How cheap have I become? Re: cost of vacuums
 

I was doing some cleaning earlier with my Electrolux Automatic E vacuum, and that got me thinking... I wonder how much this thing cost when it was new in 1958? I did a bit of looking, they were just under $120... or almost $1,000 today!

I picked this unit up at a salvation army for free because the switch was popped out of place. They charged me $2 for the hose and attachments. When I got it home I pushed the switch back into place, and it's worked flawlessly since, even the cord reel works great! I guess if you charge a grand for a vacuum you can put really good components into it, which is why the motor and full bag detector still work perfectly in this one after all these years. But if I were going out to buy a vacuum today I just couldn't see myself spending that kind of money. Have I become too cheap?

The other sweeper I use is a Riccar canister upright I found on the side of the road. Someone spent a lot of money on it in the 90s. Only things wrong with it? The headlight was burnt out, and the circuit breaker on the bottom was tripped. There's a vacuum shop in Ann Arbor which is an authorized Riccar and Electrolux dealer, they have quality bags for both of vacuums... and they're cheap! Ones for something like my parent's 2002 vintage hoover cost almost 3x, but they aren't 3x as big!

-Jason

No, I don't think so at all. Vacuuming is a passion of mine :D.

Girlfriend has one of those plastic fantastic bagless vacs that you can see all your dirt whizzing around in through the clear window. Used it once, HATE it. I need something real. I have a Kirby G6 that was given to me by a friend a couple years ago. She was gonna throw it out because the thing was clogged solid with rabbit and dog fur.

Now, if you ever wanna undertake a really disgusting enterprise, get a vacuum from someone that does animal rescue :puke: ! But it was well worth the effort, and now I have an expensive machine that is a joy to use :)

I've restored more than my fair share of Kirbys, but for plain ole reliability and good in the fun-to-use category, I pick Hoover uprights from the 40s-60s. I used to have an Electrolux anniversary model (gold in color) a dog's age ago, but never really took a liking to the upright-style beater bar head connected to the tank. Just seemed bulky to use.

Don't give me permission to start hoard... err, collecting another type of item :eek: I've got enough junk around the house as is :o

I've never liked bag less vacuums. It's kind of nice with a shop vac because you can just suck up everything, then pick the bolts out of the tub when you're done, but for inside I want the dirt captured, not in something I have to empty and have it go everywhere.

-J

Had a buddy about 40 miles east of me that was a vacuum collector. He had over 400 of them in a big barn. Any time I came across something old and weird in the vacuum department, I'd buy it for him. God, I musta got him at least a hundred.....

The problem with most canister vacs is that they're clunky to maneuver around with, which is why the Kirby is nice with the hose attachment. The Kirby Zip Brush is about the most awesome invention ever, kind of a rotating Norelco head like brush that's driven by suction. Cleans amazingly well.

Modern vacuum cleaners are crap!
I have an Electrolux model G from 1961 and the thing works perfectly to this day and the only thing I have ever serviced is the power nozzle motor.

Back in the "old days" things were not only designed better,but they were built to last.

Today you just go to wal mart and buy a plastic toy that sounds like a 747 taking off while in use and 4 months later it's left in an alley behind taco bell next to the dumpster.

This whole "bagless" craze is stupid too,ask any vacuum cleaner repairman how often Dysons come in and what the repair costs are.

Somewhere I saw a magazine article that showed Electrolux dumping old trade in 'luxes into the river so they wouldn't be out there competing with newer models.

Around seven years ago i attended a church bazarr?(im prolly not spelling that right) since one of the gals who works there knows me and said they had "one of those things that had two things that spun and played music".. Well i went there and bought that roberts reel to reel player for 5 bucks and while i was there took the huge glass battery and 1957 kirby vacuum and four boxes of attachments that theyd already dumpstered.

