VACUUMANIA

[westytoploader]

Has to be my 3 vintage metal-tank Shop-Vacs; 1976, 1980, and 1989. Fun to use and extremely powerful too! Not sure what I could do without them as far as cleaning washers, dryers, and vacuums is concerned. My 1989 600C (far right) came in really handy today when the underside of the '68 was covered in dust and cobwebs!

 

[david]

Dear Suziehomemaker

This vac under the end table-the turquoise one-is that a Leywt? I don't know if I speeled the name right, but I remember my late stepdad having one of these. I enjoyed vacuuming with it. But they seem so rare.

 

[tolivac]

Vintage Shop-Vacs-Another thing lacking in the current SV machines-the bland tank colors-those vintage ones were so COLORFUL!!!even attractive!I have a newer SS tank machine-bought at ReTool.It has the 22 gal SS tank-but very bland in appearence-under the Grainger "Dayton" name.Works well though.Use the large drywall bags in it and an add on "HEPA" filter.Saved the old foam one for any wet pickups.Has the all metal toolkit.Was packed in the tank.Retool didn't know about that.also I was one the lookout for Lewyt--esp the "Big-Wheel" models. The tank model that had "Filter Cones" got them in trouble with Health-Mor Filter Queen.Those Big Wheels were SO COOL!!!Just have the carpet tool for one.Its Turquoise in color.Would love to have the vac that it was used on!!

 

[Suziehomemaker]

Treasures

Hello David the vac under the end table label says Compact and then Electra maybe someone on here could explained more about these.
Westytoploader I like those shop vacs you have who knows I might start collecting those too LOL
Petek I have things all over my place in just about every room you will find some of my colletions(treasures).In my living room I also have mixers and and a donut makers (all in thier boxes)old electric hair curler ,blow dryer, a Twinplex stroper to sharpen double end blades .So it is just fine to put things anywhere you please These are all a work of art .

 

[mrcleanjeans]

cool compact

Suzie,the Compact Electra you show was from the early 1960s,you'll even see sputnik on it and the words "As New As Tommorow",along with ball castors,saying "we're on the ball",a great vacuum.Did that fun-luvin'friend of yours get it for you.How did you get all those suckers and how many do you have grand total?

 

[petek]

Got my Constelliation!!!!

I mentioned it in another thread....$30 for a pink constellation in fair to good shape,,plus he threw in a Royal Hand Vac and some Hoover J bags. Need the metal wands though.
Soon as I find my camera I'll place it under the coffee table and take a pic..lol

 

[gansky1]

That Compact is a good vacuum, very good suction and an excellent floor tool. Terry L (tlee) told me about the floor tool when I found one at a thrift store and he was right - excellent design and easy to use. Some neighbors of ours had one (sort of a tan color?) and always called it "the pig."

Has anyone tried one of these? The Royal, all metal Powercast model - they look very interesting...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20617&item=4372248861&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

 

[westytoploader]

The Powercast looks like a rebadged & slightly modified Dirt Devil upright to me; the "Clean-Air System" is a dead giveaway. Based on CR tests, Dirt Devil uprights were always subpar (and flimsy too). I'd stick with the original metal design.

 

[tolivac]

I have both the Royal Powercast and the Royal Classics and Everlast traditional design uprights. They outperform the Powercast-much lighter,less expensive,and--more efficient.Sometimes while running the Powercast-it will trip a 15A breaker with nothing else on it.I hear rumors that the Powercast was going to be discontinued. The first and only all metal clean-air upright?And-you can more easily service the Royal Classics-Everlasts yourself.You have to have a dealer or servicecenter replace the Powercast belt or roller brush.The Royal Powercasts are striking and nice looking vacs though.There is more than one supplier of the "U" type bags.The U bag is rather small for the machine and fills quickly.

 

[tolivac]

Metal Clean-air uprights

I feel the Hoover metal DAM uprights are better than the Powercast-much lighter and more efficient.

 

[mrcleanjeans]

THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS

the POWERCAST weighs more than the KIRBY at a hefty 30 lbs,the KIRBY 24 lbs.They should call it the POWER CAST-IRON.

 

[tolivac]

Yes-indeed,the Powercast is heavier than a Kirby-and no "tech" drive in the Powercast.When you try the Powercast first-you feel like you are pushing a Certified Pile Lifter vacuum instead of a regular one.Than you try a Kirby "G" series machine and the Kirby almost "floats" across the floor.The Kirby does better as well.I would give the Poweerrcast as easier to use the hose-You just set its handle upright-automatically shuts off the beater bar motor.You can also turn the roller brush motor off manually at the handle.Then you just insert the hose into the hose opening door on the front of the machine.The Kirby is more versitle though-the Powercast vacuums-it cannot shampoo carpets or polish hard floors.I would think they could trim several pounds off the Powercasts weight by changing over from Aluminum to Magnesium.Would be just as strong but lighter.The magnesium may not be polished though. Would have to paint it or use some other finish.

 

[petek]

Hmmm

I went into a small vac shop yesterday and he had lots of used machines, not too much quality stuff and no Constellations, but he did have for $89 a self propelled Concept in blue and a few Kirbys but wanted too much for them. Also one black Powermax like mine which is very similar to the Concept, half bag, half hard shell on the front. Don't want to pay $89 for it though.

