while perusing the local Habitat For Humanity store here in Greenville-found in a corner-an unpriced GE Premier Duplex vac.Was able to buy the machine for $4.Took it home-and the motor in it purrs quietly. It needs a roller brush and belt.I thought one of the other folks in Applianceville has a similar machine.The one I got looks like it.also the bag has a logo that reads "GE Deluxe"and is in pretty good shape-no tears holes or odors.also the front wheels are on the outside of the floor nozzle.A knob behind the nozzle adjusts the height.And there is a swivel castor on the back of the motor.Who says "swivel" glide vacs are new?(Dirt Devil)
GE Premier vac
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Lucky you,,,,,
I think RickR has one.
Any pics?
I think RickR has one.
Any pics?
Don't have a camera.Sometime I'll have to get one to take pics of some of the things I have run into.I am amazed-and so is the fellow at the local "Vacuum Cleaner hospital" here-The GE vac runs better than an Eureka vac thats on his bench for repair-"the Boss" I beleive it was-the GE motor is all metal-and the Eureka one is plastic.
Funny thing about the Premier Vacuum name. Since GE owned the name, their first gas clothes dryers were marketed under the Premier brand name. Don't ask me why. Nobody I talked with at the time could explain. The dryers were matches to the GE laundry line at the time, except for that vented access plate on the front, different positioning of the front leveling legs and the Premier name where the General Electric name and symbol should be.
These Premiers could be updated during WW II
New vacuums could not be built,so the Premier dealers could update the models from the 1920's. That was to "get you by" until the war was over.
My grandmother got hers as a wedding gift in 1922. She had it "updated" during WW II. After the war was over she bought a new Sears Kenmore Imperial upright,and gave the "updated" Premier to my mother. I rebuilt it in the 1990's and use it as my everyday vacuum around the house.
BTW: note the "V" "V" "V" in the ad. "V" was the general logo for Victory in the USA during the war years.
New vacuums could not be built,so the Premier dealers could update the models from the 1920's. That was to "get you by" until the war was over.
My grandmother got hers as a wedding gift in 1922. She had it "updated" during WW II. After the war was over she bought a new Sears Kenmore Imperial upright,and gave the "updated" Premier to my mother. I rebuilt it in the 1990's and use it as my everyday vacuum around the house.
BTW: note the "V" "V" "V" in the ad. "V" was the general logo for Victory in the USA during the war years.
The close up shot of the 1922 Premier Duplex
I found another Premier last Summer at a vintage vacuum store here in Fort Wayne. The "new" one is from the 1930's and is a "streamlined" model. It is in awful shape,but restorable. This Winter it will be rebuilt as a winter project for me. Sorry,do not have a photo of that one.
I found another Premier last Summer at a vintage vacuum store here in Fort Wayne. The "new" one is from the 1930's and is a "streamlined" model. It is in awful shape,but restorable. This Winter it will be rebuilt as a winter project for me. Sorry,do not have a photo of that one.
Rickr:The one I have looks very much like the machine shown in the 1922 GE ad.the bag is different on mine.Its black-with "GE Deluxe" printed on it in red.Wonder if its a replacement bag.Mine has the wheels on the sides of the nozzle-not behind-that must be the WW2 "Mod"-good idea-would give you "edge" cleaning.Where can I get a rollerbrush for the machine-would figure Kirby or Royal belts would fit.The bristles on my brush are completely gone.Like the rear access to the motor bearing without taking the unit apart!Was built to be serviced-wish Premier would resurect this model and sell them again-its a proven design-better than their later "pancake" head designs.Too bad they went under.Its a nice little machine.Motor on mine works perfectly.
Hi Rex, I am sure the bag is not the original on your machine. The original bag would have looked like those in the pictures. If you have the brush roll it can be rebristled. Check with the vacuum guys on where to send it for the rebristle job. I have done a few myself,including my Premier,however it is a long process. If I had known someone was still doing it,I would have sent mine out for the work.
Any older vacuum shop should have the correct brushroll belt for your machine. Remember that it should be tight,but not TOO tight when installed. Be sure to grease your front and rear bearings. The year that the bearings were made was stamped in the bronze bearing cages. Perhaps yours are also,so look for that. My machine was very high mileage,so I had to replace the worn bearing with the new sealed type.I saved the old ones just for fun.
Good luck with your Premier Duplex. They are a very well constructed machine, clean well,and yet are light enough to use on stairs.
Any older vacuum shop should have the correct brushroll belt for your machine. Remember that it should be tight,but not TOO tight when installed. Be sure to grease your front and rear bearings. The year that the bearings were made was stamped in the bronze bearing cages. Perhaps yours are also,so look for that. My machine was very high mileage,so I had to replace the worn bearing with the new sealed type.I saved the old ones just for fun.
Good luck with your Premier Duplex. They are a very well constructed machine, clean well,and yet are light enough to use on stairs.
Rickr:-Thanks for the advice-will check out the bearings.There is only one vac place that could remotely help with the brushroll-the other vac place that was "old" got lost in the Floyd flood.People in the neighborhood said all kinds of vacs were floating by.I talked to the owner -and he sadly said many flooded out machines had to go to the krusher.The flood hit his area hard-he isn't in the vac biz anymore.Runs fleamarkets now.Too bad-he would have been a good one to try.Just have to see if Vacuum Cleaner Hospital here can help.Is the cloth bag on yours a dump bag or does it use paper disposable bags inside?Might want to get a similar bag for mine later.The side wheels don't get enough height to use on my deep carpet-With just its suction alone-picked up a surprizing amount of dust.The machine is pretty lightweight for an upright.thats why I think that design should be reintroduced-but with the rear floor nozzle wheels and a more modern bag system.Would make a great commercial vac with the metal body and a three wire cord.-and the metal fan!
Drmitch:work a mid shift-perfect for looking up "Applianceville" in between meter readings!Love that diffrential pay!
