Thread Number: 39700  /  Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
A Tale of Two Lewyts
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Post# 421285   3/8/2020 at 21:23 (1,481 days old) by OpelGTKarl (Puyallup, Washington)        

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Well everyone, to start off, it truly has been the best of times rather than the worst of times for my collection lately. Today I have for your viewing pleasure, two siblings if you will, born from the Lewyt company. Of these two, one is the rarely seen Lewyt Model 111 Electronic with the other is a later model A2851.

So, the story goes like this....
So I was scanning through Craigslist about a month ago and as usual I typed “vintage vacuum” as many of us do. That particular time though, a green Lewyt big wheel popped up. I clicked on it to see what the deal was and it turned out to be the very sought after Electronic model 111. However, I noticed a unfortunate key aspect about this specimen. It was missing the one thing that set this machine aside from other standard big wheels... the Electronic Beater Sweeper power nozzle. So I figured at his price of $150, I’d inquire to see if he might just have the power nozzle, but unfortunately the seller did not have it with the vacuum, so I asked him if he’d look for it and let me know when he found it. He was sure he still had it somewhere because he’d been the only owner for the last 50 years. So I periodically checked on him until it was time to figure out what to do about the situation. In the mean time, I had been religiously checking everywhere to see if there were any other parts or Lewyts in the area to see if maybe I’d find the power nozzle elsewhere. That which led me to my next find, the brand new, Shetland Lewyt model A2851. This machine is virtually unused. Maybe used for the occasional vacuuming of the car... This particular Shetland Lewyt lived its entire life in a box. The tool caddy, which is normally screwed in, had never been put on and the screws were still in their wax paper envelope. All of its original paperwork were still in the box along with all of its original attachments and a brand hose! So I arranged a meeting with the seller, who was 5 minutes from my house.

And yet... I digress. Back to the Electronic!
So after some searching and researching through old posts here, I came to a deal with the owner of the 111. So, my brother and I got in his truck and went to the owners home to secure the Electronic and then search for the power nozzle. Alas, after 2 hours of searching, we could not locate the elusive power nozzle, so the owner said that we would stay in touch so that when he found it, it would be mine. So I left with my brother to go back to catch a train back to my city. And yes, I got very questioning looks from onlookers on the train, but I made it back home with a very nice specimen of the Lewyt model 111 Electronic with its original hose, extension wands, a Lewyt model 120 floor tool, and an original upholstery tool. So now the saga of the two Lewyts has come to a close for now until I can locate a correct power nozzle. If anyone happens to have a spare green Lewyt power nozzle, I would absolutely be more than grateful and would be willing to pay for it.


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Post# 421286 , Reply# 1   3/8/2020 at 21:25 (1,481 days old) by OpelGTKarl (Puyallup, Washington)        
The famous picture!

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Post# 421287 , Reply# 2   3/8/2020 at 21:26 (1,481 days old) by OpelGTKarl (Puyallup, Washington)        
The Lewyt Electronic 111

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Post# 421288 , Reply# 3   3/8/2020 at 21:27 (1,481 days old) by OpelGTKarl (Puyallup, Washington)        
The Shetland Lewyt model A2851

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Post# 421291 , Reply# 4   3/8/2020 at 22:14 (1,481 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Nice

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Those are two beautiful machines. I have heard of the sheitland Lewyt. They are in great condition. Hopefully you get the super rare power nozzle.
Les


Post# 421301 , Reply# 5   3/9/2020 at 07:26 (1,480 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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The SCM Lewyt looks so much like a Eureka...even the Lagoon Blue colour. Love the white bristles on the dusting brush.....

Post# 421310 , Reply# 6   3/9/2020 at 09:50 (1,480 days old) by Dysonman1 (the county)        
Even in chrome

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The Lewyt Electronic Is a vision of loveliness. They say a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

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Post# 421327 , Reply# 7   3/9/2020 at 14:36 (1,480 days old) by OpelGTKarl (Puyallup, Washington)        
Thank you everyone!

opelgtkarl's profile picture
I appreciate the kind words on the Lewyts! These machines have been a dream come true for myself and my collection. It would be amazing to make the 111 complete with its power nozzle, but I’m happy to have another important piece of vacuum cleaner history. I have been doing a lot more searching for Lewyts lately and have really fallen in love with the big wheels more and hopefully I’ll find more models of them, but in the meant time here are all of my big wheel models together! My model 88, 111, and 93 AKA the Lewyt Leader!

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Post# 421339 , Reply# 8   3/9/2020 at 16:13 (1,480 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)        

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Nice condition finds! When I first started collecting and was scanning eBay - I seen a bunch of Lewyt big wheels on eBay for $20 (that was with shipping). I didn't know people still paid this much for them! I figured it was just another oddball old vacuum - they all disappeared off eBay for that price anymore sadly. I hope so see one again for that cheap - they look like fun - but I heard the electronic models can electrocute you or something? I do have power company lineman's gloves I can wear to vacuum with it. lol

Post# 421346 , Reply# 9   3/9/2020 at 18:58 (1,480 days old) by n0oxy (Saint Louis Missouri, United States)        
Lewyt electronic 111

I think that model is one of the zappers, not sure though. If so, I would suggest wearing rubber gloves when using it. I think there were two zapper models, I'm not sure if this was the first or second one.
Mike


Post# 421365 , Reply# 10   3/9/2020 at 22:30 (1,480 days old) by OpelGTKarl (Puyallup, Washington)        
The “Zappers”

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The model 111 as well as the model 121 were both the zapper models. It was really unfortunate that this design didn’t work. The 111 also had fatter tires than the other straight suction models.

Post# 421368 , Reply# 11   3/10/2020 at 02:04 (1,479 days old) by rivstg1 (colorado springs)        

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I like the story but especially your title! Clever!

Post# 421380 , Reply# 12   3/10/2020 at 09:33 (1,479 days old) by opelgtkarl (Puyallup, Washington)        
Many thanks!

opelgtkarl's profile picture
I just had to tell the story about these two machines because they're both very much dream machines to me. With many machines in my collection, I treasure both the stories as well as the machines themselves. We don't see very many Lewyts anymore and after reading the stories from the past, I had to share them with everyone.

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