Thread Number: 17034
The mysterious Kenwood/Goblin/Philips/Delonghi upright
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Post# 182273   5/23/2012 at 15:21 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Hi all,

I've been meaning to do a thread about this rather interesting cleaner for a while now. A lot of British members will have fond memories of these cleaners as they were quite popular at one time. Sadly, now, they're becoming rather elusive.

So here are my 2. The Philips U700 and U800.


Post# 182274 , Reply# 1   5/23/2012 at 15:22 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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rear shot

Post# 182275 , Reply# 2   5/23/2012 at 15:24 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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A bit of history....

As far as I can tell, the first appearance of this style cleaner was the Kenwood U1000 in the early 1980's. This would've been a basic bagged upright, just like the U700 above. These are incredibly rare, and I do not have a picture of this cleaner. Then, in around 84/85, it was rebadged as Goblin Aquavac and a dry foam carpet shampoo system was added.


Post# 182276 , Reply# 3   5/23/2012 at 15:25 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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The 1986 version of the same cleaner, in brown

Post# 182277 , Reply# 4   5/23/2012 at 15:28 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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I also have a U800 and am very interested in learning more about them!

I used mine today actually, hence why my arm is aching now, ha ha!

I don't know whether it is due to too much suction or too low a height setting (the height settings are so vague it is literally lifted in tools setting or dropped straight to the floor on any other setting), but the damn thing is hard to push and pull! No wonder the handles got weak!


Post# 182278 , Reply# 5   5/23/2012 at 15:31 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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The Philips U700 arrived in 1987 and was joined by it's big sister, the U800 (complete with on board tools) in 1988. Both were relatively mid-range cleaners, priced at £79.95 and £89.95 respectively. These ran well into the early 90's. The last appearance being around 1993

Post# 182280 , Reply# 6   5/23/2012 at 15:34 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Oh well, I've got one of the last then, being made in 1993.

Apart from being hard to push/pull they are very good.

The hose suction is AMAZING for 800 watts.

All I need is an upholstery tool so I can use the hose for stairs etcetera, rather than just using the hose for crevices with the crevice tool I do have.


Post# 182281 , Reply# 7   5/23/2012 at 15:34 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Around 1996, these were again rebranded as the Delonghi Vamp 700 and Combi 800. I believe the Combi 800 was only sold through Grattan.

Note: these pics are not mine. I am only posting these for reference purposes. First, the Vamp 700


Post# 182282 , Reply# 8   5/23/2012 at 15:36 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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and the Delonghi Combi 800

Post# 182283 , Reply# 9   5/23/2012 at 15:36 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Another thing is the edge cleaning (on the side with the black "cap") is brilliant, I've never seen anything like it.

The U700/U800 do have a lot of good qualities, which did warrant the high (for the era) price.

Of course the brush roll is brilliant too and leaves great marks in the carpet, but I'll stop going on now, as I could talk forever...


Post# 182284 , Reply# 10   5/23/2012 at 15:37 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        
U 800

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It was also sold as a WAP , can't remember the model name 


Post# 182285 , Reply# 11   5/23/2012 at 15:38 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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And now for the inbetweens. I have no idea where these fit in to the line up lol. This one seems to be branded "Royds" and has variable power

Post# 182287 , Reply# 12   5/23/2012 at 15:39 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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The Delonghi version with the dry foam system

Post# 182288 , Reply# 13   5/23/2012 at 15:40 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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and a rather strange looking commercial version

Post# 182289 , Reply# 14   5/23/2012 at 15:41 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Wow that commercial version is rather strange!

I believe I've seen something like it before though... On eBay I recall. Perhaps it was one of those.


Post# 182290 , Reply# 15   5/23/2012 at 15:43 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Jamie - yes, yours would've been one of the last. The earlier version had a black hose. Also, with reference to the tools, I noticed you have 2 32mm fit extension tubes. this should just have 1 35mm fit tube and 2 35mm fit tools. These are fairly easy and cheap to source as the original tools were very generic and plain black.

I agree completely about performance - it's a top notch vacuum. The height adjustment is a pain in the ass though. I actually prefer using the U700 as it's far less bulky and easier to manoeuvre than the U800.


Post# 182291 , Reply# 16   5/23/2012 at 15:46 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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I don't think the tube(s) (I removed one) are 32mm, they are 35mm I believe, should they not be ?

The original crevice tool fits fine, even if the tube isn't original.


Post# 182292 , Reply# 17   5/23/2012 at 15:48 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Try them on your Henry. If the larger end of the hose fits directly onto the end of the Henry tube, then you know it's a 32mm fit. If it's too big, it's 35mm.

Post# 182293 , Reply# 18   5/23/2012 at 15:50 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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They came with a 36 mm tubes and attachments, just like was and delongi wet& dry vacuums. 


Post# 182295 , Reply# 19   5/23/2012 at 15:53 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Nope, neither the hose nor or the tube end fit onto the Numatic's tubes, so I was right - 35mm!

Post# 182297 , Reply# 20   5/23/2012 at 15:55 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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"They came with a 36 mm tubes and attachments, just like was and delongi wet& dry vacuums"

Both of mine are definitely 35mm. Infact, the tools I have for mine are replacements and are all 35mm


Post# 182298 , Reply# 21   5/23/2012 at 15:56 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Sounds about right.

I do like 35mm tubes, they make the motor's life easier.


Post# 182299 , Reply# 22   5/23/2012 at 15:57 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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I still have stock of the hoses here, Its 36 according to a vernia  Just checked 


Post# 182300 , Reply# 23   5/23/2012 at 15:59 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Maybe they are different in SA ?

