Thread Number: 40600  /  Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
Old round canister vacs
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Post# 431365   9/6/2020 at 11:12 (1,299 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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Lately I've really gotten a thing for the old round metal canisters. Hoover Constellation, Celebrity, GE Swiveltop, Hamilton Beach, Sunbeam, Eureka, etc.

I believe some of these were called hatbox cleaners. When I first started collecting, my local Restore had a blue Sunbeam "Touch N Lock" round canister - wish I had gotten it now.

Looking at some newspaper ads, noticed the round GE/Premier "Whirlwind" canisters for eale in the mid to late 70s. Sold for between $24-29 depending on the ad. My guess is these were meant to be cheapo vacuums at the time. These were the short single fan units.

Wish I could find some of these old round vacs around here. All the older metal vacs I ever see are Electrolux. Not that those are bad or anything, but where are all the other old vacuums? I guess I did ok, since in my earlier collecting years 2012-14 I managed to score a Connie and a Slimline. Glad I got both because I've never seen another of either around here, before or since.

Remember one of my aunts telling me her first vacuum when she got married in 1960 was I believe a round Sunbeam. Then a metal Eureka with power nozzle in 70s, and replaced that with a Kenmore Whispertone in the early 90s. I believe she may still have that Kenmore!

My grandmother's first vacuum was a GE Swiveltop short model she got with green stamps from the grocery store. Replaced that in the 80s with a Rainbow D4 which she still has, and then a Bissell Pet bagless upright.

When I was a kid old house next door had a GE beige Swiveltop short model (mid 1960s maybe?) in the shed. New owner let me have it. Had no hose or anything with it. The side had actually rusted out with a hole, but it did run! I remember taking it apart to examine the motor. Was probably the oldest vacuum I'd seen up until then.


Post# 431367 , Reply# 1   9/6/2020 at 11:38 (1,299 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)        

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The round vacs that I have are a Filter Queen, Hoover Celebrity, GE Swivel top, Rainbow D and a Eureka Rotomatic.

Gary


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Post# 431374 , Reply# 2   9/6/2020 at 14:51 (1,299 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        

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Other than a couple of shop vacs, the only round vac I have is a Filter Queen Majestic that I picked up at Goodwill for $5 and then spent at least ten times that much trying to put it to rights. It's been sitting in my barn for more than four years and it is the one vacuum I truly regret buying.

Post# 431383 , Reply# 3   9/6/2020 at 17:51 (1,299 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Ge

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I had a pink GE swivel top canister vacuum. Kenmore, ge, eureka all had a similar version of the vacuums. It's late 50's to late 60's. In not sure on the date.
I was not impressed by the vacuum. It did not have strong suction. I think it took a bag and I didn't have one for it. I gave it away to some collector 30 miles from here.
Les


Post# 431387 , Reply# 4   9/6/2020 at 19:04 (1,299 days old) by Thevacomaticiec (Bathurst New Brunswick Canada )        

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Eureka hada round one dnt recall the name,Hoover of coruse whit the Constelation ,The Celebrit y line , and Subeam join the band wagon also whit there round cansiter vac whit teh wrap around hsoe .
Ge swivel top mande in so many diffrent names .
And of coru se the majesticFilterqueen line up .
Rainbow as well altho id refer to em as tub style shopvac look alike similar to the Filter Queen and Electroluxx CB CA line up as well .


Post# 431388 , Reply# 5   9/6/2020 at 19:08 (1,299 days old) by Thevacomaticiec (Bathurst New Brunswick Canada )        

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I forgot the Airway snaitazor line up is round tower like machine also and premier when they took over the GE line up ofthe swivels tops . Im sure im missing some

Post# 431399 , Reply# 6   9/6/2020 at 23:25 (1,299 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)        

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Like this GE I got? I still haven't looked at it yet. Haven't even plugged it in. I did clean the bag. Whole thing's a bit dirty. It's on the waiting list for the spa treatment. Have most of the attachments.

I wouldn't mind parting with it, if you're interested.


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Post# 431402 , Reply# 7   9/7/2020 at 03:01 (1,299 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
Nice

Yours is newer than mine. Mine is two tone salmon/pink,narrower than yours but taller. I'd like to refurbish this one, it still has great suction. When I shut it down the spin down lasts 13 seconds.It is clamped on to a matching colored 4-wheeled caddy.(?)22lbs.I think it's a thoroughbred GE.

In the 60's my dad worked at GE's "rad lab" and commented once that the two things that they did right were electric motors and steam irons! I think this will be my first winter time project to tackle. Looking at yours I can see what the hose and attachments look like, mine came to me a la carte!


Post# 431403 , Reply# 8   9/7/2020 at 03:48 (1,299 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
@ fan-of-fans

I'm sorry, I meant to respond to your post And MadMans but got distracted by dinner,lol, and when I returned I air headed and replied to his and sent it out without talking to you. I too like round metal canisters from the golden era. Someone here got a red and chrome Eureka that was bigger than some shop vacs. It's a beauty.I would make room for one of these in my over crowded collection in a heart beat. I think they called this a Roto-Matic?

