Thread Number: 5110
Micro-Meet at Robb C.'s
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Post# 57055   12/27/2008 at 20:11 (5,569 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

I had the pleasure of going to Robb C.'s [rexaircollector] lovely home on Friday for a micro-meet. He has a really neat collection, unfortueatly, scatterbrained me left my digital camera at home. I did however, take a shot of my late Christmas gift from Robb, a neat G.E. Swivel-Top, Model C-4.

Post# 57056 , Reply# 1   12/27/2008 at 20:16 (5,569 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

I told you those things have an almost eerie way of finding me!! Here's the machine that started it all for me. It's a duplicate of that machine, sadly, the actual one Mom had has been fertilizing a landfill for about 35 years now.

Post# 57058 , Reply# 2   12/27/2008 at 20:18 (5,569 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

The next few are for you Hoover gurus out there. First up, my Constellation Model 82, COMPLETE!!

Post# 57059 , Reply# 3   12/27/2008 at 20:20 (5,569 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

Next, my Model 84 Connie, also complete. BTW, Robb has this same model in his collection.

Post# 57061 , Reply# 4   12/27/2008 at 20:24 (5,569 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

Last but not least, my Model 85 Connie, that is also complete. I'm trying not to bore you all to tears, so I'll probably post more later.

Post# 57063 , Reply# 5   12/27/2008 at 20:39 (5,569 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
Works for me, Toby...the picture posting I mean. Couldn't be less dry-eyed bored. LOL

I have those 3 Connies, too. Canadian ones didn't come with the wheeled floor tool, nor the telescopic wand. :-(

Aluminum wands are such a no-brainer fatigue buster, why of why did they all eventually switch to chromed steel?

Now get at those GE Cycolac tools with bleach, toothbrush and lots of wood toothpicks...

Thanks.
Dave


Post# 57072 , Reply# 6   12/28/2008 at 03:04 (5,569 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH)        
Nice Pics, Toby!

hygiene903's profile picture
I also have a pink GE, but mine is a little older, think it's a C3. The tools are a lighter color, and it has the flip-flop rug and floor tool. Nice of Robb to give it to you. He's a great guy and I had the pleasure of meeting him at a Mini-Meet last year, then again at the North Canton Convention.
Nice pics of your other GE's and Connies, too. Wish the tool caddy and hose for my 82 were as nice as your's, but my caddy's kind of beat up and the hose is permanently stretched from Grandma hanging it up.
Jeff


Post# 57081 , Reply# 7   12/28/2008 at 08:09 (5,569 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

Thanks Jeff! Your 82 is still a looker, even with the tool caddy and stretched hose. I have my Great-Grandma's Model 31 Filter Queen that has a slightly beat up decal, but that no amount of money would but because it was hers. More pics later. Trg

Post# 57082 , Reply# 8   12/28/2008 at 09:26 (5,569 days old) by rexaircollector (Loganville, GA)        
TOBY!

I too could be considered scatter brained because I had my digital camera sitting in the office and totally spaced out about taking pictures as well. We got so engrossed with sharing vacuum stuff and all but we WILL take some photos next time. I am glad that the GE found a new home among your fabulous collection and that you afforded her the opportunity of a photo debut on the forum. Dave is so right about bleaching the tools so a manicure for the GE is definitly in order. I had already done that but it was some time ago.

I also thank you for the gifts you brought down. I will take photos of the Air Way and Eureka you gave to me and share some recent pics of my collection with the group. They made it up to the vacuum room and are proudly displayed among my collection.

Robb :-)


Post# 57084 , Reply# 9   12/28/2008 at 10:36 (5,569 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
A quick note of explanation for anyone scratching their head.

GE developed several synthetic plastics in the late 40s. Previously made from molded woodpulp fiber, wood,, cast aluminum or steel, when the time came to outfit the Roll-Easy and Swiveltops with tools they used their own, more expensive infinitely colorable plastic compound called CYCOLAC. They licensed another of their plastics Lexan (early) to other vacuum manufacturers. Back then Lexan was a somewhat flexible polycarbonate plastic (think PVC) and cheaper to produce. The addition of certain vinyls or synthetic rubbers (neoprene)to the mix made for the across-the-board tools we know today. Now we know Lexan as a very hard tough clear, tinted or opaque coloured plastic used in automobile head and tail light lenses and vacuum body shells. Very tough but it does sometimes shatter under stress and scratches rather easily.

Monsanto and Dupont were developing their own postwar plastics such as nylon...the list of proprietary names goes on for pages as the different properties were discovered.