Post# 182301 , Reply# 24   5/23/2012 at 16:00 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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No all imported from the factory in Italy 


Post# 182302 , Reply# 25   5/23/2012 at 16:01 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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That's where mine was made too... Yet the hose is 35mm... Strange!

Post# 182303 , Reply# 26   5/23/2012 at 16:04 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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your one is worn thats why its 35, a factory won't make two different size hoses for the same machine a millimetre apart.

 

I got to tour the factory back in the late 90's they still made these for certain country's , one factory making delongi, wap , stihl, philips and many more very interesting. 


Post# 182304 , Reply# 27   5/23/2012 at 16:06 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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But if it were worn then the tools/tubes would be loose - They are not.

Post# 182311 , Reply# 28   5/23/2012 at 16:17 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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They will never be loose because the one great thing that the designers did when desinging these parts was to taper them , so as the plastic wears it wil just push further and further in, 

 

When I worked in product development one of my first big progects was a machine manufactured by this company for my company, they wouldn't even change the tooling to make it to our specs, it was all 36, thats the only size they made. I had endless arguments with them about it, Thats why I know for a fact that its 36 not 35, infact very few manufacturers use 35, AEG did. Its a odd number, Your vacuum hoses are made in 32, 36, 38 &50 mil those are the standard sizes used by most manufacturers. deviate from this and it becomes very very expensive. to give you an idea, the mould machine used to make a 32 mil hose cost £ 1 000 000 10 years ago 

 


Post# 182312 , Reply# 29   5/23/2012 at 16:21 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Very interesting!

Post# 182313 , Reply# 30   5/23/2012 at 16:25 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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No it was very frustrating,  the language barrier was huge. 15 trips in one year over there not fun to finalise a product.

I was so glad when my next assignment was a product from Eureka from the states, they were so much more willing to make any changes we needed 


Post# 182314 , Reply# 31   5/23/2012 at 16:27 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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So what exactly was it you were doing at the time, job wise, to make you be going and suggesting changes be made in Vacuum Cleaners ?

I'm just curious, that's all.


Post# 182316 , Reply# 32   5/23/2012 at 16:29 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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product engineer, our market in SA is unique so often changes need o be made to import vacuums. 


Post# 182318 , Reply# 33   5/23/2012 at 16:32 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Ah I see.

Post# 182320 , Reply# 34   5/23/2012 at 16:32 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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when you have a range of vacuums that all use 32 mm attachments you want to try and keep it that way to minimise spares layout and so on, that type of thing, product testing , and of cource seeing if the product will suit our market. the real frustrating part was after all the work had been done months spent sorting out finer details the big wigs decide to cancel the product. FUN  


Post# 182349 , Reply# 35   5/23/2012 at 17:38 (4,326 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

Some things to throw into this excellent thread, if I may. The Goblin / Aquavac cleaner was around as 'Aqua Vac' before Shop Vac acquired the Goblin brand. It was after this that it got the name Goblin-Aqua vac and Goblin. The Kenwood version was sold in two versions, the first being a standard cleaner and the other electronic. They looked identical except for the addition of a dial on the front top panel of the electronic machine and I think the motor was slightly more powerful in terms of watts.

During the 1990's, some home-catalogue companies had the Philips style cleaner for sale under the brand names M-Tec and Karshima. These names were not exclusive to any specific manufacturer as they were put on many types of appliance by many manufacturers. Some of the cylinder cleaners bearing these names were in fact made by the same Polish company who supplied cleaners under the Spinney and Rotel brand.


Post# 182350 , Reply# 36   5/23/2012 at 17:44 (4,326 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

Sorry I also forgot to say that the Delonghi version was in the shops long before 1996. It was one which if my memory serves me correctly was seen in the Index catalouge stores, though I think the early models had plastic extension tubes.

Post# 182400 , Reply# 37   5/24/2012 at 05:28 (4,326 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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Sorry, but I have to disagree. Mine is definitely at 35mm fit. A friend of mine just got a NIB Delonghi Combi 800 and that is also a 35mm fit.

Benny, I remember the M-tec. It was sold through littlewoods I believe. My aunt had one for a short time in black and chrome


Post# 182408 , Reply# 38   5/24/2012 at 09:00 (4,326 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Not to start going on about the 35mm VS 36mm again, but on eBay I can't find a single item for "36mm upholstery tool" but can find a fair few (48 to be specific) for "35mm upholstery tool".

I don't believe we had any 36mm fitting Vacuum Cleaners here in the UK.


Post# 182409 , Reply# 39   5/24/2012 at 09:09 (4,326 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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Interesting 


Post# 182416 , Reply# 40   5/24/2012 at 12:16 (4,325 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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Maybe you are measuring 36mm by going from the outer edges of the hose rather than the inside ?

Post# 182425 , Reply# 41   5/24/2012 at 13:34 (4,325 days old) by vintagerepairer (England)        

I have to say that 36mm is a new one on me too, though I suppose it could depend on which end of the tube one is measuring.

Post# 182428 , Reply# 42   5/24/2012 at 13:43 (4,325 days old) by jmurray01 (Scotland)        

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I'd presume he is measuring the widest end of the tube, the end where the hose inserts.

Post# 438924 , Reply# 43   2/19/2021 at 15:59 (1,132 days old) by Ultralux88 (Denver, Colorado)        
Oh I’ve always wanted to dredge up and old thread

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With something genuinely interesting and relevant. A couple weekends ago Colin visited from Omaha, and we went thrifting... found something interesting!

  Photos...       <              >      Photo 1 of 6         View Full Size
Post# 438972 , Reply# 44   2/21/2021 at 03:12 (1,131 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)        

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Wow, that's a unique observation there, they really did use that old British mold. I wonder how they got it, and what made them think of all vaccums out there that it would be something worthwhile to re-introduce the mold for?


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