I hardly ever see the metal canisters as you mentioned. I think I'd have better luck finding one on a sidewalk when there's a curbside pick-up program going on, just hard to keep track of where said program is happening. They don't announce these pickups to the gen.public anymore around here as many home owners complained about the volume of people coming into their neighborhoods. I can understand that. I won't rummage through bags or boxes, if I see a vac standing on the sidewalk I politely carry it to my car and I'm history!


Post# 431408 , Reply# 9   9/7/2020 at 08:08 (1,299 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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Gary, I really like your Celebrity! Those are on a want list for me if I ever see any.

I forgot that Airway Sanitizor. There was one of those at a thrift store here a few months ago, but they wanted something crazy like $150 for it! Apparently someone bought it because it was gone next time I went.

Cool GE, Madman. Yeah, that looks about like the one I saw. Yours might be closer to the early 70s I'm thinking, because of the vinyl hose. I think most of the earlier ones had the woven hose. Also, does that have a plastic handle? I think the one I briefly had was a chrome metal handle.

I was looking at some ads last night, and would you believe Premier was still selling that same basic GE Swiveltop all the way until about 1979-80? I saw it in a Zayre ad. It was for sale for like $24-29 depending on the ad. In the end it was so cheapened down, it only included the floor tool, crevice tool and upholstery tool. No dusting brush! And I couldn't tell, but it MAY have even had plastic wands at the end instead of metal. LOL

I wouldn't mind having it, but I'm kinda out of space right now. I really want to get my own house but right now with the prices out of control and corona-cripple still going on, just not a good time to buy.

Bill, I rarely see any vacuums either at the curb. Especially since we went to the trash and recycling carts a few years ago. We do have bulk pickup once a month where you can put large items for pickup outside the carts. I never see anything worth getting (IMO) mostly bagless Bissell uprights. I used to see a lot of Hoover Self Propelled Windtunnels for some reason which I wouldn't mind getting one of. I know some pick up these Bissells, etc and clean and resell them.

When I was a kid 15-20 years ago there were older vacuums to be found. I once picked up a navy blue Hoover Celebrity and a early 80s Kenmore canister at a house, neither had the hoses, power nozzles or anthing else with them, but I took them apart. Once I picked up an orange Convertible. Wish I had kept that one.


Post# 431421 , Reply# 10   9/7/2020 at 12:07 (1,298 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
All ofthem are nice!

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I have an extra Celebrity AND orange Convertible..........

Post# 431430 , Reply# 11   9/7/2020 at 15:19 (1,298 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Madam

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Mine was exactly like that one.
Les


Post# 431436 , Reply# 12   9/7/2020 at 16:32 (1,298 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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Oh John if only I had the space!! I gotta do something about this. Maybe buy a vacant lot and build a garage or something! LOL

Bill, you mentioned GE steam irons. Did you know that GE steam and dry iron was STILL being sold up until just recently under the Black and Decker name? They used to sell them at Walmart, and I had a gift card and just had to get one for the "cool" factor. I've never used it yet, I just wish they were made as good as the old ones were.

I see the true vintage GE irons turn up at Goodwill and other thrift stores all the time. They must have sold tons of them, because I see them more than any other brand. The old GEs I see in thrift stores are always in way better shape than the modern B&D ones are.


Post# 431444 , Reply# 13   9/7/2020 at 21:12 (1,298 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)        
@ fan-of-fans

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Yes, plastic handle. Chrome metal clasps hold the top on. Beat-up vinyl hose, hopefully I can snip off the bad ends and make it work. Who am I kidding? I'll make it work no matter what!

Post# 431446 , Reply# 14   9/7/2020 at 21:49 (1,298 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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You should be able to clip the ends off, that's what I was thinking. I have a Constellation with a split hose on one end and I need to try that at some point.

I love cleanup projects like that, just wish I had the space for it. You can order paper bags for that from Hesco, by the way and maybe other places. They still sell them.


Post# 431454 , Reply# 15   9/7/2020 at 22:56 (1,298 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)        

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Besides Eureka’s famous “Roto-Matic” tub vacs, they also produced the low-slung Crown Princess which stored its hose in a round trough around the central motor. Always loved the look of those “Sunbeam clones”!!!!

Post# 431459 , Reply# 16   9/8/2020 at 01:49 (1,298 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH)        
Canisters!

