vacuum cleaner question

[fnelson487]

Cloth and Disposable Bags

Original bags for these machines (pre-1960) are almost impossible to find unless you find a vac dealer with really old NOS stuff. These bags would have been one of the first things replaced after the brushes and belt. Those old cloth bags took a real beating. Later they had bojack replacement bags. So finding an original is literally impossible.

If you are a good sewer and are creative, you can create a replica from a good yardgoods store, some heat transfer tape and a little sewing. I saw a model 29 bag sewed by RJ Vanik, the current President of the VCCC. To the untrained eye, you would never know it wasn't original. Most people don't want to go to that trouble, except for us perfectionists.

 

[hoover1060]

Lux and bags

Charlie that is one beauty of a Lux, and I'd say my favorite of the older style Lux models.

Cloth bags: you can still get bojak replacement bags for the older cleaners, but they are becoming more and more rare. If you go in a vac shop today, as for Hoover 913/918 bags, which will fit all the older pre-Convertible cleaners.

 

[fnelson487]

Model 61

I realized as I scanned this post that my line-up of 29-60 series machine was missing an important one that I have. I picked up a rebuilt Model 61 Hoover on Ventura Blvd. in Encino California, down the street from where I lived. This machine was rebuilt for commercial use and for sale in a small vac shop. It was like new, and I couldn't pass it up. We can't figure out if the chrome is original, since these machines were painted in the brown color. It had the bojack replacement bag now on the 28 above (to be replaced!) The original bag on this one was from another 61 that I picked up along the way. Uses the W Handisacs which aren't made anymore, but you can still find them every once in a while.

This was the Deluxe Model out at the same time as the "Popular Priced" Model 28. A perfect match for my 53 and 51 Aero-Dynes. Upstairs on the first floor, ready to vacuum!

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Joint Custody Lux

Charlie is that about 1962-64 vintage? My Grandmother purchased one of those in the early sixties, I remember
being so impressed with power head. She also had this rather large accessory unit that must have been for polishing wood
and linoleum floors, a large single brush disk iirc. And guess what else she drove in 1965?!!! (pillerless 4 door!)

 

[air-waycharlie]

Bag life and Lux in the 60's

Austin,

Depending on how you use the vacuum and what you picking up has a large bearing on the bag life of the Handi-Sacs. They are made of wood pulp cellulose paper and were made to be reused. Since I use mine rarely they get an unusually extended long life! According to the Hoover manuals, (correct if I'm wrong Jeff), was 2-5 about right. You would remove the bag at the metal tube base, then take it outside or put it over an open newspaper and remove the metal clip at the top and empty the bag.

Once emptied, you would put the metal clip back in place at the top of the bag and slide it back onto the metal spring clamp just above round metal tube attached to the bag flange and you were good to go again.

I'm sure if you were vacuuming large amounts of sand, metal shavings and anything else that would damage the bag, you may have to look it over carefully to determine if was good to go.

Frontoloadotmy,

Yes, those would be aprox. the correct years. The turoquoise G may have gone through 1966 as I think the tan G was launched in 1967. Correct me anyone if I am wrong.

Austin,

One last note---------when I was a young man we had an Automatic F until that fortunate day the Electrolux saleman came to our house and I insisted that Mother get the turoquise G. Well, about two years later, the same Electrolux salesman came calling and I was home from school and we ended up with a Hopital G in turoquise. My Mother and her cleaning person were not sure why the change was made but they adapted! My Mother always insisted on a canister and an upright so in addition to the Hospital G we had a Hoover 28, then a Kirby Dual 80 and lastly the Hoover, (I think), model 1076 in yellow.

I'm including a picture here that shows how the hose attached to the G with a special plastic clip to keep the hose from turning so the pigtail cord would not come disconnected to the body of the vacuum. Many of these hoses that have survived do not have the clip or they are broken due to age or use.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Here is the pic

Here you see the plastic clip in matching turoquoise, the original outer power cord and pigtail into the vacuum.

 

[tolivac]

I have a Hoover 28 with the "Handisac" outer bag and two "Handisacs"They are quite effective.I would think the bag life would also hinge upon if you picked up a lot of flour,face powder,plaster dust or ash-these fine items would clog the paper pores.Then you would have to replace the bag.One of my Handisacs is still in its package-was not going to use it.

 

[gansky1]

Fun thread - great pics guys!

Fred, that chrome 61 is a trip! Was it actually plated with chrome or did they remove the orginal paint and polish the metal? Amazing! It certainly gives it a whole different look, maybe I should have had the entire 57 Frigidaire Control Tower chromed instead of just the panel parts!

 

[jdinstl]

This *IS* a fun thread!

I better be careful though...every time I wolf-whistle at these Hoovers and Elextroluxes (Electroli?) my Kirby's shoot a dirty look! The Legend growled at me when I walked by, and it was not even plugged in.

Chris, it's awesome that you got a Hoover 28! You still need a Kirby though -- with Handi-Butler, Flexi-Shaft, and buffing pad attached, to spiff up the kids

When do we get a pic of your '28? I'm anxious to see it! Fred, I'm with Greg -- that chrome one is a trip. But I'm always a sucker for a suckers shine!

Cheers,

John

 

[petek]

Now tell me all about Water Matics

Because.. I was just out and about less than two hours ago, stopped in at the Mennonite Thrift Store and there one was..lovely turquoise with the turquoise cloth hose, almost the same color as the hose Charlie has posted 2 above this. I know noting about them and have never seen one before. I got the attachment box with it as well but haven't gone through it all yet. I'm waiting till I get my camera back working with my printer/scanner. I do know that it's like a Rainbow, you put water in there..LOL and that's all.
didn't see anything on a web search... Experts..anyone with knowledge.

