Premier Duplex vacuum WWII history

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support AutomaticWasher.org:

rickr

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2003
Messages
4,081
Location
.
Most members here have seen pictures of my 1922 Premier Duplex vacuum. I took it to the convention with me,so some people even got to see it (and "test drive") it in person.
I looked on ebay for any other Premiers,and although there were none to be found,I did find an interesting item pertaining to the history of my vacuum,that I did not know.I knew that my Premier was a wedding gift to my grandmother in
1922.And that Grandma had given it to my mother in the late 1940's.And that it was retired to my parents attic in 1972,and stayed there for 25 years until I restored it in 1998. (so I thought I knew it all)

However this ad found on ebay just made for a new chapter in this vacuums 83 year history....
Someone at the convention told me they had never seen an old Premier with the bakelite wheels mounted behind the brushroll,as they were always mounted on the sides of the brushroll housing.

This ad shows that even though a customer could not purchase a new vacuum during the war years,a 20+ year old one could be modified,and updated to "hold you over" until the war was over. I found this very interesting,and a nice piece of information to add to the history of this appliance.
After I discovered this ad,I looked at the brushroll casting more carefully. I found a few small screw holes that are filled in with lead,from the modifications. My vacuum looked like the one on the left,when it was new in 1922. My grandmother had it rebuilt in the 1940's during the war! After the war was over,she bought a new vacuum and gave the rebuilt Premier to my mom,instead of tossing it to the scrapper.

Note the changes in the vacuums on the ad. And also the "VIM" "VITALITY" "VALUE" (V V V V V) During the war years the "V" (for VICTORY!!) was more popular than the plastic ribbons people put on their cars today.

Vintage appliances have a story to tell,if you take the time to "read" the clues!
 
Very interesting information--thanks for sharing!! Especially the fact that Premier "updated" the look of the machine when it was rebuilt! That's the same exact "curve" of the handle your machine has depicted in the ad as well...I thought it looked a little "different" than what I've seen on eBay, but it never hit me!

It is a very beautiful machine, and runs just as smooth as it looks! I had fun using it at the Convention!
 
Right Austin. They did replace the one rear caster with a set of duel casters. Glad you enjoyed the machine. I had brought it to show anyone interested,however I knew it would be a hit with you!
 
Love the Premier

Hi Rick

You did a grand job on getting the vac back to its natural beauty, and such a great cleaning action, the bag pattern remined me of one I have, searched my pics when I got back and hear it is, its a 1930,s Hotpoint, UK made, with the same pattern on the bag,

also comes with a set of cleaning tools although I`m in the process of warming the hose to get it supple as it has been kept in its box for most of the time.

Look forward to seeing more restoration!!!

Cheers, Mike
 
Hotpoint vacuum

Cool vacuum Mike! The brushroll casting (front) is very similar,but not exactly like the one on my Premier.If you compare the two carefully there are differences,including a smaller motor housing on your machine. (perhaps because of the higher output of a 240volt motor,verse my 120 volt??) Is your machine finished in a "gunmetal" grey paint,or is that the color of the metal?
Also how do the attachments attach to your vacuum? From the bottom,or through the front of the machine? I don't recall my machine ever having attachments at all. Perhaps it did in 1922,and got tossed out over the years. We will never know now,as the original owner of my machine died two years ago at the age of 100.

Very interesting early machines here. Premier,General Electric,and Hotpoint were all in this together it seems.
Thank you for the picture!
 
You won't find this at WalMart!

Beautiful machines, all of them! I enjoyed test driving yours, Rick, it makes you long for the same quality and simplicity in new vacuums today. They're certainly not all junk, but you have to look hard to find something that will be still working 83 years from now...
 
Beautiful vacuums, guys!

Thanks for sharing them both.

Rick--maybe next time you re-do the bag, you might be able to find a Deco inspired fabric.

Mike- Wow!

Lawrence/Maytagbear
 
Would have loved to have tried that Premier vac Rick, maybe next convention. The similarities between yours and Mikes Hotpoint are too close to be coincidental don't you think? GE must have had a part in them somehow. All in all they are still the same basic design as the Kirbys still are from what I can see in the pics, simple and straightforward. I've hardly used my Hoover self propelled since I got the Kirby Legend running smoothly again, I like it a lot. It's surprisingly light and oh so much quieter, plus the Kirby paper bags hold more.
 
Thanks so much Rick for bring the Premier to the convention. It is such a beautiful machine and I think that the fact that it belonged first to Grandma is so special.. I was amazed at how easily that vacuum seemed to handle. I can see why you use it on a regular basis. So glad that you were able to come to the convention, it was great to meet you. Terry
 
That tan bag has to go!!

I will bring the Premier to the next convention,unless I have to fly.Then we can all "test drive" the 1922 vacuum again!
I will look for another bag that looks more vintage. Don't know if I can find anything Deco,however you never know what you can find when you look..... Thank you for the input. After seeing the original ads I was thinking the same thing about the bag! I am sure we can do better than that!(:
 
Vaccuum Cleaner Similarities

It seems as if most American Vaccuum manufacturing is (or should I say was) centered around northern ohio, especially in Cuyahoga and Stark counties. I count Premier, Maytag's Hoover, Scott & Fetzer's Kirby, & AirWay's Sanitizor as just the ones I can name as a non expert. But I am curious as to whether that Premier Duplex might have been a predecessor, especially, to Royal (first from Cleveland, the Highland Heights, O.) as the similarities to even modern Royal Metal uprights are striking- design cues appear much closer to a Royal than even a Kirby (though admittedly both are z-axis motor machines). Any ideas?
 
Terry it was great meeting you also! So much fun,so many new friends,so many great appliances,so little time...
It flys when you are having fun!!
 
