Sanyo Transformax, finally!


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Thread Number: 18956
Sanyo Transformax, finally!

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Post# 208828 12/4/2012 at 21:34 (4,157 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()
Checkrate/Likes So, today, I went to a thrift store and found a Sanyo Transformax. I've wanted one for years, and I had almost given up the search because I thought they were impossible to find. This was the same thrift store that I found my Sharp straight suction canister at last month (the one that has the bag saver).... I never buy straight suction machines, and now that seems to be all I can find! What is happening to me LOL It was only 10 dollars, and I thought it was worth that. Another lady there was walking out with an Electrolux Discovery upright that she'd only paid 8 dollars for! The Hoover Power Drive Concept 1, Hoover Convertible, and Bissell Steam mop that were there the last time I was remained there, as well as an Electrolux Pronto. Acutally, I've not been looking for vacuums lately... I'm really out of room in my small place and I've been focusing more on sewing/sewing machines and finding a good electronic keyboard (I wanna learn piano), so I haven't even been trying to find vacuums! Anyway, this is the bottom of the line model, straight suction only. It is missings the hose clip and attachments... I initially wanted a power nozzle model, but apparently these things are so rare that I am just glad to take what I can get... also, I know the models with brushrolls are turbo nozzles rather than electrically powered ones, so not having it doesn't bother me much... I did find bags on Ebay, but no other accessories or machines at all! That shocked me! I haven't really played with it yet, because it smells like a dog (really really bad!). I did turn it on in the thrift shop to make sure it worked... I could tell from the sound it made that NO air flow was happening, but the motor sounded fine. I checked, and the hose was not clogged, but the bag was so packed full of animal hair that the hair was coming out of the bag and going into the hose entrance! I took the bag out and put my hand over the hose end just to feel the suction to amke sure the fan wasn't broken or anything, and I was certainly impressed! It seemed to have tremendous power and wasn't loud at all! These are pictures I took as soon as I got it home, but I have the parts soaking in Dawn, Era, and Oxi-clean right now. I will have to wait for them to soak and then dry before I can use it and report back with an opinion and initial impressions.

Post# 208829 , Reply# 1 12/4/2012 at 21:35 (4,157 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()
Checkrate/Likes *pic 2* pic 2

Post# 208830 , Reply# 2 12/4/2012 at 21:37 (4,157 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()
Checkrate/Likes *pic 3* pic 3 (the orange thing in the background is my cat Jasper's toy mousey.... I know it looks like a chunk of carrot that I just left on the floor)

Post# 208831 , Reply# 3 12/4/2012 at 21:38 (4,157 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()
Checkrate/Likes *pic 4* This the last pic until the parts dry and I apply plastic polish :o)

Post# 208848 , Reply# 4 12/4/2012 at 23:35 (4,157 days old) by BriGuy (Wichita, Kansas)
Checkrate/Likes Bobby, nice find! I have the yellow version w/ turbo brush. It's a good lil cleaner, better than I thought it might be.

Post# 208858 , Reply# 5 12/5/2012 at 04:32 (4,157 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota)
Checkrate/Likes *Transformax* It's a shame no other companies have picked up this design with a few modifications it could have had a true Power nozzle maybe a longer hose or two different hoses (one for use in canister mode) with some wheels on the canister itself.

Post# 208862 , Reply# 6 12/5/2012 at 05:47 (4,157 days old) by director12 ()
Checkrate/Likes FantomLightning has the same model, also green.

Post# 208928 , Reply# 7 12/5/2012 at 18:22 (4,157 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Bobby! Nice Sanyo! You are not going to believe this, but when this was on the market in the mid 1990's, Consumer Reports rated it the best stick vac! Excellent bare floor and edge cleaning and pretty good surface litter pick-up on carpets. Like most Japanese vacs, this one is nice and quiet! I always wanted the yellow turbo nozzle version because it also came with an on-board dusting brush! Enjoy your new toy.... EP Brian

