Rick has taken a number of photos at mini-meets. I promised to post them presently and apologize that it took so long. Thanks for taking the pics, Rick!

This is J.R. Pease using Patrick's Dyson DC17. John's house lacking dirt as it does, one has to imagine dust spinning in the bin. This was around Christmas 2006.

Marty and Phillip at Rick's house.

John is using a Hoover at Rick's house.

Rick is Hoovering his carpet.

John, Phillip, and Patrick at Rick's house.

Rick really does make the world's best spaghetti! That really was a treat!

Marty and Phillip now need naps.

Rick rescued this decommissioned Oreck lighted sign. For some reason, it's no longer regulation.

I'm watching Andy vacuum Rick's carpet.

Phillip and I look on.

...and someone photographed it.

This has the appearance of a practical joke being played on Rick. It isn't, though; Phillip is too nice.

This is my good friend, Dr. Diane Cox, who has provided brunch to the club twice now. She does this every Sunday, and it's an open invitation for my friends, so let me know if you're in town and wanna come. I think the group here will give testimonials!

This is what happens to Phillip after five mimosas.

I'm on the floor again for some reason.

Phillip putting vacuums in his car.

Thanks, Dan! That was a very kind gesture. This is Rick's dining room.

Marty is working on the Hoover.

John is surprised to see Haley's Comet passing so near.

Marty is working on the pink Cadillac. Is there nothing Marty can't do?

...right through his kitchen.

Great photos guys, thats what those mets are all about!!!

What are the model numbers of the Hoovers that John & Rick are using???

AND, its even better to go home with more stuff than you came with I say..

Cheers, Mike

Phillip just unwrapped his Convertible.

...and fired it up. He looks pretty happy :)

Marty is reassembling Rick's Hoover.

Marty and Phillip going over a Royal from Marty's collection.

This is the first group I've hosted since moving. Next time, the house will be better prepared.

Guys thanks so much for all the wonderful pictures!! It sure looks like you had lots of fun!! Mini meets are just great! Keep us posted to when your next one will be. Hugs, Terry

Fantastic pictures. Fun bunch. Um, in the picture where Phillip is mischieviously playing with the white Filter Queen flying saucer unit what are those two cylinder on ball casters with the honkin' cord winder type appendages at either end? One sppears to have a blue plastic tool caddy saddle slung over it hanging down the sides???

Is Haley's Comet the puppydog's name, 'cause I don't see no vacuums other than upright handles behind John...

HOLY CRAP!
what IS that Bissell???

the bissell thing looks like a Kenmore Duo-power!

Thanks for sharing the pictures Patrick, looks like an awesome time was had by all!

Thanks so much Patrick for posting my pics, some day I will have to learn how to do that. These were combined from last Christmas, our July mini-meet, and our September mini-meet. A good time was had by all! What a great group of people! We all had fun with the vacs, went through several bottles of wine, countless white russians, and pounds of food! Ready to to it again!

Rick

Great pictures there. Is that red upright a Bissell, never seen one of those anywhere.. And someones got an Elux Canadian Tri-Vac I see.

Hi Pete, I had never seen one of those Bissells either, Phillip gifted that to me and was glad to get it. It actually works pretty well on low pile carpet and bare floors, and it even came with bags! Yes that's my Tri-Vac, not overly impressed with it, but of course, had to have it! I don't know if those were sold outside Canada or not, really haven't seen any around. I was told that bags are still attainable. Mine came with some so I'm set.

Up until last year the bags were gettable at the Aerus dealer. He told me they had discontinued them but got another source from China. I mislaid my bags in the move last year.. I have em, just don't know which unopened box they're in LOL Don't plan on using it anyways because it's hopeless with the amount of dog hair, one go and the tiny paper sack is full LOL

Rick made a list of captions for individual photos, identifying the makes/models of the machines. I wasn't able to make the postings until last night, in order to get them up before Thanksgiving, but I forgot to bring the list with me to my uncle's house.

"Haley's Comet" is an inside joke. A picture taken at Jeff's condo shows a club member obscuring all but a small part of a gold Haley's Comet vacuum, which is revealed to be Jeff's gold dog in a subsequent picture. I knew that, but I couldn't resist setting Rick up for a "made ya look!" moment because the look of incredulity that directly comes over his face is priceless.

This is Chad vacuuming with my Electro-Hygiene that I bought from Fred S. last year at the convention. It's like new and love that powernozzle!

This is my model 63 lifting the rug up off the floor! Yay!

