That site was sweet...but....
1. The first Lewyt "Powernozzle" wasn't a powernozzle at all. It was setup like a Bissell Carpet Sweeper, where the wheels in the nozzle were the basis of motion for the revolving brush. This was also just an "option" for the basic Lewyt pot models 44-55-66 with the standard rug brush being supplied with the total purchase price. This is the item that you see in the cariacture on the site. It's not an actual picture of the machine.
For whatever reason, I cannot find the advert that I have which lists the "Carpet Sweeper" attachment and it's actual reatil price to consumer dated from 1954 according to my catalouge sheet of what adverts I have. It was offered with the pot style Lewyt's only as described, and not with the later Big Wheel models. As has been pointed out to me before.
The site was absolutly correct about the power to the nozzle going thru the hose on the metal coils...just like they do today. And that it "WAS" a direct connect like I stated on here before offering no pigtails...the current running down two metal strips inside the wand..where it was distributed down into the powernozzle housing to the motor. But this wasn't used until 1958's Lewyt Big Wheel Electronic 1000.
This is the machine that is shown in the small advert on the site. And after extensive reasearch on my own, there is no evidence that Lewyt made this machine after 1961.
In fact to go back to the first Lewyt nozzle for a second, period Lewyt Adverts of around 1953-1954. for this "carpet sweeper" innovation, tell of being able to use this "Sweeper" for between cleanings, then just hook up the hose and the dirt in the sweepers receptacle dissappears , and you can clean thouruoghly your carpeting with Lewyt's "Super Suction" and sweeping action.
2. The powerbrush offered by Singer was made by Preco Industries and was offered not only to Singer...with it's own label affixed to the housing, but to other manufacturers as well. In fact in many "home based" periodicals of the day "Better Homes and Gardens e.g" for example, where you would finda small advertisement in the back of the "zine" offering this option made for "all vacuum cleaners" for around $30.00.
3. In most serious collectors opinions within the context of vacuum cleaner collection and history..the first "true" powered nozzle goes to Air-Way Electric Corporation from Toledo Ohio. Air-Way used the first powerhead nozzle on it's early uprights like the Scout Model from 1933 or somewhere in there.
It's motor for suction was up the handle like five inches from where the powerhead was, and the two were connected..while not direct connect, by a pigtail. If you wondering what I mean and would like a visual aide..go to
www.air-way.net and look at the History section. In that you will see the Air-Way Scout model with it's powerhead. For those who don't want to...it basically looks like one of the Old Regina Electric Brooms with a powernozzle, just with an outside bag not the round cloth one like on the Regina.
4. Eureka's Vibra beat was a very neat and simple solution to a very "complex" problem e.g "getting power to the nozzle",although it just diddn't do the job as well as it was intended eveyone who used one...and those who tested the device like "Consumers Union/Consumers Reports" said that it diddn't do any better thant he regualr nozzle supplied ...and it was the loudest thing to ever appear on a vacuum cleaner in their opinion's. Eureka thankfully got with the program and by 1972 offered a proper electric nozzle...that everyone else in the industry used like Tri-Star, Rainbow and Fairfax for example.
5. The Electrolux section of the site was awesome, and I learned things there that I will not question or comment on. Yes it's true that Electrolux went crazy over their new Powernozzle option and was the main manufacturer to make it a popular item next to Sears with the Power-Mate.
6. There was a company called I believe ABC Industries. They made one of the first commercially available powerheads to the industry. Their head was called the "Always Beauty Clean". I have very sketchy info on this item, but he powerhead was used by Air-Way after 1966, on General Electric machine for thier first powerhead SwivelTop model after 1970, and was also the very first powerhead for Compact as well, Royal also used this nozzle for it's canister cleaners after 1975 or so. I'd like corrections if Im wrong here.
The year for the intro of Compacts powerhead, I'm not sure on ???TOLIVAC??? when was the powerhead first offered for Compact was it 64'? do you know??? Anyways, this ABC Powerhead lookes strikingly similar to the Lewyt's powerhead seen in the photo mentioned elsewhere.
In many ways it's rather tough to pinpoint exact dates for me as Im not home as of now..Im currently searching for new Digs in Ypsilanti Michigan as personal problems have made this necescary. Therefore I'm at a freinds house and have no access to my stashof stuff. I will look when I go home this Tuesday.
Anyway that's my $.25 cents worth.
Chad
