Item HT 19085 Floor Polisher - Woodray, Electric, Great Britain, circa 1949-1954

Summary

Other Name(s): Woodray Floor Polishing Machine, Woodray Floor Polisher & Scrubber

Main body of Woodray electric floor polisher with 1962 repair label attached: Woods Radio, 283 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

Woodray products - water heaters and floor polishers - were advertised in Australian newspapers from around 1947. In 1949 the same polisher was illustrated in The Argus Women's Magazine (5 April 1949, p.10) with the comment:
'This time I have to tell you about a really exciting discovery - the Woodray floor polisher and scrubber I saw at Woods' Radio. This British built housewife's dream will scrub your floors, distribute its own polish, then shine it to a mirror-like gloss, it is much smaller, lighter and adaptable than any model I've seen, yet it is so speedy that it covers the surface just as quickly. It costs £22/19/6, complete with the lambswool polishing pads which create the final gleam, at Woods' Radio Pty. Ltd., 283 Flinders lane.'.

In 1954 a similar advertorial stated that 'A woman's work is always done if she invests 'in the new English Woodray floor polisher and scrubber. It's a wizard gadget, with a guidomatic action (you just guide, it does the rest). It gets into the most inaccessible corners, leaving no smears and you may scrub and polish with the same pure bristle brushes. Only 33 gns., and easy terms, from your local dealer, or buy direct from Woodray Electrical Products, 283 Flinders lane.' (The Argus, 8 July 1954, p.8.).

Physical Description

Base of cleaner coloured cream, maroon and brown, with 'Woodray' printed in black ink on a metal plate at the front. Handle of upright cleaner missing. Three black circular brushes under base of cleaner. Brown plastic covered mains electrical cord attached to unit. Orange and black sticker adhered to front of unit with printed text 'WOODS Radio' and associated text. Four metal screwheads or nuts on top of unit. Paper card adhered with tape to front of unit with printed and handwritten text, black and blue inks.