My friend Linn had major surgery in August, and is recovering slowly. Well, but slowly.

Yesterday (Saturday Sept 9), I was at her house helping her with laundry (no problem!) and with a little vacuuming (again, no problem.)


I don't like her vacuum AT ALL.

It is a Hoover Windtunnel upright.

Noisy---much noisier than my Convertible Model 70,

A lot harder to push than my Convertible, too.


About all I liked of it was the easy use of the tools, and the deep red colour.


Are there any modern vacuums that aren't craptastic?


I'm thinking of steering her towards a metal Royal, but how easy are their attachments to connect? (attachments are a big thing for Linn, though she doesn't want an upright and a separate canister, which is my idea of a good solution.)

She doesn't want to pay new Kirby prices, and also, being able to grab bags easily is another consideration. Being a single mother of two (well behaved, smart) teenagers, her time is limited.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

the Royal metal upright attachments are not really "women user" friendly-In order to put the hose attachment on-you have to undo the roller brush drive belt from the motor shaft.Then you attach the hose connector.when you are done you have to reattach the belt to the motor shaft-you have to use the Royal belt tool(many get lost) that comes with the machine-to prevent loss-slide it onto the chain that attaches the bag to the handlebar.Then attach the bag.It will not get lost-when you use it-put it back in that location and it will still be there when you need it.That little tool is helpful just for replacing belts.royal belts HAVE A LOT of tension on them when new.I would suggest some sort of canister vac instead,to do the "hose work"the suction of the Royal in the hose mode is limited.-and the fan is wide open to damage if you pick up that quarter hidden in the couch cushions.for a canister a mid priced Riccar,Sebo,Meile are good choices-or she could look for a used TriStar,Lux,or Royal metal canister machine.I rarely use my Royal uprights with the hose.

these are very lightweight and you can get the bags everywhere.

if she needs a compact canister, this is a good choice

In our shop, our most popular vacuums are the Riccar uprights in the Radiance and Brilliance lines. These vacuums have terrific and very easy to use on-board tools with an aluminum telescoping wand with a positive locking action which means that the tools won't leak or collapse while in use. There are also 2 motors which provide canister-like clean ability while using those tools.

Plus sealed HEPA filtration including a charcoal filter, metal parts, Lexan fan, etc, etc.

I would recommend the Riccar Brilliance line over the Radiance as it's somewhat smaller and lighter and might be easier for your friend to use given her recent surgery.

We also sell Royal metal uprights and while they are terrific cleaners, they are heavy and the tool situation is not the best.

Best wishes to your friend as she recovers. And you're a good friend for helping her out!

-Pam

Go Riccars!

Ok, if she goes with a Riccar, where would she get bags? Are they dealer-only? She has 5 cats, and one sheddy dog, so she changes bags after every use (and needs to).


Lawrence/Maytagbear

Riccar bags can only be obtained from vac shops, or from the internet. They come in big packs of six!

Unfortunately all the new bagged vacuum cleaners that are sold in department stores (with the common bags) are incredibly junky. All the bagless too!

the panasonic premium vacuums use super-common bags (available at sears and all vac shops). good feature and not super expensive.

i think the royal attachments are not too difficult to attach, but then again im a vacuum weirdo. and Royals have good tool suction. but the current high-amperage models are NOT for me. 4.5-6amps was Royals prime.

They've plummeted in quality! Tinny cheaper motors, and poorly designed metal brushrolls. They have incredibly weak handle releases too. Panasonics were much better 10 years ago than they are today. Ever since they went to China and Mexico, they haven't been the same...

Corey

If it weren't for the tools, I would just look for a Convertible for her. (No way is anyone getting their mitts on my Model 70!)


Thank you for all your suggestions, but modern vacs seem to be in a dismaying state of affairs, I think.


I know the vacuum shop nearest her has Simplicty, I forget if they have Riccar. They're about to close for the day, I will phone them tomorrow.


I know they are out of her current price goal, but what are Miele uprights like?


Thanks again,


Lawrence/Maytagbear

are the exact same vacuums as Riccars. They just look a tiny bit different. So she'd be just as happy with it!