Post# 208933 , Reply# 8 12/5/2012 at 20:19 (4,157 days old) by Vacuumfreeeke ()
Checkrate/Likes OK, I got the thing dried out and put back together.... I found a great way to dry the the parts... put them in the closet with the dehumidifier running overnight and they are bone dry and undamaged (I've tried the dishwasher before, but that can melt parts, and is always full of clean or dirty dishes). I had to "make" a bag, so I used the Sharp straight suction canister bags.... The collar almost fit, but was just a little too tall and not quite wide enough, so I super glued the collar from the original bag onto a Sharp bag and it worked fine until the bags from Ebay come. Initial impressions... Features I like.... quick release cord wrap with cord clip... not always found on stick vacs... I also like that in the upright mode, the machine stands up by itself, and in the canister mode, the suction nozzle has swivel steering! Really, the best of both worlds, but I think I like the canister mode best... I do not like the position of the power switch, but I'm not sure they really could have put it anywhere else on such a machine. It simply inhales surface litter on thin flat carpet and bare floors... using it on shag or picking up fine dust requires more than one pass... The suction opening is huge at the floor nozzle and the nozzle simply glides over the floor rather than sticking/sealing like some machines... there is no way to regulate the suction, not even a bleeder valve. I had some questions... not sure if anyone can answer, but I was looking online at pictures and I wondered what the difference between the white and yellow models was.... the pedal that stops the brushroll was on opposite sides! The yellow one has it on the left side and the white one has it on the right side if you are standing behind the machine. Are there any other brands of attachments that will fit this machine? Finding originals is simply out of the question. I had the chance to buy the turbo nozzle model new in box on c/l for 35 dollars a few years ago, and now I could just kick myself for not doing it. I didn't realize what a cool little guy this machine is! I think a longer hose and an electric power nozzle would really help... I'd love to be able to use it like a traditional canister with the machine sitting on the floor, but the hose is so short that I have to hold it in my other hand. I really like the handle on the wand... the shape is cool and it is really comfortable to hold. There is no bag check indicator, and the bags are small so I am sure to go through them fast. The cord is indredibly short, so I must use an extension cord with it.... Anyway, those are my initial impressions...

Post# 208955 , Reply# 9 12/6/2012 at 02:04 (4,156 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota)
Checkrate/Likes *tools* If memory serves any 1.25" tools will fit on it

Post# 209219 , Reply# 10 12/8/2012 at 19:19 (4,154 days old) by StarryBlues4u (Charlotte, NC)
Checkrate/Likes *Hey Bobby!* I have used numerous vacuum attachments with mine. I have even used the turbo tool that comes with the Hoover's. I love my transformax. It is one vacuum that I would never get rid of no matter what!!!

Post# 209866 , Reply# 11 12/13/2012 at 23:40 (4,148 days old) by kenmore81 (Warwick, RI)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Bobby, Love it!I had that model when I worked for Sears in 97, it really did work good for a stcik vac. I somehow cracked the wand near the base and had got the Sears protection agreement and when I took it back they were discontinued so I took home a Hoover quick broom with PN instead witch I still have and use, but the hose suction isnt the same.

Post# 209869 , Reply# 12 12/14/2012 at 00:03 (4,148 days old) by gmerkt (Edmonds WA)
Checkrate/Likes Bobby, one of our cats has the same name as yours only diff. spelling. Jaspurr. My wife came up with that. Always looking for the angle. Jaspurr came with his bro. Jimmy from the same litter. Jaspurr is the A personality, but Jimmy will fetch. I sometimes tell them they are the same color as rats and mice. About a week ago, I saw a relatively small vac similar to that at the Goodwill. It was a major Japanese brand but forgive me, I can't remember what it was now. It had a cover like that on the front with rectangular element filter and small dirt bin. The bagless design that was used on a number of small, Japanese machines of the era. Jaspurr:

Post# 209890 , Reply# 13 12/14/2012 at 05:06 (4,148 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)
Checkrate/Likes we got them in Red here, with the turbo brush, Have not seen one in years

Post# 212911 , Reply# 14 1/6/2013 at 14:37 (4,125 days old) by TheHooverMan (United States )
Checkrate/Likes YOU MEAN THE ELECTROLUX THAT LOOKED LIKE A SEBO X2

Post# 360791 , Reply# 15 10/12/2016 at 14:48 (2,750 days old) by Donna3673 (Orange Park, Florida)
Checkrate/Likes *Sanyo Transformax 3 In 1* My sister has a green sanyo Transformax 3 in 1 vacuum. She let me borrow it because I have bad arthritis and can't push my big vac. It was easy for me to use. Does anyone know where I can get one. I live in Jacksonville, To. My sister lives 3.5 hours away or I would just borrow hers. Any help would be appreciated. I am 64 and not very computer savvy. If anyone has one for sale they can send me an email @ scottymom52@gmail.com. Thanx

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