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Premier Duplex vacuum WWII history
- Thread starter rickr
- Start date
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I HATE dealing with EBAY!Was hunting the swap shops and vac shops,yard sales etc around here.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 tw
ne works really well-the other has a blown fan,and a rotted bag.
ne 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
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
Kirby prices
I haven't invested much at all in the Kirbys. The two Traditions , the one Heritage II and a Singer cost $60 along with the 2 Tradition toolboxes included. I can't rightly recall what I paid for the Classic III and the other Heritage II but I don't think either was more than $30. Then a few bucks for polishing wheels and some time to shine them and wash the bags out.. I did that in the downstairs bathtub using Arm & Hammer detergent, the blue color on the traditions runs somewhat, but they air dried outside and were just like new. Kirby used prices seem to be all over the clock looking at the classified ads here most though are pretty inexpensive for what is a great vacuum, certainly better than the new plastic stuff, AND they just look great I think
I haven't invested much at all in the Kirbys. The two Traditions , the one Heritage II and a Singer cost $60 along with the 2 Tradition toolboxes included. I can't rightly recall what I paid for the Classic III and the other Heritage II but I don't think either was more than $30. Then a few bucks for polishing wheels and some time to shine them and wash the bags out.. I did that in the downstairs bathtub using Arm & Hammer detergent, the blue color on the traditions runs somewhat, but they air dried outside and were just like new. Kirby used prices seem to be all over the clock looking at the classified ads here most though are pretty inexpensive for what is a great vacuum, certainly better than the new plastic stuff, AND they just look great I think
westytoploader
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2004
- Messages
- 4,485
I noticed that your Premier was extremely light and easy to move as well! The closest machine I have ever had was a Royal 801 from the 1960's (the upright companion to the 501 hand vac IIRC). It was a fun machine as well and picked up everything in its path; the metal fan would make a "plink" sound. Not to mention it still had that "rounded" styling like the early Royal revolving-brush machines. I have to admit that these machines, while cute and lightweight, pack a lot of power for their size!
partscounterman
Member
Quiet too!
I noticed that all the vacuums that we were playing with at convention were not only pretty easy to push, but way quieter that those roaring plastic pieces of *poo* available nowdays. I guess you don't have to wake the dead in order to clean a rug.
I noticed that all the vacuums that we were playing with at convention were not only pretty easy to push, but way quieter that those roaring plastic pieces of *poo* available nowdays. I guess you don't have to wake the dead in order to clean a rug.
Thats is a point why are the modern "plastic" vacs so noisey?-sounds more like you are trying to have a B-52 take off in your living room-and with all that noise-the older quieter machine does a better job!!And 30,40,50 years from now will you be able to sweep your floor with that "B-52" plastic vac?the tone of their noise is esp irritating.There are some modern machines where they do try to muffle the motor sound with foam and filters.The exhaust filters in some machines quiet the noise a bit.Areos Lux however is MORE Noisey than before-esp their "Guardian" Canister vacs.That sounds like a jet engine for sure-Commented to a salesman trying to demo the machine-or is it yelled to him as he was running it--"Why is it so noisey?"He said Customers like the sound-makes the machine more powerful"said he-I told him-"Pack it up" and got out an Older 'Lux-he liked the older one better!
The quality of vintage vacuums
I just had to steal this photo from Jon's convention thread. These were the three VERY nice vintage uprights that we "test drove" at the convention.
The Kirby was a 1950's model and had NEVER been used! The owner had found it N.I.B.!
The early 1950's Hoover was in flawless original condition,including the dust bag! The owner found it via eBay.
The Premier is a VERY high mileage,but restored early 1920's model.
All three of these machines were tested out in Gregs kitchen the night of the big wash in party.(and boy was his kitchen floor ever clean after that!!) It was fantastic to see and feel the quality of these three classic American built uprights.
I just had to steal this photo from Jon's convention thread. These were the three VERY nice vintage uprights that we "test drove" at the convention.
The Kirby was a 1950's model and had NEVER been used! The owner had found it N.I.B.!
The early 1950's Hoover was in flawless original condition,including the dust bag! The owner found it via eBay.
The Premier is a VERY high mileage,but restored early 1920's model.
All three of these machines were tested out in Gregs kitchen the night of the big wash in party.(and boy was his kitchen floor ever clean after that!!) It was fantastic to see and feel the quality of these three classic American built uprights.
Cool trio of vintage vacs-Have a similar Kirby but without the attachments.Looking for the Hoover-Saw an ad for showing it in a Sept 1952 issue of Better Homes and Gardens.Looking for a Premier.Any of these machines will outclean most newer ones built today and outlast them!!Prospective vac shoppers would do better to look for any of those at the swap shops and second hand stores!!or I guess EBAY.
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