Thread Number: 5323
The Angle Game: What's this?
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Post# 59255   1/27/2009 at 08:18 (5,561 days old) by vintagehoover ()        

Who can identify this machine???

Post# 59259 , Reply# 1   1/27/2009 at 08:38 (5,561 days old) by rugmaster37 ()        
ANSWER!!!!!!

It's a 1935 General Electric, without a headlight I believe....

Post# 59299 , Reply# 2   1/27/2009 at 15:30 (5,561 days old) by vintagehoover ()        
Correct!!

Well done, Chad! The answer is indeed the General Electric Model 111.

It could date from as early as 1933; that's when that beautiful advert for it, with the lady and the dog, was printed. It periodically shows up in our Vac of the Day section, but this is my own scan of the same ad (of which I have a copy):


Post# 59302 , Reply# 3   1/27/2009 at 15:49 (5,561 days old) by vintagehoover ()        
Beautiful Bojack!

Ever since I saw that advert above, I loved the design of this cleaner. I actually bought and paid for this one on September 15th last year, but it's taken 5 months to get to me - it's travelled halfway round the world from Victoria, Australia! Not cheap to ship, even via Seamail, but at least it's 220v, so it runs on the UK current without a voltage adaptor.

The 111 shares similar underpinnings to the Singer R-1 and the Premier Grand, with the same motor and backwards-revolving brush-roll.

It's seen here just out of it's shipping box and assembled. Of course, it'll be fully dismantled, cleaned and polished to get it looking like new again!


Post# 59303 , Reply# 4   1/27/2009 at 15:51 (5,561 days old) by vintagehoover ()        

The left pedal adjusts the height of the machine, its swivel castor wheels retracting up into the chassis. The pedal on the right reclines the handle.

Post# 59304 , Reply# 5   1/27/2009 at 15:53 (5,561 days old) by vintagehoover ()        

> > >

Post# 59306 , Reply# 6   1/27/2009 at 15:58 (5,561 days old) by vintagehoover ()        

> > >

Post# 59307 , Reply# 7   1/27/2009 at 15:59 (5,561 days old) by vintagehoover ()        

> > >

Post# 59308 , Reply# 8   1/27/2009 at 16:05 (5,561 days old) by vintagehoover ()        
? ? ?

Now, here's my question: does anyone else have any info on this cleaner? Does anyone else have one? I'd love to hear!

Post# 59310 , Reply# 9   1/27/2009 at 16:50 (5,560 days old) by rolls_rapide (-)        
No info...

In your last photo, the HOOVER looks positively regal, in comparison.

Post# 59311 , Reply# 10   1/27/2009 at 17:00 (5,560 days old) by petek (Ontario)        

That is one beautiful GE vacuum, very impressive and rare no doubt.
I was reading the ad and thinking since you posted it that it was a British mag ad...and then saw the line But Lady, you haven't heard the half of it yet" and thought,, this can't be a British ad.. LOL


Post# 59336 , Reply# 11   1/27/2009 at 21:32 (5,560 days old) by luxg ()        

Love that GE, I have seen the ad many times but never the machine itself. Thanks for sharing.

Post# 59340 , Reply# 12   1/27/2009 at 21:42 (5,560 days old) by swingette ()        

Is the bag velour?

I'm curious about the rubber-mounted motor. Rubber mounts can really help hush bearing noise, but how did it age?

What a relief it must be to have a cleaner with "no loose, annoying outside cords"!


Post# 59385 , Reply# 13   1/28/2009 at 16:41 (5,559 days old) by vintagehoover ()        

Calum, the Hoover is certainly a more compact, integrated design. I do love the Model 111's dramatic Art Deco lines, though!

Pete, you're right, if it was a British ad, it would read - 'But hold on just a moment, madam - this cleaner has yet more to offer!'

Terry, thanks - glad you like it!

David - the bag's not velour, it's actually the same material that's used on my later American G.E AVS17-S (from 1947, I think...) It looks like the previous owner has washed it, though - hence the logo being a little faded :(

I've done a little research on this machine; the styling is the work of Allmon Fordyce, of New York - on whom I can find absolutely nothing online! The mechanics of the machine - the handle bail, fan chamber, switchplate and height-adjustment system - were protected by patents unique to Model 111.

It looks like GE also developed - but declined to use - a handle-mounted bag-check light, activated by the weight of the dust in the bag, rather than air-pressure. Of course, Hoover would introduce the first bag-check indicator on a production machine with their Model 150 Cleaning Ensemble, two years later.



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