I got to thinking about this after I was playing with my Elux 89 last night. While I don't have and haven't heard a vast majority of the vintage vacuums out there what I have heard from most of them is quiet to very low noise levels. I first noticed it when I got my first Connie then with the subsequent old FQ. The Airway isn't too bad nor my little Royal pot. Compared to some of the later Hoovers including the Celebrity line and some of the Kenmores which are downright noisy. Since I got a late start in life collecting vacuums I never really knew the difference because I suppose every vac I'd ever had up to getting the Connie was noisy so that was my norm.

As for uprights there seems to be a similar thing gone on where it looks like getting into the 70's the noise level increased. Can't speak for all makes/models just the ones I know.. I'd expect an Elux upright to be quieter? Panasonics although much later are certainly fairly quiet as is that little Made in England Electrolux/Volta I found a few weeks back. And they're all plastic and work well. So what gives.

To me, it seems like almost every appliance is noisier.

In my opinion, I think that one of the selling features for most of the vintage canister vacuums was that they were quiet! You could use them in the nursery as FQ toughted. Most of the vacuums then ran on mototrs that used about 5 amps or less hence a quieter motor. As we all know amps is not the performing factor of a VC, airflow is. Air flow was another selling feature. I love how when you turn a Lux G or L on you can hardly hear the vacuum over the whoosh sound coming from the carpet nozzle.

Even some of the old uprights like Royal and Kirby just hummed when you ran them. I have some nice TOL Eureka 70's uprights that use only 3 amps that out clean their 12 amp Bravo counterparts!

Of course tool suction was lousy on those older fan first uprights. I think in an effort to make the upright a more self contained machine with the addition of onboard tools, suction had to be beefed up a bit so manufacturers started to use higher amped ( louder ) motors to provide that suction. Now the big selling feature is the " Has 12 amps of cleaning power! " bandwagon.

As collectors, we of course know that amps is only how much electricity the vacuum is using but the general consumer population does not know that.

It all comes down to gimmicks and what is the new thing going on for vacuums. Yesterday it was moth control and shag rug maintenance and self propulsion. Today its about filtration/allergies, bagless, and the 12 amps of cleaning power!

In another thread we were talking about how Kirby could bring back a lighter updated version of the Sanitronic. Wouldn't it be wonderful if some old ideas were bought back into play, like bringing back the beaterbar for instance.

It would be so much better for manufacturers to actually improve the performance of the vacuum instead of just claiming that their vacuum is more powerful than the other brands.

Give me a Lux L and a good upright like Convertible or Dial A Nap anyday!

I used to have an Aeros-Lux "guardian"hated the thing-its external mounted HEPA filter made it sound like you were running a B52 engine in your living room.The older METAL Luxes were quieter and better.Yes part of the noise is Due to the "Horsepower and Amp" race that vac makers are doing today-they have this transfiction on 12A motors.Thus more noise and not necessarily more suction or airflow-its to provide airflow thru all of those filters and inefficient airpath designs-note in older vacs the airpaths were simpler and more direct.And my Mieles are so much QUIETER and MORE POWERFUL than the Lux Guardian.also the Miele has a more advanced motor-fan design the the Lux.Same with my Riccar 1800.

I had a Lux 9000 and you are right - it was very noisy, to the point of being aggravating after using it for an hour or 2. My Lux 6500SR wasn't quite as loud but still a lot louder than my Miele. I think even my Kirby is not as loud as the Lux or at least I can tolerate it better.

I think that is what the manufacturers would like us to believe. I do recall as a child, that the vacuum seemed loud when my mother would bring it out.

To me the Hoover uprights I have sound loud, my Electrolux Intensity doesn't seem as loud in comparison.

I am glad that I found this site and learned about the 12amp gimmick. Who the heck wants to consume more electricity for nothing? I think the HEPA craze is another marketing ploy to sell vacuums and expen$ive filters.

My Connie is perhaps one of the quietest vacuums I own.

When I saw the Mieles demoed at Dave's Vac shop, I was impressed with how smooth and quiet they sounded. Like a whisper.

I would have to say the newer crop of vacuums (on the whole) are noisier because of the inferior quality bearings used today. It's all a part of planned obsolescence. With some vintage machines (like my G.E. airflow AVT-172) all you hear is the rush of air. 12 amps is the standard used today in the vacuum cleaner industry. While not the quietest machines, the Orecks I sell draw only 4 amps, hence they consume 1/3rd the power, and the motors tend to last a long time.

Older vacuums used to have a more "musical" sound too. You can actually hear overtones singing away, especially in the old uprights with the exposed motors. Now, vacuum cleaners roar and scream with no suggestion of musical sound whatsoever.

Well they are just machines, ya know ;p

Maybe you suggest they have tuning controls =p

Well today on my jaunt to the Habitat ReStore I noticed behind the cashiers counter a new Numatic Henry. Being "known" the manager quickly called over that it wasn't for sale LOL The store had bought it for store use. She offered to plug it in so I could see it work and I was expecting a very hushed vacuum but it wasn't as quiet as I was expecting on it's high speed, low speed was somewhat quiet but even so, still not as quiet as I'd hoped. I've only heard on Numatic before that our office custodian used and it was extremely quiet.

I think some of you are a little off when talking about amps and noise. An increase in electrical power does not always make for a noiser machine. A prime example is the Miele which has a power draw equal to most modern vacuums and it is far quieter due to the way it is built. A 4 amp Oreck is quite loud, but also quite energy efficent by comparison. The Oreck's noise comes from it's design and not it's power consumption.