I gave Phillip his present early at his insistance! A Royal Powertank previously owned by a little old lady who couldn't handle a tank anymore.

Here we are sitting down to Chicken Coronado, a creation by my friend Keith, one for our cookbook if that ever gets off the ground. It was excellent! It looks like Phillip and John would rather be eating than having their pics taken.

Phillip, Chad, and John in the "room".

This is my friend Keith, who's also a vac enthusiast. He had a great time and is going to try and make it to the convention next year! FYI, he's a canister guy, although I did gift a Hoover Convertible to him and he loves it!

Patrick vacuuming with my "daily driver" canister.

How dare John and Chuck sit on Lexie's couch!

This is Phillip's mom Sonya, who has graciously hosted me in their home several times. She's a great cook and has a wonderful vintage GE stove which she refuses to give up.

Thank God for stainless steel shelving units!

Here she is, finally found of pic of her! Isn't she beastly, and check out that rug nozzle!

If I had to pick a favorite Convertible Special, I think this would be it!

Can I have more than one?

I finally figured out how to post some of the above pics, hope I haven't worn y'all out!

You know we love photos--Keep 'em coming!! And thanks for posting them. A picture is almost as good as being there!
Jeff

Rick, you know how much we love pictures!! One of these days I am going to learn how to post them as well. Maybe you need to make a trip down here and show me how!! It sure looks like you guys had a lot of fun. I bet you will be doing another mini meet soon. Thanks for sharing. Terry

Thanks for posting them. If anyone needs a quick on-the-phone lesson on posting pictures, just let me know and I can provide the instruction. Looks like a great time was had by all. We need to plan a midwest regional meet sometime this winter. Those mini-meets can be as much fun if not more than the annual conventions due to their more intimate nature.

Fred

Thanks for sending all the great pictures, it's nice to see how much fun and how successful the meet was, not to mention all of those beautiful machines! I also like the pull down light fixture over the dining table.

You're on Fred, when you come down I hope that you will sit down with me and show me how it is done!! YAY Terry

Have you ever noticed that in almost every picture of me I have on a red shirt. These pictures of Rick's aren't all from the same mini meet, but every meet I have a red shirt. I just thought it was a bit odd. I do have other colors in my closet.
Rick, I am going to run off with that beautiful(rare)orange hoover convertible, after all I seen it first that day in the store. HA!

Rick,is that convertible special 31 the one that was mine that I now have back because you found another one, or is that the other one you found?

Phillip

re the red shirt
Yes it was noticed, written up, signed, sealed and filed for future references LOL

Phillip, the pic is of the one I currently have, it looks like someone put it away when it was new, maybe they preferred their Electrolux as opposed to the upright? When I got it I handed it over to Marty K. for a day spa treatment. He said it was really clean under the hood, just greased everything. He keeps our machines in tune!

Rick & Patrick for sharing your pictures. Looks like everyone had a great time. Guys, Rick (Crevicetool) and I have talked about the possibility of a mini meet in Atlanta. Not much success in the area of thrifting down here (lots of plastic junk in the thrift stores) but we do have a few collectors in GA and one enthusiast (hey there Sandy!) that I know of. Any feedback or interest?

Robb

Robb, all the pictures are Rick's. I just assisted him in uploading a batch.

I would consider a mini-meet in Atlanta but not until after the holidays at this point, too much going on! Keep us posted!

Will keep you posted on our plans should they materialize. I know I am up for it. My collection is not as large as it was when I lived in Denver(down to about 40) and is certainly not as extensive as Tom Anderson's or Jeff Parker's. I know there is a collector that lives north of me (Toby) who has a rather large collection, so I'm told. Rick (Crevicetool) is very talented in the area of restoration and has some nice vacuums in his collection. Also, Kyle Owen is not to far away in Alabama. It would definitely be sometime after the holidays since many have commitments and families to spend the time with. Speaking for myself, I welcome the opportunity to meet you and would like to hear from others that might be interested in an Atlanta mini meet. Helen, get the Olds ready!!

Patrick, thanks for the clarification. I thought some of the pics were yours. Nevertheless, it was nice of you to assist Rick in getting them posted so they could be shared with the group. It is always a special treat to get a glimpse of some of the members' collection and/or thrift finds. Hope to finally meet you sometime. Perhaps you will be in N. Canton in August or have in interest in our tentative Atlanta mini meet??

Robb

Great pics . I like the one of Patrick and the princess 11...and the vac is really cute too!

That's a good lookin' FQ you got there fella!

thank you..