CU Jan 2005 issue vacuum cleaner reviews

[Designgeek]

Good points, Tolivac.

I looked inside my Kenmore and it doesn't seem there's room for a cord reel in there, but I swear the one we had when I was a kid, had a cord reel.

Later on we got a Compact. It was green, this was in the late 1970s. I remember when Mom brought it home, I was immediately impressed. The only drawback was there was no way to store the cord on the machine. However it was very powerful, very clever design, elegant simplicity, and you could even retrieve coins that got sucked up from the floor or rug since the bag was open at the top. Do you ever see those as rebuilt machines, and if so, how much? And what does it take to retrofit them for two-speed motor operation, if that's even possible?

 

[tolivac]

Designgeek:
At a radio station I worked at during the 70's,and 80's they got Kenmore vacs on trade out and the company had an accouint with them-Ordered them all the time for both studio and transmitter.These had cord reels-had to fix them on occasion-what a pain.I am not in favor of cord reels-they are cool when they work-but a real pain when they don't-most of the time you have to order a new cordreel assembly-cord and reel together.On early Compacts-you could wind the cord around the switch and hose intake. On later ones they put a cord winder clip on the hose intake.That made it easier.also it would swivel to the side(like those on most uprights) to release the cord.The newer TriStar models the cord winds on the bottom of the machine.I like either way.I don't care for cord reels anymore.Many times they are not covered under warrantees either.The electrolux ones(old models) were the only ones that held up.I have a cord reel on a 'Lux LX that still works-over 50 years old!If you want a rebuilt Compact-most good independent vac shops can get them.Usually they rebuild them-they are pretty easy to rebuild.I don't know of a two speed motor available for them.I suppose you could add one if it could fit in the "pig" housing-or Maybe you could wire a diode in series with the motor on a 2 position switch for a lo speed-this is commonly done on non-tapped winding motors.I esp like the convenience of dumping of the TriStar and the ability to recover lost things.Customers like that too-many times that sells them the machine.Sadly the TriStar company doesn't "rebuild" older Compact or TriStars machines. would be nice if they did-like Kirby does!

 

[partscounterman]

Two-speed

When Interstate changed from the "Compact" name to "Tristar", the early tristars had a two speed motor with a separate speed switch.

 

[tolivac]

2 speed TriStar

What model was that-never seen one.Sounds like the switch was sorta like a Filter Queen?

 

[partscounterman]

Don't know

I don't know specifically what model that was. All I know was that these models were a maroon color and had a speed toggle switch next to the on-off switch

 

[tolivac]

Cool:-sounds like a nice model-will have to keep an eye out for one.Maybe I can get one as a trade in toward the Mg2 model.

 

[programcomputer]

Tri-Star Speed Selector

Yes,

When I worked for my old boss at his vac store, I had one of those Maroon Two Speed Tri-Stars come in. It had the Eureka Rotomatic Powerhead with a three position suction regulator in the nozzle head about where you would normally find the Headlight dormer on the higher end Eureka models.

I liked this machine becasue I could use it for a bench vac, and also use it to clean up the carpet on the floor also. The hose was strictly Eureka as well, but had a different handgrip from the traditional Eureka design. It had the handle tubes with the full length cord clip channels, and it had clear attachments with burgandy sparklies in it, and the speed switch was a rocker type with the traditional Low/High markings on it....it had the metal kickswitch above it in the direct middle.

I know that, like at home I eventually tired of it and replaced it with a traditional FilterQueen as my bench vac. The Tri-Star while having good suction, was IMHO not (quite on par) with a FilterQueens suction, and the bags on the Tri-Stars filled quicker than the FQ dirtpot/conefilter.

It was completly rebuilt with a Vibra-Groomer I , that replaced the wooden Disturbulator, a NOS Compact hose as the old one was Ok, but not in good enough shape for a complete rebuild ( I did include the original in the sale tho), and after a thourough cleaning was sold for quite a nice sum considering it's age....I believe $249.95 It sold quite well since we had a much newer Tri-Star right next to it that had a price of around $600.00.

I know the lady personally who purchased it, and still refers to it as her Redbutted pig...and still uses it daily. In fact about a year ago, the last time I saw her...she told me that she needed some bags finally...and had just ordered some off the internet.

It was a sweet machine...to bad I diddn't keep it.

Chad

 

[Designgeek]

This is one of those instances for me where convenience is almost as much of a factor as durability.

