/slim to the GE upright of the early 60's with the oblong wheel.  As you may know, the GE upright was a consumer dud despite its worthiness as a lightweight upright.  I can't speak to the Apex//HOOVER you cite which in the USA [especially HOOVER] used stationary wheels, usually of the same size for the years you say, on stationary axles for both front and rear.  

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

I'll go out on a limb and say that in my opinion, the former owner of the collection probably imported it himself purely as a collectible. I've done the same myself, I have 5 vintage cleaners in my possession which I've aquired from the US.

If Westinghouse was sold in Britain, whether the cleaners were produced here or in the US, it must have been in very small numbers. I've never come across one, or indeed, any reference to the Westinghouse brand being available in the UK. Sorry I can't be of more help, I'm afraid my vintage expertise revolves largely around the Hoover Company!

The Westinghouse cleaner in question looks interesting - the cord-winder seems to be an adaptation of the one Singer introduced on their R-series. Pity it lacks a bag!

CarmineD wrote:

Hoover wasn't officially available in the UK until 1919, athough history records sales made to Scotland in 1912.

The American Hoover models I refer to which included the rear swivel casters and front stationary wheels include the original 1908 Model O, Model 18, Model O Improved, Model 1, Model 1 Improved, Model 2 etc. etc. All of the larger uprights, in fact. They would have been just too heavy to manoeuver without the castors! The last models to use the 'steerable' castors were the Senior Model 101, and Junior Model 198 - both of which ceased production in 1922. The smaller, less expensive Hoover models generally used the standard front and rear wheels you mentioned.

The Apex/Vactric models I mentioned employed a swivelling handle joint, which allowed the user to steer the cleaner exactly as modern equivalents do. The handle joint could also be locked in place if desired, to facilitate use as a standard 'backwards-and-forwards' upright.

Thanks for your opinion on the WESTINGHOUSE.

WRT ball bearings and wheels, the only I recall on HOOVER uprights are the 90,91, 913: The heavy Commercials which were made, as you might well know, in Great Britain and exported to the USA.

Carmine D.

Earlier Hoover commercial models 961, 972, 900 and 925 had ball-bearing wheels as well. One of the few Hoover commercial model not to have ball-bearing wheels was UK Model 960, which didn't require them; it was far lighter than the machines which came before and after it. We didn't get the Model 90-style of machine in the UK until 1949, but versions of it were on sale into the early 1990s! Coincidentally, early Model 91s were actually built in North Canton, but production switched to the UK very soon after production began. I know the later machines in the series were UK-built also, but I couldn't say for sure about Model 90.

CarmineD wrote:

Hi Carmine,

There was a model of the Air-Way upright that had a revolving brush.  It was for a intent and purpose a stick vac with power nozzle.  This was way, way back in the day and I have always wondered why it took so long, maybe twenty or so years later, for the power nozzle to come to mind again.

As for the GE upright, sandalwood beige beauty that it was, it employed a floating brushroll to compensate for it lack of a carpet height adjustment -- same as Singer's oldie.  I think here too there wasn't enough of a downward force to make even a revolving brush of much worth cleaning-wise.  The beauty of it was that it was sleek, low design and that it could be hung flat on a wall for storage.  Do you remember the model number?

Thanks,

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

Yes, I believe it to be the V12 U1, if memory serves me correctly. 

Carmine D.

Back again Venson:

The brush roll on this particular GE upright reminds me more of a brush bar to use dyson's terminology.  GE scrubbed the brush bar in favor of a more industry standard brush roll in subsequent upright models which also employed rug height adjustments.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:
Hi,

That's true but GE moved back to more conventional upright design.  Though GE continuallly manufactured canisters wasn't there laspe in upright manufacture before it started producing the external beg models with the suction port at the back of the base or were both on the market?

Venson

Hi Venson:

If memory serves me correctly, GE produced both ups/canns thru the time that it sold all the vacuum rights to Premier, probably mid-late 70's.  Had stick/brooms too.  We tend to think, myself included, that GE went to canns only.  Why?  HOOVER and EUREKA owned the upright market then.  GE's and most other uprights couldn't compete and stopped trying.  Especially with the big box stores selling the EUREKA and HOOVER brands while the GE brands were sold primarily through GE and appliance dealers.

Carmine D.