andyelectrolux
Well-known member
Those of you in New York, Boston and other large cities may have seen something like this in the baseboards of old buildings....
Vintage Central Vacuum Systems
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andyelectrolux
Well-known member
These are my favorite thing in the world (well I DO have some others).
Anyway, I've posted some literature in the vintage vacuum forum (link below). Go take a look, and if any of you have any experiences with these, or know of some buildings with the unit intact, I'd love to hear about it!
Anyway, I've posted some literature in the vintage vacuum forum (link below). Go take a look, and if any of you have any experiences with these, or know of some buildings with the unit intact, I'd love to hear about it!
andyelectrolux
Well-known member
pic
Cool pics! Although, I've never understood the major attraction of central vacuums.
Central vacuum systems always seem like more hassle than they're worth. A few friends and relatives have them and in some cases have ended up reverting to a Miele or Nilfisk as they found the suction on the systems weak and had issues when the system became blocked !
They're an absolute nightmare to retrofit to an older home too! Very disruptive.
Central vacuum systems always seem like more hassle than they're worth. A few friends and relatives have them and in some cases have ended up reverting to a Miele or Nilfisk as they found the suction on the systems weak and had issues when the system became blocked !
They're an absolute nightmare to retrofit to an older home too! Very disruptive.
link
SistemAir an Italian brand of central vacuums ... not vintage : they sell the stuff as it were the ultimate discovery on earth
www.sistemair.it
SistemAir an Italian brand of central vacuums ... not vintage : they sell the stuff as it were the ultimate discovery on earth
Sistem Air International
The best vacuum cleaner for your home. The only one that expels dust mites, allergens and pollutants with cleaning
www.sistemair.it
andyelectrolux
Well-known member
Mrx
Some systems are very weak, but some are extremely powerful, more so than any portable. However here in America, the airflow on our Miele canisters rivals most central systems.
Favorit,
A Canadian importer once showed these systems at the VDTA convention. I don't think they carry them anymore though. Very modern looking system.
Some systems are very weak, but some are extremely powerful, more so than any portable. However here in America, the airflow on our Miele canisters rivals most central systems.
Favorit,
A Canadian importer once showed these systems at the VDTA convention. I don't think they carry them anymore though. Very modern looking system.
A gov't building I used to work in has the wall inlet connectors for a central system.The building engineers said it was a Spencer system--but they don't know where the central unit is or was.The dept I worked in had a portable Spencer vacuum that was used to pick up the cuttings from disc recorders.It made a super portable vac.The motor-blower unit on it looked just like a miniature pipe organ blower.
in terms of power-yes if you can plug the hose into the central canister unit-indeed its more powerful than ANY portable cleaner.However after the central canister has to pull thru all that piping,elbows and lastly the hose than its power is much less than most portables I have used or have.One of the vacuum places here even uses a Meile canister to help him unclog central systems.With one my Mom had I had to climp into the attic,undo one of the elbow connectors up there and remove the clog.Usually a huge wad of dirt,her hair,and carpet fuzz.Also I don't like emptying those units unless it has a paper bag.The units I have used were my Moms-A Black and Decker and a NuTone.The BD unit used a large paper bag-was easy to empty.The NuTone collected the waste in a large dust container-and you had to clean a filter over the container-hateful messy job.All in all I prefer portable cleaners-also I think the very long hoses used in central systems are more awkward and "heavy" than the portable machines.
in terms of power-yes if you can plug the hose into the central canister unit-indeed its more powerful than ANY portable cleaner.However after the central canister has to pull thru all that piping,elbows and lastly the hose than its power is much less than most portables I have used or have.One of the vacuum places here even uses a Meile canister to help him unclog central systems.With one my Mom had I had to climp into the attic,undo one of the elbow connectors up there and remove the clog.Usually a huge wad of dirt,her hair,and carpet fuzz.Also I don't like emptying those units unless it has a paper bag.The units I have used were my Moms-A Black and Decker and a NuTone.The BD unit used a large paper bag-was easy to empty.The NuTone collected the waste in a large dust container-and you had to clean a filter over the container-hateful messy job.All in all I prefer portable cleaners-also I think the very long hoses used in central systems are more awkward and "heavy" than the portable machines.
toggleswitch2
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- May 23, 2008
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- 5,000
Interesting. My first exposure to central vacuuming systems was in my elementary/grammar school. Same inlet/hose ports.
