Vacs, but wait there's more

[petek]

Little Ben is doing his best to put on happy face with yesterdays 1985 Fairfax find. The machine itself is in great shape but the hose and power nozzle, well they've seen better days and plenty of tape is patching them up. Not to worry though as I'll find better ones. This is not a quiet vac but not horribly noisy either. The owners manual touts its versatility as a hair dryer with optional hose and soft bonnet as well as the health benefits of adding water and camphor like scents as well as its ability to clean the air. How one would sleep with it running or stand it long enough to dry your hair is questionable. I know nothing of them, it's a very similar machine to the Watermatic, but the Watermatic was near library quiet in comparison. I think this is were the idea of R2D2 was conceived.

 

[hoover1060]

That looks like a Hoover made power nozzle?

That p/n loosk very much like Hoover's first generation p/n, which if it is would be excellent at rug cleaning. "It Beats as it Sweeps as it cleans!"
Nice find Pete, congrats!

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Good eye!

I think that is a Hoover powerhead... Those are fun!

 

[petek]

Are you saying that they sourced the Fax a Matic powerhead from Hoover and rebadged it?

 

[hooverwheelaway]

You got it!

Hoover did that quite frequently, actually.. I've seen them paired up with Broan central vac attachment sets, too. That's great, the Hoover Powermatic became a Fax-O-Matic..!

 

[Versatronic]

A convertable

This guy that said he might give me a Hoover convertable told me this morning he'll take 25 bucks for it. Should I go for it or not buy it out of principle for weasaling out on me?

 

[hoover1060]

Convertible

$25 ain't bad, of course it depends on what vintage you're geting too.
A older model from the 60's or earlyu 70's would be awesome!

P/N: Hoover also made that PN for a Singer Canister as well.

 

[Versatronic]

I'm heading over there now to take a look at some other

I don't have the expertise to tell what the vintage is, unfortunely. But thanks.

 

[Versatronic]

Here's a pic

Well, this thread is probably a little too obscure to get a lot of feedback, but here is the Hoover that I can get for 25 bucks. Can anyone tell if this is a keeper or what vintage it is or should I just let it pass.

 

[Versatronic]

Appliguy Patrick, where are you?

If this vac is going to be a "project" I wouldn't be interested. I've got projects lined up for a year and the last thing I need is another one. The owner says it hasn't been working so great lately.

Another view.

The reason why I went to his place last night is because he wants to sell this massive knotty pine pantry/cupboard sort of this that I admire, but would have no room for. There is an accompanying L shaped bar/counter that goes with it too. If anyone wants to see pictures, just let me know.

 

[Versatronic]

My appliance hotline just rang

Appliguy Patrick says it's a no-go. I love this place.

 

[appliguy]

I've seen models like this at cheaper prices in nicer sh

I have picked up nicer ones that are older for less than $25. Let me give you all some examples of the good deals I have found over the last few years:

I got an all original 1977 green Hoover Convertible U4101 for $20 that has just a few scuff marks but it is as clean as a whistle and it cleans like a champ.
I also got a 1965-69 Hoover DAM 1120 for $12 that is all original and is real clean it just needed a new belt
I got an original almost mint ca. 1965 Hoover Slimline 2001 with 2 sets of attachments for $15.
Last but not least I got an orange 1973 Hoover DAM U6003 for $5 and all it needs is a new cord because it got chewed by the beater bar but it runs wonderfully and the powerdrive works flawlessly. So it is just my honest opinion that if Versatronic waits he can find a nicer one at a better deal.

 

[tolivac]

I have a Fairfax like the one pictured with Little Ben.Mine was given to me by a dealer --the power nozzle and other attachments were missing-he could not sell it.Was a trade in toward a vac that he does sell new.The Fairfax is pretty strong.Just need to find bags and flat paper cellose filters for it.The ones for WaterMatics do fit.When I got it-it has a "Kenmore canister" paper bag in it.

 

[compactc9]

Fairfax makes pretty good vacuums. They are also fun to use, or at least I think so. I have been able to find 2 so far. One came from the vacuum store I work in and is appearantly the current model. And the other came from a collector that was going to throw it away(!?!?!?!?!?). So I saved it.

 

[tolivac]

I also have an older Fairfax vacuum-one that was sold to me for $15 by the Rainbow dealer-was a trade in to a Rainbow.It even has aan attachment to convert the Fairfax cleaner to a floor polisher-You mount the Fairfax powerdome to the polisher base-and the Fairfax motor powers the polisher-spins the brush or pad.A capistan protruding from the motor turns the polisher brush by friction on the side of the brushblock.It works quite well.The Fairfax can pick up liquids-you remove the paper bag and filter-then put a ballvalve assembly in the paper filters place-than you can suck up the water-when the water reaches the float valve-the ball goes against the motor air intake cutting off the flow.-Like a Shop-Vac.If you don't have the Ball-Valve-don't use the machine for wet pick-up-then the water will get into the motor.-shocking you and blowing out the motor.That also explains the "external" powernozzle cables strapped to the hose(the vac pictured with "Little Ben")so the hose could be used for wet pickups as well.Brand new Fairfaxes-like the Water Matics and Rainbows--come with a seperate non-powered hose for wet pickup.