Like Oh My God. I totally have an Atlas. Can we talk?

I have one too! This was a present from Kyle Matthews-- isn't this a fabulous looking machine! Surely the "57 Chevy" of the Sweeper World!! Kinda wimpy in the suction department tho, as the Universals tended to be -- none of my various Universals have really great power.

Wow!!!Super cool-not only does it resemble 1950's cars-but the spaceships on "Forbidden Planet" and some other 1950's Sci Fi movies.Does it use a vertical bag like a Compact-TriStar?

Yes, the Atlas uses a vertical bag. This machine is, functionally and structurally, the same identical machine as its much-homelier cousin, the Universal Jet 99. The Atlas is just the "tricked out" version, right down to the Candy Apple Red paint job! The Jet99 was a much plainer gray color - gray enamel. And both of these were similar to the Compacts in terms of the interior arrangement. But nowhere nearly as powerful.

What sort of attachments did the Atlas have-and its hose-looks like such an interesting cleaner.Too bad the suction power isn't very good.Not real famaliar with Universal and Atlas vacs.Don't see 'em around here.Were they marketed in select areas?

this is mine

That Atlas I showed was a gift from Greg Nunn - our Dial-A-Nap. Thanks Greg!

My atlas was a ebay purchase 2 years ago and I won it for only 19.99 How lucky was I, and I was the only bidder on it

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I have two Atlases, one is the same as the model shown, and the other is a little different, particularly in the lid over the bag. Neither of mine are anywhere nearly as nice as the one pictured, however. The Atlas was a privately labeled version of the Universal Jet99 for Atlas Sewing Centers. I remember as a child (obsessed with vacuum cleaners) riding the bus in the very late 1950's past an Atlas Sewing Center (in what had once been occupied by Matt Stokey Packard, in Denver, CO, for fellow car buffs) and would see an Atlas vacuum in the corner of the display window, looking like an orphan in this huge showroom filled with sewing machines. The later machines were tan in color, instead of red.

example of excessive styling. It was over the top, just as were the fins of the 59 Caddy. Just love em!! Thanks guys for sharing. Fred, I am not surprised you have one because from what I see, you and I have similar tastes in what we collect. One day I will be up to see Jeff and we MUST get together. I also know that the Atlas was available in a brown paint scheme first before the more vibrant red. RJ acquired one complete from Mark Turbyfilll at the Portland Convention and it was in beautiful condition. Last time I spoke with RJ, he could not find the tools. Robb