Ive been using her ever since. Does a decent job, not the best or the worst ive ever seen. But i was amazed how easy it was to still find parts for these. Mind you, ive only used one attachment after all this time and the four boxes of attachments just take up closet space, but its nice to have them around.

It does show me that america used to build things to truly last a lifetime. This more than likely did last someones lifetime and now shes on round 2 with me.

I'm convinced that hundreds of years from now, when insects rule the Earth after the apocalypse, that they'll be using Kirby vacuums to clean their carpets, provided that they grow the proper opposable thumbs :D

:D:D:D:D Or if buffalo take over the earth they'll be using Bisons!:D

Okay, my Kirby isn't "that old" but it was purchased new in 85 and it is one of the Heritage II series. My thoughts were that this will be the last vacuum cleaner I'll ever have to buy. Built like a tank, easy to service and good parts support. Had to have the Zip Brush too..

Y'know, I never grew fond of the Heritage series. Once you experience the Tech Drive automatic transmission in the G series, you'll see why. Granted, I'm sure it's a healthy arm workout using it though :)

Oldest one I had was a 508, which would have been a 1947 model....or is that 1949. It's one year up or down, I just can't recall which.

I don't consider myself a vacuum cleaner collector, but some would probably put me in that category. Right now I have an upright Kenmore from the 30s that a friend gave me (she'd get mad if I got rid of that one), a 30s Hoover upright that I need to sell (runs fine, I misplaced a part), an Electrolux XXX that I use as a shop vac, a 50s GE canister on an upright cart-neat piece, a junky 60s Sears that I keep in the basement for cleaning the furnace, and a line of old hand vacs from Hoover, GE, Westinghouse, Royal.

Can anybody use some NOS bags for a Singer or Westinghouse canister? I think I still have both kinds. Hate to toss them.

I found a Kirby G3 (with the automatic transmission) sitting on the street with all of its attachment in a box. I stopped to have a look. The people in the home behind the boxes were watching me, and waved back when I waved at them. I loaded it up and hauled it home. THEN I found that the owner had used it without a bag, and cleaned up a dog kennel before they put it on the street.

I washed the bag thoroughly, and cleaned the interior parts, and the impeller, which was broken, was replaced with new.

It runs like a dream, and my carpets are standing up like they have never stood before. I LOVE that transmission action.

Bruce

Did you get the carpet fluffer attachment too? That thing is amazing :)

I'm cheap when it comes to vacuums, too; mainly because I know the new "junque" out there today won't last. Our house vacuum is a Hoover, probably from the 80's, lots of plastic parts, but better than the new stuff. I keep it going. Replaced the fan twice (cracked from picking up a hard object.) Replaced the beater brush bearings. The pedal mechanism that keeps it standing upright when not in use broke, part N/A, made one from sheet metal. The motor brushes are fine. It gets used every day of the year and keeps on Hoovering.

Since we're talking vacuums, I need a new motor for my harvest-gold Eureka 3210 canister vac. It's in the "500" series and was a low-end model from 1981. I would rather fix this one than buy a new one. Can anyone point me in the right direction to getting a new motor for her?

I wish Hoover made an electric power nozzle for the Constellation!

Constellations are a lot of fun to whiz across a hardwood floor :D

:D:D
They have a suprising amount of lift on hardwood and linoleum floors,just make sure you vacuum the section you place it first or you'll blow the dust and dirt all over!

I think the Celebrity "flying saucer" or "pancake" cleaner also hovered too,but I've never used one to find out how well they work.

Hoover sure got a lot of mileage out to the constellation series,they made them into the '70's.

Regarding Kirbys,my favorite would have to be the 1965 dual Sanitronic '50' with the light up oval Kirby logo on the light cover.
I like the stylized "S" on the Sanitronic logo on the belt lifter,plus Sanitronic is a futuristic sounding name!

Sadly Kirby never embraced modernism like the other manufacturers did and they always used pretty dull colors on the bags and trim of their machines.

I recently saw a newer Kirby that had cool looking boomerang patterns on the bag.