Corey

are the exact same vacuums as Riccars. They just look a tiny bit different. So she'd be just as happy with it!

Corey

I have a 172i upright and I really like it. It cleans carpet pretty well. Bare floors are cleaned fairly well. It has a variable speed motor. It sounds about like a 1980's Panasonic. It is lightweight and all plastic. It's a good novelty vacuum, but I wouldn't rush out and buy one for its cleaning ability. Tim

miele uprights are made by Panasonic. save a few dollars and get a Panasonic, instead of paying for the miele name.

Lawrence:
As a VCCC member, you have the opportunity to buy new sweepers at wholesale cost. There are several club members (myself included) who own vac shops. As we said at the last meeting in St. Louis, those of us who own shops are always willing to sell fellow club members vacs at our cost (wholesale) plus the cost of postage.

Your friend could probably use a Fuller Brush upright (which is very good, and rather inexpensive) instead of a much more expensive Riccar/Simplicity machine. I recently had the opportunity to repair the fan on a Simplicity Synergy (like the Riccar Radience) and it was a BITCH to get out and back in. A quarter laying on the floor did the fan in. The dirt does go through a plastic fan, like the old Hoovers. However, if there are no kids, and no debris on the floor, the Riccar is OK (as is the Simplicity).

One club member (Corey) brought his Simplicity Synergy to the meeting in St. Louis last time. It was a good carpet cleaner, and a nice sweeper. My only gripe is the small bags, plastic fan blade for the dirt, and tremendous price.

I recommend the Sanitaire S647 upright and Sanitaire Blue Line Mighty Mite.

I occasionally use my Royal attachments on my metal Royal uprights-I was just trying to put the comparison to a typical woman user.
I have a Riccar Radiance-yes feel they should put a METAL fan and fan housing on the primary direct air motor.also make the primary fan and motor more accessable.one time mine got clogged and I had to take it to my dealer to unclog.He treated it under warrantee anmd didn't charge me-I helped him with the machine-ITS A BEAR to take apart--and the primary fan housing discharge is rather small-a peice of a toothpick will clog it.Its an effective machine-but my Kirbys and Royals are better.the list price of the Radiance-Synergy is too high-you can buy a new Kirby for the same price.
On Meile uprights-they are planning to introduce a new upright the beginning of next year-the Panasonic built models will go according to the Meile dealer in my area.Both of us are anxious to see them.Meile will design and build the machine.One dealer here sells the Fuller machines-they are distributed by Taconoy-the same folks that make Riccar and Simplicity.I also don't like the downturn in the quality of Panasonic vacuums-one dealer here has dropped them.

I want a new top of the line AIRWAY so bad wanted the purple Tom Gasko edition but guess you can't get them anymore. Had to leave my Airway in California when I moved here so am looking for a new Airway but it has to be the top of the line model.. Do any of you guys sell them? I have a friend whos brother has a vac shop in Appleton Wisconsin and said I could buy an airway from him but thought I would check with you guys first... Can't buy hardly any vacs around here.. Thanks Guys KirbyKid

I have a couple Signature Series Air-Way's still in the box. I got them from the Air-Way factory when I went there to oversee the launch of the Signature Series. I brought five of them home, all of them TWO SPEED models, one for me, one for my mother, one for Dr. Dawson (vccc member), one for Mike Hays, and one for 'posterity'. I could be persuaded to sell you one at the next meeting, at wholesale. We'll discuss it then if you like. Also, Air-Way Charlie is my good friend, and an Air-Way dealer. He can also help you out.

Kirbykid,

As Tom mentioned in his last post, I, like one or two other members am an Air-Way dealer/authorized franchisee. I have sold the Signature Series, (STILL available), to many club members at a special "club member" price.

In addition to the Signature Series, we have the Centurian and New Century formerly known as the Sani-Clean.

All models use the new "Quiet Series" power nozzle with the V belt drive. Air-Way just launched a new "blue" paper bag that is superior to the cellulose bags.

Email me if I can be of any help.

PS--to Tom, thanks for the plug and nice words! I will be calling you one of these days.

Thanks Charlie I will email u for the details if I can find your email in all this mess...(maid hasn't been in for awhile) OYYYY