Most insane collection of vacuums on the face of this earth!

[washernoob]

th-th-th-thatsss all folks!

Well my journey is done for the day!

More pics when I return to dig out that mound of antique vacuums!

Remember.... these ARE for sale!

 

[amyswasher]

WOW! Has the kid in Michigan heard about this?

I'm sure the people in VacumeLand are abuzz about this. There Scott & Fetzer witch I thought were not around anymore. Wow, even the Eureka my parents has when I was a child.

 

[amyswasher]

VacuumLand

Road trip!!!

 

[washernoob]

Aha.

Dont count on it. The brothers dont like collectors actually. They try and low ball them on prices and point out faults and such. You can only imagine since it took me a year to convince him to take me around the store!

But still. He will let collectors browse through on occasion.

He is a pain in your side to negotiate with so bring a thinking cap because you will have to do some serious working to get him to take you to see the rest of the shop!

The second basement is extremely difficult to get down to and kinda dangerous.

You have to go down a cut out in the floor onto a wooden ladder and hold the large door up at the same time. You have to place your footings right or the ladder will tip. Then squeeze between 2 water line pipes and bring your other foot up and over from the ladder top. then climb down! A work out for sure!

 

[washernoob]

HEY!

Someone, could you PLEASE post the link to this on vacuumland! I want to share it! But I am not a member over there. Post it in the vintage section.

Much appreciated.

 

[washernoob]

Why I ask is because people over there thought I was lying when I spoke of this store! Well here is your proof! Odowds is alive and really kicking!

But... Me taking a hoover 150, 25 (or two!) 800, and a model O if I find one (surely there has to be one around here!)

We were digging around and I said. "man if I keep digging I will find a model O"

Well he said that he thinks he saw one once and doesn't remember if he had it or his brother does.

Soooo,,,,,,,,,!!!!!!!!!!

 

[turquoisedude]

OMG...

You've found the sacred burial grounds!! This place looks like the 'Aberdeen Farm' of vacuums!! Depsite appearances, I would be willing to bet a good number of those machines could be restored. What a cool find!! Hmmmm.... wonder if they have any spare hoses (I have a blue Hoover Convertible that I would love to find the hose and attachment kit for). This place will be a treat for any vacuum collector!!!

 

[washernoob]

HOSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh boy do they. If there was ever a hose to be found, it would be there!

He said he almost never threw out hoses. So when a canny rolled in, the hoses went up!

Hundreds, and possibly thousands of them. In the main basement, there is a very long rack piled 4-5 deep and probably 20 feet long of hoses. Its incredible!

Many old and newer hoses. I am sure there are just dozens of hoover convertible hoses for sure!

What shall we call this place?

The Odowds vacuum cemetery
Odowds sea of suction?
The heaven for vacuum collectors, and the heck for the non.

Ok Im getting carried away!

 

[washernoob]

Condition

Please do note, Despite the mess, most vacuums really are fully salvageable and some are in just mint condition!

Take that concept two, or those hoover 25s. Not many scuffs or even scratches on them.

Some of those canisters are probably pretty dinged up since I can imagine many were just tossed in there.

He said that the rare machines were never tossed, like the constellations or airways, though.

 

[washernoob]

Take note of the 4th picture from the top.

See on the top right? That is the main hose rack. There are 3 other hose racks throughout the store.

 

[bellalaundry]

Hey Brandon,

I've posted a link over on Vacuumland.

Guy

 

[frontaloadotmy]

What a Blast for You

Brandon!!!!
Be careful of vacuum avalanche!!!!

 

[iheartmaytag]

What a find,

It makes one wonder. Is this a store or a Vacuum grave yard?

 

[washernoob]

The actual work space/floor space that he uses for the store is quite small. The front room can hold about 50 vacuums, and the workshop is a bit smaller. As you can see he has used all his space just to put these old machines somewhere!

 

[washernoob]

VACUUMLANDERS

NOTE TO ALL VACUUMLANDERS LOOKING AT THIS.

I, as well as 1-2 other local collectors will be doing business with him. He is NOT listed, has NO phone number, so its not possible to really get ahold of him.

The kirbys and all the old NOS parts (trims and handles and belt lifters) are going to a local collector. He is trying to get every model of kirby, so he is buying most of them, if not all of them.

The hoovers. Considering there is such a vast amount of them, there will be some after I go through them. I know what machines I will take, and what ones some other local collectors will want.

Dont count on getting to see this, because I am almost positive he wont take anyone else down there. It took me a year to go see it, and he does not like taking people down to see it.