But to get back to CYCOLAC...GE tools molded from this have a unique smell and feel, almost a dry slippery surface without an oily feel. They are difficult to scratch or scuff unless practicably done on purpose.

Over time CYCOLAC develops a white crusty powdery mold on its surfaces and in the crevices. This is not something you will see on any other manufacturer's tools. You can chip it away easily (like tartar from teeth or latex & enamel paint spot splatters on vacuums) with toothpicks, doing no damage to the surface sheen as though it had never been there but it does eventually return. To prevent this, after cleaning you wipe the tool down with bleach, use a brush to get in those cleaned crevices - it will not harm or discolor the plastic - and this seems to stop the mold in it's tracks.

I believe credit goes to Miss Tanya in Wisconsin for discovering this technique and I may not have explained it in full detail but I know it works. Use the bleach and the mold stops. Don't use the bleach and the white powder will return in short order.

Dave

The pink tools below were almost completely frosted over with the encrustation. the gray flipover tool has a bit and has not been treated yet.


Post# 57085 , Reply# 10   12/28/2008 at 10:38 (5,569 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
The same for these Roll-Easy tools. All of them had white spotting but a short detailing session at the kitchen table has them like new again.

Post# 57088 , Reply# 11   12/28/2008 at 12:16 (5,569 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)        

countryguy's profile picture
Dave,

Are you sure that the Canadian Connies didn't come with the wheeled floor tool? I remember our next door neighbour had a swivel top connie and distinctly remember the wheeled floor tool.

Gary


Post# 57111 , Reply# 12   12/28/2008 at 14:05 (5,568 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

Well, here we go again. Since Alan in Florida asked me about these, here's my Whirlwind, which is a Premeir/ G.E. knockoff.

Post# 57112 , Reply# 13   12/28/2008 at 14:08 (5,568 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

And here's a Wizard Citation Swivel-Top, something I didn't even know existed till I found this one. BTW Robb, this is the vac you and I were talking about the other day.

Post# 57113 , Reply# 14   12/28/2008 at 14:13 (5,568 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

Now here's another one of my favorite machines, a Model SC-2 Westinghouse Carousel vac. Robb's lucky enough to have the SC-1 in his collection, BRAND NEW IN THE BOX!! It's won a blue ribbon and I can certainly see why!

Post# 57114 , Reply# 15   12/28/2008 at 14:16 (5,568 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

Last but not least, here's my beloved Great-Grandma's Model 31 Filter Queen. I think MaMa would be proud that I've kept it all these years.

Post# 57129 , Reply# 16   12/28/2008 at 16:55 (5,568 days old) by arh1953 ( River Park, in Port St. Lucie, Florida)        
Bear with me.

arh1953's profile picture
So Whirlwind is a cheaper Premier copy? I like Western Auto products, what a surprise to see a Citation Swivel Top! I had seen Premier vacuums in the same thrift shop my GE came from, I was surprised at that time, and wasn't aware that Premier is an old name.

Post# 57137 , Reply# 17   12/28/2008 at 18:59 (5,568 days old) by luxg ()        

Toby, it looks like you had lots of fun!!! Mini meets are great!!

Post# 57143 , Reply# 18   12/28/2008 at 19:52 (5,568 days old) by timborow (Georgia)        
Filter Queen

What year is that 31 Filter Queen?
Tim


Post# 57173 , Reply# 19   12/29/2008 at 07:31 (5,568 days old) by ge1969 (Jefferson, GA)        

Tim, I'd say the FQ is from the early to mid 60's. I was born in 69 and it's been here as long as I can remember. Later, Trg

Post# 57175 , Reply# 20   12/29/2008 at 07:50 (5,568 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

collector2's profile picture
Hi Gary:

Actually some of the Canadian Connies did come with the wheeled rug nozzle. They weren't quite as common as those in the US though. This is my model 841. I've never come across a Canadian Connie with the old style telescopic wand though.

Doug


Post# 57176 , Reply# 21   12/29/2008 at 08:22 (5,568 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
All we have to go by is memories and experiance.

aeoliandave's profile picture
I was half right, then. And yet I've never seen a wheeled rug nozzle with any Canadian Hoover. Just means now when I do see one in a parts bin I'll whoop and holler and snatch it up for Connie Canuck. :-)

Dave


Post# 57186 , Reply# 22   12/29/2008 at 11:20 (5,568 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)        

countryguy's profile picture
Thanks Doug,

nice to know that my long time memory still functions somewhat correctly LOL I'm pretty positive also that not only did my next door neighbours have the wheeled nozzle but they also had the telescopic wand :-)

Gary



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