The DS80, I had one that I used for many years. Kirby's only green model in the small series. I don't remember there being any design difference between the "500" series and the DS80. I think the DS80 was the last of that chassis style before the "classic" series came out, and those things were like trying to vacuum with a Humvee....

Ran across a Celebrity at the thrift about two weeks ago, that one had wheels as I recall. You want I should pick it up for ya? :)

I had a Constellation 86 as I recall, it was orange. Seen blue ones too from time to time.

You're right about those Kirby Classics!
A girlfriend used to have an Omega classic and she hated using it because it was so clunky and heavy,I preferred the smaller Kirby too,but personally have always liked canisters with power nozzles best.

The only drawback to the electrolux G is that bags are small,but thankfully bags are very cheap.

Thanks for the offer on the celebrity,if it was the "flying" one I'd be interested!

Hoover made many different colors of Constellations,I've always wanted the turquoise model but have never run into it yet.

Seems to me I've had all 3 colors that I know of....orange, tan, and turquoise. The turquoise one I had would best be described as a parts machine.

We should open up a vacuum forum here. I loves vacuums :) .

My favorite beater canister vac was always a Lewyt. I used to use them in car detailing all the time. Couldn't kill them, and they had nice cloth bags. That was, of course, before the days of the prominent use of the wet/dry vac for such things.

The one canister vac I have here is a really nice Royalaire, a metallic blue, with all of the attachments. Looks like a Buck Rogers spaceship, my kids used to ride on it around the living room :D

Kamakiri (in his best Picard voice): Make it so, number 1 (Grumpy?)

I'm partial to what we had when I was a kid - the Filter Queen. My wife loves her Rainbow - and no, I've never bought a vacuum in my life, always been given ones when older family members downsized or bought others.

I recall the snow blower thread from a few years back - bring it on! Doug loves his lawnboys - maybe another thread for "yard machines" or something like that. Always something interesting and entertaining!


Cheers,

I just got new tires on my Cooper Klipper last weekend :)

Two stroke Lawn Boys? Cool stuff! Now, what to call it.....

AK has Wings, Wheels, and Water, or something like that.....do we have a Lawn and Carpet forum? :D

I picked up a 1920's (25-30?) Hoover Upright a few weeks back.
It has a tag on it that says it was refurbished by Hoover, probably in the 1950's.
It works fine and is in great shape but it has a bad switch, I bypassed it for now just to see if it ran, it does but it's vacuuming abilities leave a lot to be desired.

I will say this is one area where vintage is NOT better, any of my three modern era Uprights (one Kenmore two Hoovers) will outperform this one, they also have the advantage of replaceable bags, and HEPA filters.
I didn't pay more than $10 for any of them.

The oldest probably dates to the late 80's and is a well built machine despite being made of plastic, I've got a lifetime supply of bags for it I found at thrift stores for cheap.

I had an old Kirby at one time, built like a tank but it pretty much just picked dust up and blew it out through the bag, yes, a new bag would have helped but no cloth bag can match a modern paper one.

What floored me was the $500 Dyson "Ball" Vac I saw at Wally World recently, it looked like the type of overpriced junk they used to sell at The Sharper Image, lots of Gee-Whiz appeal and no quality. Probably spend all their money on advertising, like a certain famous audio company.

Kamakiri,
I agree old vacuums are pretty cool!
Lewyt made some very interesting cleaners,I think they got sued by filter queen for patent infringement on their earlier models,they even used a filter cone similar to filter queens.

I've always wanted to find the elusive lewyt electronic the first motorized power nozzle canister.
I've read that was the vacuum that drove them out of business after owners sued due to electrical shock.

Westinghouse made some very futuristic vacuums in the '60's
The Converto-vac being to most bizzare.

Were there any wildly designed lawnmowers back in the 50's and early 60's?
Any with futuristic designs,fins or any spacey design themes?