He is looking for his money, so expect to pay around $50 for any machine, or more if its rare. No low bargains here.

 

[amyswasher]

Brandon

Thanks for posting the last one. This will save time and headaches

 

[turquoisedude]

Brandon, I am really serious about getting the hose for my Hoover Convertible. Would you be willing/able to get one on my behalf?? I will reimburse you for all expenses you incur plus the price of the hose.
Let me know if you need the model number of the vacuum.

 

[washernoob]

I sure will find out!

I am in the process of getting a constellation hose from him, so when he is able to dig one out, I will ask for a convertible hose.

Cant imagine it will cost much. I know he has them.

I presume its the style that you stick into the back of the machine under the bag?

 

[crevicetool]

He has collected so much that he has NO room for more. Eventually he will HAVE to part with some.

Greg, if you have never been, nows the time! Its really something for sure!

Remember.... these ARE for sale!

Aha.
Dont count on it. The brothers dont like collectors actually. They try and low ball them on prices and point out faults and such. You can only imagine since it took me a year to convince him to take me around the store!

But still. He will let collectors browse through on occasion.

I, as well as 1-2 other local collectors will be doing business with him. He is NOT listed, has NO phone number, so its not possible to really get ahold of him.

He is looking for his money, so expect to pay around $50 for any machine, or more if its rare. No low bargains here.

Brandon - you can bet I'm watching this thread with bated breath! It started out looking as if the vacuum collector's Holy Grail has been unearthed! Unfortunately, there in the middle, it's grown a little disappointing. No one will ever be able to get their hands on any of the goods! Well, luckily you have won the heart of the store owner, and he is going to work with you! YAY!! But then toward the end of your story...it looks as if the gentleman may be once again ready to deal. Maybe???? We can only hope!

Keep us posted! Perhaps you'll catch him on a good day, and he will once again let collectors peruse the treasures!

Thanks,

Rick

 

[washernoob]

Rick

Lemme, tell you, and I am sure other omaha collectors could too... The O'Dowds brothers are certainly different enthusiasts!

Dont loose hope! He wants to start getting into online type sales. He says he wants the 60s-80s hoovers in the basement gone, as thats what he has the most of. He will piece together all the Concepts and build good machines out of them.
I found out last time that that wall in the back (near the top of photo list) with all the hoovers lined up, are all concepts. So there are dozens and dozens of them.

The vintage stuff is what is making you and I scratch our heads. He is attached to them, but not enough to never sell them.

He backed out of selling the S&F sanitation system to John because it was missing the front wheels. Apparently he wont sell it until the front wheels are located. Interesting attachment to these machines! If they are not complete, he wont sell them I guess.

I just got a call from him on the constellation hose. I did ask about a convertible hose and he said he will look for one. He said he has a very nice constellation stretch hose but it had the coupling cut off! :O So he has to go find that now.

 

[defoedude]

1. Has the basement ever flooded?
2. Do they have a wide variety of Kenmore canisters?
3. Why do I get the feeling this O'Dowd guy is a jerk if he's not willing to wheel and deal? These machines have been down there for god knows how long and they're not worth $50 in filthy as-is condition IMHO. Most of these look like probably $5 and $10 trade in value machines, so if he's asking $50 for them, he's reaming our wallets.

 

[washernoob]

No the basement has never flooded, nor is it even damp. Its quite amazing that it has never had a moisture issue.

He does have a few kenmores. Mostly newer 80s and 90s machines. I saw a few whispertone canisters in the canister bin.

No he is not a jerk at all. He is just a tough negotiator. Yes some of the machines are over priced we can all agree. But he is a vacuum shop and needs to make money somehow.

After being taken off the phone lines and out of the phone book buisness for him has significantly dropped.

But I have bought parts from him that I can not find anywhere else, new, and at incredible deals.

His brother restored my commercial convertible model 344 for $25 and its got a brand new outer NOS bag, and a new motor. Even sanded it down!

****
That kirby in my profile pic was restored by the same guy. $70. Heck of a deal in my opinin.

His brother has all of the kirby models. He will not sell his vintage machines though. He has a room full of early hoovers, and no matter how hard I bug him, he doesn't let anyone go into it, nor will never part with them.

___

Part of the reason they are so wary is that he used to have a brand new in Box 1920s Kirby Vacuette electric. A "collector borrowed it" and never again was it returned. Also a company making a hoover commercial borrowed some of their rare old 20s and 30s hoover, including a hoover 800, and 900, and they never returned the machines either.

Its understandable why they dont like dealing too much. Also the one store is in kind of a financial slow down, and thats why he doesn't negotiate.