 

[kenmore1978]

weight

"Yes-indeed,the Powercast is heavier than a Kirby"

D***N! HEAVIER than a KIRBY?! Hard to imagine. Everytime I have to actually lift my G4 off the floor I have to let out an "oomph"

 

[mrcleanjeans]

sis-tahs super sucker stockpile

so,suzie,how many vacs total DO you own, and what's your fave?and why?

 

[gansky1]

Powercast - into the wind...

Interesting info on the Powercast, I guess I'll stick with my Concepts and Kirby G4. I didn't get the hose with my G4 (ebay) but have since ordered one from Hesco. I've had it now for several weeks but not used it, that is one thing that Kirby could improve - making the change from upright to hose a little less involved. I found an Airway 88 at a sale a while back and tag-team that and the G4 while cleaning my own house. If the Kirby weren't so heavy, I'd love to have one to take to work with me, but my Sharp is so light and easy to use. It still amazes me that people will buy a half-million dollar home and spend $69 on a vacuum to take care of it!

 

[westytoploader]

I "tag-team" a Hoover DAM, 1970 Convertible 1020, and a newer Sanitaire 16" upright for the house; for my room, I switch off between a 1989 Eureka 630D and a 1975 Hoover Junior. The Convertible, Eureka, and DAM have attachments as well which come in quite handy.

Soon, a 1980's Canadian Simpson-Sears compact canister will be joining the "main cleaning lineup"...

 

[tolivac]

Yes it is amazing-encountered that while selling TriStars.Would point that out to the prospect as he tries to claen his house with a clogged up bagless cleaner-the filter in the machine would be hopelessly plugged up with dust.Or in bagged machines the bag so full its about to give birth!!Some of these folks only change their vac bags only like twice a year-and thats in the expensive neighborhoods--also these same guys may complain how expensive Kirby bags are.Also the belt of the roller brush is shot or even broken.But did make some sales though-they see how well the NEW machine cleans and buy it.And the machine the TriStar replaces is typically a cheap machine bought from Sears or Wall-Mart.I have gotten very adept at changing over modes in Kirbys-was training to sell them at one point.It does take awhile to fully demo one of these to a prospect.Its said that Kirby salespeople try to make at least 3 Kirby demos a day.You have to be good to show it in about 2Hrs!

 

[kenmore1978]

Kirby bags

I admit, the cost and availability of the Kirby bags is one of the reasons I "tag-team" it with my Electrolux G with the jury-rigged Eureka powerhead. Bags for the Electrolux are cheaper and more readily available. Additionally, the much lower profile of the Eureka powerhead lets me get into spaces the Kirby can't go. For the kitchen floor, I either use the floor brush of the Electrolux while I have it out for the carpets, or, if if not vacuuming carpet, use my Bissel electric broom, which has a HUGE paper bag in it, though suction is sorta mediocre. Hoover Porta Power gets car duty and general dusting, since it's much easier to carry around. Royal Dirt Devil hand machine gets spot carpet cleaning duty. And lastly, 1984 Dust Buster (still going, has had one battery replacement) gets "accident" duty.

 

[tolivac]

Wouldn't the bag of the 'Lux fill quickly while carpet cleaning with the powernozzle?I found that whenever I used a 'Lux or other powernozzle cleaner for carpet.The only exceptions are the Rainbow and the TriStar.The TriStar's cyclonic action keeps the intake area of the bag cleaer even when all the way full.I use my Kirbys for most carpet cleaning-and other uprights in my collection "take turns"I use my other canisters for dusting and bare floors too.-and of course the car.Even use the canisters for cleaning the lawnmower motor air filter-gets pretty pluggedup-the canisters do a good job of clearing it.I mostly order my Kirby bags from Kirby's 1-800 parts. The Kirby dist closed again here.I use the "Filtrete" bags.Makes a big diffrence and they last about twice as long as the standard Micro-Filtration bags.And the Filtrete bags don't generate odors!seems the Filtrete Material absorbs or blocks the odors.

 

[kenmore1978]

Electrolux bags

Yes, the Electrolux bags do fill quicker than the Kirby bags, but thats mitigated by "tag teaming" with the Kirby, plus I get 2-3 times as many bags for the same price as the Kirby, their availability is much better, and changing the bag is MUCH easier than the Kirby, takes all of 5 seconds. I tend to have trouble getting the tabs to line up and push through the bag collar on the Kirby. Takes 2 hands and some struggling, and sometimes dirt falls out of the full bag or the bag tears in my struggle to get it out of the outer bag. The vacuum the Kirby replaced (WP built Sears upright with a hard case) had bags that fairly easy to change, and not as expensive, but had the availability problem (Sears or vacuum cleaner store only). The ease of bag changing on the Electrolux (pardon the pun)blows away ANY of my other vacuums

 

[tolivac]

Yes,I can agree replacing bags in 'Lux cleaners is much easier than most others-including the Kirby.The 'Lux bags just "drop-in"The newer Kirby "Hepa Micron magic bags and "Filtrete" bags for Kirby "G" series cleaners have a slot that seals shut when the bag is taken off the fill tube. This is a little easier.Also cuts back on the dust "poofing" out of the bag.The 'Lux seal is still the best.Theirs closes better over the bag opening when it is removed from the machine-no "poofing" at all.The TriStar(New Compact) is easy to change-but the bag opening is exposed.You remove the bag assembly from the machine-empty it into the trash-then remove the old paper bag from the cloth one.Put in a new paper bag and put them back into the machine-then ready to go again.Also some bag manufactuers(DVC) make a multilayer bag for Compact-TriStar-filters better than the stock bags.