I have to believe that cord reel problems are exacerbated by misuse, e.g. letting the cord rewind at full speed such that the plug strikes the case with a loud *thunk!* and eventually the wire pulls loose or develops an open contact. VS. holding the cord and walking it back into the unit at a more reasonable pace.

Dumb Question dept: where were the 1970s Compacts made?, and where are the modern TriStars made?

 

[tolivac]

Cordreels and TriStars

Yes,I can agree-misuse of the cordreel by the user is a problem.On the cordreel equipped machines I own-i do hold the plug end of the cord until it has rolled back up.It just seems that he "Lux cordreels were the most durable-have found some-yes the plugs were replaced.
On where Compacts and Tristars were built-Under IEC Compact name thay were built in Aneheim Calif. When It was under "TriStar"a division of "Lux-the building of the TriStars was moved to the "Lux Bristol Va plant.Now I hear from a TriStar Dist in Raleigh they are now built in a factory in Dallas, Tx.On the underside of Mg1 models it says Bristol Va. On the bottom of the MG2 model-latest one-it is marked Dallas,Texas.The TriStar headquarters is in Dallas as well-same as with "lux.Both TriStar and Areous Lux were owned by Eureka-and up for sale.Eureka wants to get out of the Hi end vac biz.

 

[Designgeek]

Okeydoke, youse guys are definitely starting to "get to me" (in a good way.

I spent a couple of hours yesterday cleaning up the old 2-speed Kenmore canister vac and putting it back in service. Now I'm sure some of the purists in the crowd will be appalled with this, but:

Removed the old tool caddy (had a piece of plastic broken off, with a sharp edge), plugged up the resulting holes with standard-sized hole plugs, most of which can barely be noticed. Scrubdown interior and exterior, scrub the rubber strip between the lower & upper housing with Bon Ami to get the scuffs off, check motor compartment for any loose wiring, clean off the line cord, soak the filter and rinse out accumulated dust, replace bag, tweak the suction hose connector slightly (it's not the right one for this machine, but it basically fits), and test.

Gee that was really easy! Didn't even have to replace anything internal. And it works like a charm and even looks decent. Nice and quiet. Low-speed setting is even quieter and still provides excellent suction, easily sufficient for picking up dust from hard surfaces, slurping up cobwebs, etc.

I presently have a double-hose on there, consisting of the hose that first came with this machine (which is not original) attached to a hose that came with the Hoover noisy-vac (which is of slightly narrower diameter). Going from a narrower hose to a wider one probably causes partial loss of suction (cubic feet per minute divided by area of the circle, or something like that). On the other hand, the long hose was helpful in staying at a distance from the noisy-vac, and has its advantages in terms of not having to unplug the machine and move it around as much. Hmm. Contemplating getting the materials from which to make a nice long hose without any discontinuities in it, or alternately, removing the smaller diameter section and just using a shorter hose (suggestions?).

The attachment set is not original, except possibly the floor brush and the crevice tool, but it all works, and this was primarily a practical exercise rather than a historic restoration exercise (I wanted a quieter vac and there it was). However, I do know how to restore equipment to 100% factory-new condition, having done that with "antique" telephones over the years. (I should post a before-and-after photo of an English GPO 232 telephone that I restored, as an example.)

I suspect I'll be attempting a couple more appliance repairs & resurrections in the near future. Hanging out around here has definitely changed my attitude about appliances from the rather passive one of "if it works, good, if not, I have to count on someone else to do something about it" and "some day I'll buy a more efficient one" to a more active stance of "DIY fix-or-modify", which is more in keeping with the geek attitude about technology-in-general.

 

[kenmore1978]

Kenmore vac

So have you gone to the Sears site to see what parts are available for it i.e., the tool caddy and hose?

 

[Designgeek]

I can't imagine Sears still carries parts for this one, I can hardly find the right bags for it (am presently using a slightly different type but it works properly).

I can live without the top-mounted tool caddy, in fact it was slightly larger than the top housing, and rectangular, so it would have caught on corners & objects.

The original hose was one of those with a power cable built in; there is a little connector below where it would plug into the container. However I don't have enough rugs to justify getting the powered brush attachment, so I can live with an ordinary hose. I could use to replace the "dusting" brush, since the one I have is a bit worn, and it's an attachment I use often; and that's probably a standard part, easily obtained.

 

[kenmore1978]

parts

Never say "never", it's worth a try at Sears. What's the model number so at least we know who made it? Then it may be possible to find equivalent parts by the original maker.