When it comes to noise I think the following factors are mostly responsible:
Exhaust Opening Design
Shielding From Motor
Motor Size (phsical, not electrical)

The Exhaust has quite a bit to do with noise. Consider the Electrolux models from the 1205 through the Ultralux series. The airflow being dissipated through the top around the handle makes the machine far quieter than it would be if it were to just exit straight out. This is easily demonstrated by comparing the noise with the blower door open.
A second example of this would be the Electrolux model 30. If you remove the exhaust filter it is actualy quite loud.

Sheilding from the motor is one of the easiest reasons to understand and a simple example is the Lux model G with its insulation, or the model 30's rubber motor mounts.

The difference that motor size makes is best demonstrated with upright vacuums. Uprights with larger fans like the old Hoovers, Eurekas, Kirbys, and Royals tend to have a lower tone due to their lower motor RPM. The low RPM is compensated for by the large fan size which allows them to maintain good airflow. An Oreck of simmilar amperage (4 amps) tends to make a high pitched scream. The Oreck has a small motor and motor fan, and compensates by running at a high speed.

So thats my take on the sound issue. I don't have many specs sitting in front of me but this is what I belive to be the cause of high vacuum sound.

I think that one of the most obnoxious additions to 21st (and late 20th) century noise pollution is the leaf blower. Not a lot of Zen there.

Surprisingly there is still a vacuum that uses a beater bar in addition to bristles. Any Sanitaire from the 600 series( blue household line) or the 800 series (red commercial line) with a Vibra Groomer I or II brushroll couples the vibrating action of a beater bar and the sweeping action of a brushroll with strong suction. In my opinion they are one of the best carpet cleaners on the market today. And the best part all of the 800 series have metal hoods and handles as do some of the 600 series. Just my $0.02. Matt Geda

The Sanitaires are tolerably noisy. They are more of a dull roar than a high pitched whine. I should know I have 2 from each series.

Matt!

I totally forgot about the Sanitaire!!! You know I even recommended the Sanitaire to a co-worker who needed to buy a new vacuum cleaner. She bought the blue model with the metal hood and handle like you mentioned above.

Our Hoover bagless upright makes such a raucous racket, very powerful suction, good vacuum, though very LOUD.

One guy I knew said Kirby's were very noisy.

BS :P

My Heritage 2 just goes "Dwooooo" when it's on the lowest height setting. (prob cuz it's stuck to the carpet lol)

Of course, if you accidently knock the bag off (easily possible with mine :P) it sounds like a Volcano erupting ;p a loud burbly rumble...scary noise :P

I don't find Kirby noise annoying, must be the lower pitch. What really ear-itates me is the pitched whine of machines like the Kenmore/Singer twin fans and the lower pitched but still raucous Hoover uprights from the Concepts etc. They're the type of noises that I think force people to vacuum way too fast just in order to get it over with and shut the bloody things off.

I have sold several of these new Sanitaire DuraLux. They are very queit. The suction motor makes great suction and the brushroll motor only runs the vibragroomer II brush when you lower the handle. Even with both running, it has a nice quiet hum.

yes there is a correlation between the type of motor and system the vacuum uses-just becuase the vac has a 12A motor doesn't make it automatically noisey.Like on the Oreck aor any other smaller upright-the motor is drawing less current but designed to run at higher speeds to make the smaller fan and brushroll work.the larger upright has a larger fan housing and larger brushroll diameter-so these don't have to run as fast.As a whole I have seen a lot of compact direct air uprights in the servicve shop--the higher speeds take their toll on belts,fans and brushrolls,and eventually motor bearings.Also on the large uprights the noise is a lower pitch and not really unpleasent to hear.The kirbys seem to have their own distinctive sound-maybe the kirby folks should patent it-like Harely Davidson did with the sounds of their motorcycles.the new oreck the new housekeepers use here at work-I can sure tell when the fire it up-even at the other side of the building-that new Oreck emits the loudest scream I had heard.The Sanitaire the other janitors used was quieter.The Orecks I have at home aren't as loud as the one used here at work.Its the Commercial model.Mine are the residentual models.

If its noisy its working better!!! NOT, I do like the extra high power machines of today, variable is definately the way to go, the noisiest I have ever heard is a miele after it had sucked up some moisture and caused the fan vanes to expand & grate!! that was shriller than concorde on afterburner...

The Sanitaire Duralux looks sturdy, will have to have a look at the spec.What where the Royal Powercast like for noise ??

When using my Mieles I try to aviod moisture or water at all costs.If your Miele picks it up and is damaged-the water damage isn't covered under the factory or dealer warrantee.I did pick up a little water with a Royal canister once and it caused the paper bag to come apart.Other wise I was lucky the machine wasn't damaged.Or worse electrocuted from water getting into the motor.

Royal Powercast-Good point-when I have used mine they are surprisingly quiet.Being its a clean air upright the main suction motor is muffled by the housing,filters and bag housing.The roller brush motor is quiet.but the Powercast is HEAVY!Is weight a consideration too?think that was the Powercasts failing-was just too heavy.But the machine is the most effective and powerful clean air upright I have used.Use a hose on it and its as powerful as a 10-12A canister.Also it does have a LAME bag system-that Royal "G" was bag has to go.they should have designed a better bag for the Powercast-the bag they used was the same as on their cheap clean air Dirt Devil uprights.The small bag filled quickly or even burst from the suction motors power-making a mess inside.