Can anyone tell me exactly what was going on during Dirt Devil's early years. I'd like to know what models came when and how good they were. I'd also like to know when most of the original cleaners (see image below) were discontinued. If anyone owns any of the models shown below, or any other classic Dirt Devils, regardless of color, please post some pictures. If anyone has any they want to sell, I might be interested. Also, you can take a look at my royal/dirt devil hand vac search update (which got no responses) over in the vintage forum if you want some idea of how confusing these models can get.

I had the red bagged "Broom-vac" that came out in the late eighties. It was a loud little thing and didn't last six-months. The switch went out once, got it fixed, it went otu again and the vac-shop man said it couldn't be repaired that final time around. I was sad to see it go. I loved that little thing. Even had the attachment set to it. I had the very first model that came out with the really small bag and the non-adjustable handle.

The "Broom Vac" (upright soft bag, top left) were awful. I used one once and to me, it just seemed like a louder, bigger version of the Handy-Vac. The big cylinder at the bottom was identical to a Vax 121 as far as I am aware.

I have the straight suction can vac, the broom-vac with adjustable handle (works well, love it) and the smaller hard case upright. Had one of the big hard case uprights for awhile, not good in the long run. One of the first with the on-board attachments. Have used the hard-case broom vac with the v-shaped nozzle. Have had several Of the hand vacs. I buy them at the thrift stores here in Col. any day of the week for 5/6/7 or 8 Dollars. Used them alot in my cleaning business and have given them to friends for stair and car cleaning. Great on Furniture if you have a cat!
If I ever get my digital camera working, I'll take some pics of the first three and put them on line!
Norm

Yeah pictures would be great! The only models I have had are the broom vac and the hand vacs. If you ever find any of the odd hand vacs I'm looking for at the thrift stores let me know.

i will post pictures later but i have:

1)1 Dirt Devil Lite(no tools,soft bag)
2)3 Dirt Devil Stick Vacs
3)1 Dirt Devil Broom-vac(mini-upright)
4)1 Dirt Devil Can-Vac with Power Head
5)3 Dirt Devil Hand-Vacs
6)1 Dirt Devil Can-Vac
7)1 Dirt Devil Carpet Sweeper
8)1 Dirt Devil MVP Ultra

That's it! I love my 3 Stick vacs the best out of the whole line!! They worked so well!(i found the picture on Ebay)

Wow, quite a collection you have there! I'd love to see some pictures of those. I also had no idea the stick vac was any good. I just thought it was kind of cool with the triangle nozzle but expected it's performance was about average.

I like those Dirt Devil tanks and the electric carpet sweeper too.

My mom had the Top-of-the-range upright for some time; build quality was middling; everything passed through the short hose; the attachment connectors broke a lot and we ordered new ones a lot. Eventually it died.
Everyone knows the hand vacs; not half bad, but tool suction was poor if you actually went though the agg to use the tools, which involved lifting the belt.
My grandmother had a broom-vac for many years strictly for vacuuming her upstairs as she had a very heavy, all-metal Hoover convertible and got sick of carrying it. My family inherited it and used it for much the same purpose until one day the brush bearings overheated and melted the case; my mom hadn't cleaned it in about 80,000 years and it was stuffed up with hair of people, cats, and other schmutz.
The big shop-vac looking thing always intrigued me; I've seen a number of pictures of things like that from various manufacturers including Royal themselves (in a brochure with an overhead B&W shot of a lineup of over a dozen vacuums.), Electrolux, and here Dirt Devil; but I rarely if ever see such big vacs up close. Every once and a while the 'Lux will turn up, never seen any of the others.

I just picked up a Dirt Devil Power Lite from a lady who had it on craigslist. All it needed was a new belt and cleaned up a little. It looks like the soft front on the top with the tools. I have a front load washer since its easier on things could I wash the cloth bag to get her smell out of it?

yea but do it by hand