I've never run into any vintage lawnmowers anywhere and have always wondered if there were any really modernistic ones made.

Have you ever run across a flymo mover before?
They have no wheels and hover above the ground,I remember seeing them for sale in the 70's,but never knew anyone who had one or used one.

I've seen those flymos on ebay from time to time....but never seen one in person.

Last summer at the Salvation Army I picked up this 1929 Moto-Mower "Detroit", powered by an external pushrod Briggs engine. Thing weighed over 300 lb! Ended up selling to a guy on eBay who had to have it, for about $400 as I recall. It cost just as much to crate it and ship it to him!

Needed the money, otherwise I'd have loved to restore it. The engine was seized tight. It looked absolutely threatening :D

Holy mackerel, that Moto-Mower would never make it past the first lawyer today! Imagine getting your knickers caught in the teeth of that thing. Back when men were men.

If a new section of AK is started, I submit it should just be called "Stuff" since we have such wide-ranging obsess...er..interests.

I was thinking about that last night. Be nice to get a wide sampling of interests to guide it in certain directions though. For example, I like vintage kitchen appliances, small and large.....fans.....that kinda thing too. And player pianos!

I like that idea too!
There were so many amazing products back then,toasters,vacuums,refrigerators..heck I even have an old Vornado window air conditioner from 1955!

That mower you found looks pretty intimidating!..I wonder if it would bog down in heavy grass!

Vintagekarma.org ??.........the domain is available......



Cheers,

This gives me a neat idea :)

I looked at the new vacs at wallymart yesterday. It convinced me to visit Grainger Supply this morning and shell out $65 on a new motor for my 30-year-old Eureka canister (which sold for around $40 new.) Glad I did.

Fans. I love fans. I love restoring fans. But at least one of the fan forums is kinda a closed book and persnickety.

AUdubon5425: I did the same as you a couple of years ago: looked at the new vacuu-junk at WallyWorld and just fixed my old one.

You didn't look at the right dealer. If you want a quality product, you have to go to a store that supplies equipment to professional cleaning firms. I picked a Nilfisk Euroclean canister vac, intended for hospitals and other areas, where a quiet machine is desired. The only negative is the bags are a little pricy. $20.00 at SVDP.

Regarding forum ideas, I have hung out a little at the vacuum/washing machine forums but felt out of place there. Like lots of folks here, I have a very wide array of interests.

Anybody want a conversion kit for their older upright Eureka? Lets you hook up a hose, included, along with various tools. Got two of them, not sure which models they fit. Hate to toss them.

Went on a cruise when we got married-most of the power onboard that Finnish built ship was 220. The vacs they used looked like standard issue Hoovers but were much quieter. Is that a benefit of running on 220?

Which forums do you speak of? I'm curious.....

I never felt at home at any of the snobby choices that were audio forums back in 2001. That led me to create AudioKarma in 2002....worked out pretty well :) . That said, you never know.....

http://www.automaticwasher.org/
There is a link on there for their sister site, vacuumland. I mostly joined there because I had a lot of vintage parts that I found in a shop I was cleaning out. I really couldn't find much interest on there, aside from a lot of people looking for specific rare parts. "Do you have a mixer valve gasket for a '52 Easy washer, the early version with the beveled inset? If it is not pliable, don't bother writing back...", that kinda thing. Heck, I have a big box of 50s parts, cheap! Do you want 'em? Send me 5 bucks & postage! Finally did get rid of them, mostly through other venues. Not really bad folks on those sites, but there is an underlying, um, trait that, um, seems to be prevalent amongst the members! (I think that's why I felt like an outcast!)

Old car clubs tend to get the same way. There's always a prominent member or two that have had their cars since the imprisonment of St. Paul, and a few members try to kiss up to them to get first dibs on their treasure trove of stuff. They remind me of Dwight from "The Office" :)

LOL :) VW clubs must be different, everyone's cars are all loosing value at about the same rate and there is a genuine knowledge base wanting to help new members.