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I have several canisters myself, so I thought I would post them here. First is a Filter Queen 350, then a GE Swiveltop Model VIIC3, Hoover Constellation models 82, 84, 858, and S3341, Lewyt models 40, 55, and 90, and Westinghouse model SC-1. Several of these are family vacs passed down to me. The Filter Queen and 858 Constellation belonged to my Mom. She didn't have them when I was growing up, but had bought both of them at a garage sale after I had moved out and started my own family. The 82 Constellation belonged to my maternal Grandmother. Grandpa bought it for her in 1955 for their 40th wedding anniversary, which turned out to be their last one before he passed away. The Westinghouse belonged to an aunt whose husband worked at the Mansfield Westinghouse plant, and I got it when they sold their house and moved into assisted living.
They all have good suction, but the 82, 858, and S3341 Constellations are probably the most used of all of these. I have repaired the hose on the GE after the picture was taken, and it is the original hose.
Jeff


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Post# 431463 , Reply# 17   9/8/2020 at 09:09 (1,298 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        
Lewyts...

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We had a Lewyt like those in pictures 7 and 8 when I was little. It's actually the first vacuum cleaner I remember. Ours was on wheels and had a pink motor atop a charcoal gray tub. All the tools were pink also. It got replaced in the early '70s by a Hoover Convertible upright but it stayed in the garage for another 25 years or so to vacuum out cars. The hose was in pretty wretched condition by the time they got rid of it before they moved in the late '90s. The only other one I've seen like that is in a photo of Hans Craig's collection.

Post# 431469 , Reply# 18   9/8/2020 at 11:43 (1,297 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
I think there's still

a decent amount of round metal vacs. It's just that over the years they've been relegated to the garage as Human mentioned for use to vacuum out the vehicles or used as mini-shop vacs. Most of these by now have outlived the original owner. If you were 20 yrs. old in 1950 and bought your new vacuum in 1950, then sometime this year you turn 90 and your cleaner turns 70!

So I expect there will be a steady trickle of older machines becoming available"as time goes bye." Hopefully they will end up with someone who will do the right thing and maybe they can stick around for another 50-70 years.


Post# 431498 , Reply# 19   9/8/2020 at 19:48 (1,297 days old) by Hmc1981 (St. Augustine, Florida)        
Here’s some of mine...

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Post# 431499 , Reply# 20   9/8/2020 at 19:58 (1,297 days old) by Real1shep (Walla Walla, WA)        
Mostly.....

as these things play out.....they go to the landfill. It's only if one of us gains knowledge of its existence, do they get saved.

Word is not out that ancient, rusty vacs have any value to anyone in particular. I don't think people on eBay selling old, rusty vacs represent anything close to the general population.

Usually when and if I tell people I collect vacs it's like 'Ewwww' & 'Why?'.


Kevin


Post# 431563 , Reply# 21   9/9/2020 at 19:55 (1,296 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)        

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Hmc1981,

Wow, your Golden Crown is in great shape! I remember my aunt having one when I was just a kid.

Gary


Post# 432155 , Reply# 22   9/20/2020 at 21:52 (1,285 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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That's what I'm thinking too, Kevin. I feel like these old metal vacuums aren't really used for house cleaning anymore. They've long since been relegated to the garage or barn (and here in Florida, that unfortunately means humidity, and rust).

Most of my finds of these vacs seemed to have been living their later years in some dusty environment, and separated from their tools. Probably used for car cleaning or picking up sawdust.

When I go to estate sales, typically, there are newer bagless plastic vacuums, or if anything high end they had a newer Kirby or Rainbow. Very rarely have I ever been to a house and saw a Hoover Convertible, Eureka F&G, GE or something from the 1970s or older that appeared to be the "main" vac. If I found something like that, it had been long banished among other dusty junk.


Post# 432159 , Reply# 23   9/20/2020 at 22:03 (1,285 days old) by Jo (Dallas,TX)        
We had one too

My Dad picked up one of these Eureka roto matics off someone’s trash when I was a kid. The clamps didn’t work good so the top would come off when carrying it and it would fall to the ground. We kept it in the garage as a vac for the cars but it would clog a lot because the hose was linked near the canister end. I grew to dislike it after a while and chose to bring up the old Electrolux from the basement so eventually we decided to throw it away. My Dad kinda didn’t want to but the hose was leaking badly and the kink in it was annoying plus the top would come off so you had to pick the whole thing up or drag it along to move it. It was just time for it to go. It did still run smoothly and had a huge cloth bag I remember. Funny how the thing looked like a space capsule! We still have the upholstery tool because it is very nice with the bristle strip and does a good job on the carpet treads we have on the basement stairs. We never had a dusting brush with it or I would have kept that too. I never liked the long elbow and Carpet tool and we may have had a floor brush but all of those are gone too.

Jon


Post# 432182 , Reply# 24   9/21/2020 at 03:40 (1,285 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

I would use a metal Hoover Convertible over the plastic bagless JUNK made today!!That Hoover or other metal vacuum could still be repaired and running long after the plasticarps junk was crushed in the trash truck,then crushed some more by a landfill compactor!

Post# 432569 , Reply# 25   9/26/2020 at 11:16 (1,279 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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Some questions:

1. I notice MadMan's GE pictured above, has a ribbed vinyl hose. When did GE change from the woven style hoses to the ribbed vinyl?

2. I've heard older GE attachments developed a mold like coating that can be cleaned with bleach. Did the later white GE attachments do this also?



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