Its too bad that Premier didn't continue with the horizontal design as shown on rickrs vacuum.It was more effective than the horrible Vertical motor plastic housing they went to later.Then they went under. Could see why.The older design would be more effective and rugged.And the newer Premeir was plastic.Was under the name Mastercraft -I ordered it for a radio station I worked at at that time(early 80's)the vac only lasted a few years-did double duty at the studio and transmitter.Replaced it with a Royal.Those Premeir machines were both beautiful and effective-also liked the rebuilding for models during the war.Saves materials and I am sure Premeir was then building equip[ment for the War.
 
Oh geeze...

I realize reading this thread again, that the link to the ebay Premier was already posted. I'm really not that stupid all the time, just sometimes, honest! Sorry about that!

Is anyone gonna go for it? :-)

John
 
Well yeah, ebay can be a pain...but...

...I didn't want that Premier Duplex on ebay to just go by the wayside...just shameful how we treat our elderly...so I'm giving it a new home :)

John
 
No Premier Duplex left behind...

John that is fantastic that you bought the old Premier on eBay. Please post some pixs when you get that 1920's "flapper" home!

I also bought a Premier Duplex,on the same day you won yours.
This Saturday I attended an antique show in an inner city park. There is a vacuum dealer across the street from the park,and they had about 150 old vacuums outside in the parking lot with a sign that said "USED VACUUMS $10.00 AND UP"
I walked by and spotted a very streamlined Premier Duplex from the 1930's with a headlight,but missing the bag and one wheel. They wanted $100.00 for it. I said "NO WAY" Then they went down to $50.00, and again my reply was "NO". They asked "what is your offer?" I said,$10.00. They said $25.00. I said,"$20.00,or I am leaving" Just then another employee stuck his head outside and said,"GIVE IT TO HIM FOR $20.00!"
So it is out in the garage.....

Most of the stuff they had out there was the newer plastic junk,however they did have quite a few old quality upright vacuums out there in their parking lot sale. I spotted an old Royal,quite a few older Kirby's and some other old brands.
It was quite hot outside,and they had the garage doors open on the building on the sides and in the rear. Inside there are vintage vacuums piled up as far as you can see, about five feet high! They really have a goldmine in that building,however they also know it. They will get whatever they can for their vintage vacuums,however they are willing to work with the customer on the price.

I will post pixs of my second Premier Duplex as soon as possible.
 
Will be looking forward to see it Rick. I really fell in love with your Premier after using it. Terry
 
Old vac prices

Yesterday at our local flea market there was an elderly man, well not that elderly I guess, had a Kirby Tradition in ok looking shape, could use a shine, offering it for $200 without took box..Whoa. Since I already have two in better looking shine wasn't any point in dickering but I can't see paying more than maybe $40 for one tops.
 
Yikes, Pete!!!

Geeze, Pete -- that is high...

I guess I ought to break down and tell you all -- not only did I get the Duplex, but another Kirby -- a G4 -- for $169 + shipping. So yeah, that $200 is a wee bit up there if you ask me.

Rick, I appreciate your good comments to me regarding the Premier. I must admit, your posting of the pics gave me a nudge to get it. When it arrives, it will be the oldest vacuum in the house. I was worried that it might feel self-conscious about that, so I also bought a Premier Spic Span, the little hand vac, to keep it company...you know, have a little brother to play with, LOL!

I'll post pics of all when they arrive. Also, I take it the bag on yours is a replacement? Where did you get the bag, if I may ask? (If not, that's one helluva good-looking bag for being 83 years old!)

John
 
Yes the $200 is rather steep for the Kirby Tradition without the attachments.--Whats he thinking??I had to get two of those from a Kirby dealer before getting a Tradition "Tool Box"Pretty neat-like the little tool box carrier.Would be good if you were a cleaning service.Bet the salesmen liked them for demos-would be easier.Oh-come to think of it-got my Traditions from the Filter Queen dealer when he was around-and for less than $40 each.have two.One works really well-the other has a blown fan,and a rotted bag.
 
The Old Bags

Hi John,and congratulations on your "new" vintage treasures!I am glad you found a "little sister" Premier to keep your new baby company. I have an old Royal hand held vac I used to use for the runner on the stairs. After the restoration of the Premier upright I never use the Royal. The Premier upright is light enough that it can be used for the stair runner.
You will love the Preimer upright. Be sure to repack the motor and brush roll bearings with grease. I am sure they are dry as an old bone. I replaced the motor bearings in mine with new sealed bearings,as the races were very worn.

The vacuum has had at least five bags that I know of,including the original. The vacuum dust bag looked like this picture when it was new in 1922. When the vacuum was rebuilt during WWII the bag was replaced with a more modern Premier bag.
It had a black bag with silver letters that said "UNITED VACUUM" on it when I was a child in the 1950's and 60's. And it had a very thin burgandy bag that said "GE" which used disposable paper bags when I found it in my parents attic in 1997. It must have got that bag in the late 1960's or early 1970's. I don't recall it though. The Premier was retired to the attic in 1972,after 50 years of continuous service!
I replaced the burgandy bag with the tan one that it on it now in 1998,during the restoration.

We have several old style vacuum stores in Fort Wayne. I bought the tan bag for $7.00 from one of the stores. I will now look for two vintage looking bags that will fit the Premiers. The 1930's Premier I just bought for $20.00 will be wintertime project for me,and I want a vintage looking bag for that machine also.

Glad you "bagged" those vintage Premiers John. You are a very lucky man! LOL!

Best of luck with those,can't wait for the pictures!

Rick
 
Duh! Forgot the picture...

Don't you love the flapper coming down the stairs,and the diamond shapes that match the bag in the background of the ad?? Ads were classy back then. Never IN YOUR FACE like they are today.
 
Back
Top