Not to.....
throw salt in an old wound but....moving companies and shipping companies go on market value and mostly those are items that can be replaced. Vintage stuff (and it doesn't matter if it's typewrites, vacuums or stereos), have a harder hill to climb in proving value.
It would be better for you if they had completely damaged the units and they had been agreeable to look at ebay prices etc for market replacement value. Trying to claim on partial damages like nicks & dents in an otherwise sound vacuum, will be tough.
They would only consider a partial damages claim because of customer relations-nothing more. I deal with shipping companies all the time and the gorillas therein. It's a snake pit of wording and regulations when it comes to claims. The first thing they do and are instructed to do is; STALL...then deny, deny and DENY. Unless they packed it themselves, shipping companies will always default to the old ruse that you didn't pack adequately. Moving companies OTOH who packed the stuff for you, will default to 'value'. In other words, you are going to have to prove what it will cost to repair the damages. That can get sticky with vintage vacuums....
I hope this has a happy ending.
Kevin
(Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) 
Comes to the Rescue!