 

[hoover1060]

Handisac use

Charlie,
You're correct on the Handisac use, it was suggested you re-use it up to 5 times, or until there was a noticable drop off in performance.
I've used Handisacs in Convertibles as well, and with the amount of hair that comes off Jack they do come in quite "handy" as they empty very easily.

 

[tolivac]

Water Matics

I have a couple of them-The machine is a "bagless" canister vac-you can use a disposable flat filter paper filter in it.When you use it as a standard vac-its sort of like a Filter Queen.It has two flat cloth filters in it along with the paper one to filter the dirt.It has a baffle on the intack to exert a cyclonic action to the intack airflow-like a Filter Queen.The WM has FLAT filters instead of the cone like ones in the FQ machine.The WM gets its name in that it can be used to pick up water.To do this-you remove one of the cloth filters and the paper one.in their place you put in the Ball valve assembly-you must use this to prevent water from being sucked into the motor.It can only pick up a couple gallons of water at a time.A non-elec tric hose is also provided for wet pickups.when you are done with wet pickups-you empty the drum and dry it out-then put back the cloth and paper filters.The motor in it is a bypass type-Two fans in a sepearate enclosure for suction-and a seperate fan in the motor itself for cooling.They are fairly effective machines-but can be messy to empty.You also need another vac to clean the cloth filter.the Fairfax is similar-the Fairfax uses a bag instead of the paper flat filter.The Fairfax also has the full bypass motor and a ball-valve assembly for wet pickups.It is less messy to empty the Fairfax-just remove and replace the bag.You remove the bag for wet pickup and put in its ball valve unit.It then is used for wet pickup like the WM.To go back to dry vacuuming in the Fairfax-empty the water from the drum,dry it and put back the bag.Both are still made today.The last time I looked up Water Matic on the web it was under "Water Matic industrial"I beleive Fairfax is under "Fairfax Industries"

 

[petek]

re the Water Matic

thanks for the info. I haven't even tried it out yet been so busy today. It sure is an odd looking creature but I really like it because it's turquoise

 

[petek]

Well I just tried the Water Matic and it is indeed a very nice vac. It has that nice soft motor sound that winds up and winds down when you switch it on or off.
The attachment kit appears to be complete except the wands are missing which are easy to replace. The floor brushes themselves are very nice, heavy duty chrome with beautiful wood inserts that hold the brushes inside..I've never seen anything like them. Came also with a crevice tool, dust brush, squeegee, felt floor attachment and a spray gun, as well as the water float and it's attachment plate, dozens of extra paper filters. Can't wait to post a pic of it..grrrr on my camera software..
It says it's made in Canada which is odd since I've never heard of them before and not too far from my old hometown. Now I have to find out what year this thing is..The hose and top cover and caster attachment are turquoise, the bottom half that collects the dust or water is shiny chrome. as is the carrying handle and on/off button.

 

[petek]

further to my above

I just noticed my Water Matic was made by a company called Switson Industries in Welland Ont... so I googled it.. and apparently they made the old Eatons Eatonia vacs..here's a link with some pics of old Eatonia vacs. Someone on here had an old Eatonia vac sent to them, very rocket shaped.

heres a better link to this guys site..lots of vacs here

http://dkas1.50megs.com/

 

[petek]

Filter Queen fans

This brochure was in the attachment box that came with my WaterMatic

 

[petek]

Keen observers will notice

That mom is wearing sensible heels for housework in these ads.

 

[tolivac]

Cool Filter Queen Literature-Wonder what the date of it is.See many Filter Queen vacs like the one in ts pictures-old and beat up-vac shop techs use them to vacuum out customers machines! They are a favorite for that use.I am trying to get one of those-the vac shop users love-'em though.The bad part Filter Queens don't have bypass motors and no ball valve-DO NOT pick up water with them.The company that builds Water Matics in the US is Water Matic Industries-in Front Royal VA.I don't beleive they are very old here.(US)

 

[petek]

Tolivac

Can you post a picture of your WaterMatic.. and also a pic of the two removable permanent filters.. the booklet that came with mine said there are two filters and that you can insert a paper filter "between" the primary and secondary filter. I may be missing the primary filter.. The filter that is on there now over the motor openings is cloth with a cloth pull tab on it.. but you can't pull it out that I can figure? So it appears I have nothing to put the paper filter "between"

No idea on the year of the FQ brochure. The lady vacuuming looks early 60's, the lady cleaning moths out and putting the filter in looks 50's..

Oh..btw.. on the guarantee. it states
"The Filter Queen Corp Ltd will entirely rebuild and recondition the FILTER QUEEN Power Unit anytime after the experation of the two year guarantee, at a cost not to exceed $20.00

What a deal..still has to be good..

 

[fnelson487]

Austin - One Hospital G Coming Up!

As soon as my Nikon's batteries recharge, I'll take a shot of the Hospital G I have. I brought it to Tom Gasko, who rebuilt the motor for me. Now the conundrum, what to do with the exterior. It is scratched and I don't know if I am skilled enough to repaint it. Anyway, I will post tomorrow.

Greg - That 61 chrome is a mystery. I can't imagine that anyone would put the kind of money into rebuilding a 50 year-old machine. Either it originally came that way or that was the finish under the paint, which I find hard to believe. It could have been aluminum which the vac shop buffed out after removing the paint. Many possibilities. I have kept it in my living room and added a beautiful matching set of 6200 cleaning tools. Will post that tomorrow as well. If I don't, yank my chain.

Fred