Thread Number: 10021
OMG! OMG!! OMG!!! OMG!!!! OMG!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!! 		[Down to Last]

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Post# 109031   9/22/2010 at 21:17 (4,963 days old) by electrolux~137 ()        

Most of y'all know that I have a real soft spot for the 1950s & early '60s single-flat-brush Johnson Wax floor polishers, the kind that used to be on rental racks in the front of grocery stores way back when.

Of the first "HP" ("Household Polisher") series, there were two different turquoise models, a canary yellow model, and a metallic blue model.

Over the years, I have been thrilled to find them all except for the metallic blue model. It has remained elusive all these years -- apparently even rarer than the later "Floor Conditioner" model that I recently received from Mark Berger. I have wanted one for the longest time! We had a neighbor when I was a little boy in Hampton, Virgina who had the metallic blue model. I never saw them using it but they kept it in their hall closet, and every time I'd go over there with my mom I'd go down the hall to the closet to look at it. Its shiny blue color was stunning and I can to this dad vividly recall it.

Well, back in the early 1990s I met a guy in Racine Wisconsin who, now retired, used to work for Johnson Wax in their floor polisher division as a repairman of those machines. One day on a whim I called the Johnson Wax company to see if by any chance they might still have any of their floor polishers kicking around. They did not, but gave me the man's phone number who used to work in their polisher division and suggested I call him, which I did.

Turned out that after he retired, he continued for quite a few years to do repairs on the polishers as a part-time job out of his home. He bought out all their repair inventory and kept parts in stock in his garage.

He did this because from time to time, people who had the machines still sometimes needed to get them repaired, and there were a number of customers he had been helping for years with whom he had established a congenial relationship, and he wanted to continue servicing their polishers for as long as he could.

He said most people who bought Johnson Wax polishers remained very attached to them because they are such good floor polishing machines and they didn't want to have to give them up.

We struck up a good phone and mail friendship and have remained in contact all these years.

Anyway, one day a long time ago, I asked him about the metallic blue model to see if he recalled anything about it. He actually did not, and said he didn't remember ever even seeing one. So much for that!

Not one to give up hope, I kept my eyes on eBay hoping one might turn up someday, and of course kept looking for one in thrift shops.

Well, last week, "What to wondering eyes should appear on eBay..." but the METALLIC BLUE JOHNSON WAX FLOOR POLISHER!

I learned something new about it from the eBay listing: It was a special "Extra Duty" model, as lettered on the base of the motor housing. No wonder it was so rare!!

I have absolutely been on pins and needles all week waiting for the auction to close. I was hoping against hope no one else would bid on it because I just don't have a lot of money to throw at something like that, but at the same time I wanted it SO BADLY!!

I was kinda worried, because there had been more than 60 views of the listing ... it never occurring to me that most of those views had been from ME!! hahaha

I kept the listing open today for the last five minutes and sat here watching it until it ended, hoping and praying I wouldn't get outbid.

AND I DIDN'T!!!

I was the only bidder, so I got this "FIND OF A LIFETIME" for $9.99 plus very reasonable shipping!!!

I called the Johnson Wax polisher guy today to tell him about my exciting find, and I must say, he was as excited as I am! He has email now, so I'm going to send him the link to the auction listing so he can see the machine.

As we were wrapping up our call, he reminded me that a couple years ago he "downsized" and moved to a retirement community. In doing so, he got rid of most of his Johnson Wax stuff, including a brand-new-in-the-box canary model of the polisher. But he said he still had some inventory for the polishers including "new old stock" original cords and geared rubber belts. He said he'd be glad to send the remainder of his stock to me. Oh Happy Day!!

By the way, from the "Small World" department, I met another guy in Racine, Wisconsin who used to be an Electrolux salesman. He's now pretty much retired and I'm sorry to say I haven't talked to him in several years. I met him through our beloved member Tania!

And one day in talking to the Electrolux man I mentioned Johnson Wax and the man who used to work in their polisher division. Turns out these two men are, or were, members of the same church! (Dan no longer goes to that church but did for a long time.)

Here's a link to the listing, and, of course when I get the machine I'll send more photos!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO electrolux~137's LINK on eBay


Post# 109034 , Reply# 1   9/22/2010 at 21:47 (4,963 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
Sometimes the world turns in your direction.

 aeoliandave's profile picture
Looks like congratulations are in order, Charles.

Post# 109067 , Reply# 2   9/23/2010 at 01:17 (4,963 days old) by mercuryman ()        
Congratulations!

 I, too, have experienced the utter joy of finding an obscure and elusive item after wanting it for a looong time. Many congrats on your lucky find! It seems as though it was truly meant to be yours. :-D

Brian

Post# 109073 , Reply# 3   9/23/2010 at 02:32 (4,963 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR)        
Hey Charles -

 portable's profile picture
One more Holy Grail acquired, eh? Congrats! And nice that you are getting some parts from your friend, too. - J

Post# 109081 , Reply# 4   9/23/2010 at 07:30 (4,963 days old) by arh1953 ( River Park, in Port St. Lucie, Florida)        
I love stories like this

 arh1953's profile picture
Wonderful luck that you're enjoying finally! Wax in good health!


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