It struck me as odd in that the building is probably from the turn of the century.....(the LAST one, NOT this one). It was so old that it still had a coal-fired steam heating system when I attended.
When I did some reading years ago (o.k., decades ago) It was my understanding that central vacuuming systems were installed in the masions of the wealthy way before portable cleaners and /or electricity.
What a great topic Andy. Thanks for posting this!
It struck me as odd in that the building is probably from the turn of the century.....(the LAST one, NOT this one). It was so old that it still had a coal-fired steam heating system when I attended.
When I did some reading years ago (o.k., decades ago) It was my understanding that central vacuuming systems were installed in the masions of the wealthy way before portable cleaners and /or electricity.
What a great topic Andy. Thanks for posting this!
bobbyderegis
Well-known member
The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Syracuse, NY where I was organist had a Spencer central vac. The brass openings had beautiful doors under the pews. (Beautiful oak floors) The organ blower was a Spencer as well. I bet it was a package deal back in 1926 when the organ and church were built. It is a magnificent EM Skinner organ, 40 ranks, unaltered, restored in 1990. When I was there the church was using a Hoover Concept One as the cleaner. The Spencer was never fired up, as the hoses and accessories were long gone. Sadly, the church closed a few years ago. It was purchased by a credit union that is preserving the church proper. They still offer concerts in the auditorium.
Bobby in Boston
Bobby in Boston
I suspect
the popularity of central vacuum systems at the turn of the last century's turn has many reasons.
Motors were not yet very compact relative to the work they could perform. Architecture of the Victorian and Edwardian era did not, however incorporate ranch-style, single level rooms fading into each other but lots of nooks, staircases and doo-dads to bump into.
Electrical outlets in the modern sense were not easily retrofitted, running a very heavy vacuum on a limited length of cord AC (regardless of phase and let's not and say we didn't) was by no means universal until after WWII, back then the thought of plugging a gigantic cord into an electric light socket in each and every room must have been daunting.
Hygiene was all the rage, the thought of sucking dirt up and having it disappear, relatively quietly, must have been very appealing. Pipe fitters were far more common than electricians.
A few days ago, we were looking at a central vacuum system in a townhouse. About 10 years old, B/D. It certainly had strong suction even at the furthest outlet from the central vac, and those pipes which were visible in the attic and closets were well laid out with smooth curves. I should think a lot of the problems with these systems have more to do with poor installation than the basic principle.
Those brass plates are beautiful, thanks for posting!
the popularity of central vacuum systems at the turn of the last century's turn has many reasons.
Motors were not yet very compact relative to the work they could perform. Architecture of the Victorian and Edwardian era did not, however incorporate ranch-style, single level rooms fading into each other but lots of nooks, staircases and doo-dads to bump into.
Electrical outlets in the modern sense were not easily retrofitted, running a very heavy vacuum on a limited length of cord AC (regardless of phase and let's not and say we didn't) was by no means universal until after WWII, back then the thought of plugging a gigantic cord into an electric light socket in each and every room must have been daunting.
Hygiene was all the rage, the thought of sucking dirt up and having it disappear, relatively quietly, must have been very appealing. Pipe fitters were far more common than electricians.
A few days ago, we were looking at a central vacuum system in a townhouse. About 10 years old, B/D. It certainly had strong suction even at the furthest outlet from the central vac, and those pipes which were visible in the attic and closets were well laid out with smooth curves. I should think a lot of the problems with these systems have more to do with poor installation than the basic principle.
Those brass plates are beautiful, thanks for posting!
rocketwarrior
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- Joined
- Jun 24, 2006
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- 454
Central Vac
I have a "70's" home with a powerful central vac (that I do not use). I plan to remove the unit (just taking up space). The grandkids get a kick out of the wall ports (they push the button, etc - haven't lost a kid yet).
I have a "70's" home with a powerful central vac (that I do not use). I plan to remove the unit (just taking up space). The grandkids get a kick out of the wall ports (they push the button, etc - haven't lost a kid yet).
