Thread Number: 22537
Are Fantom vacuums really "rare"?
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Post# 252076   10/5/2013 at 00:35 (3,856 days old) by man114 (Buffalo NY)        

The reason I'm asking this is there seems to be a lot of talk about Fantom vacuums being rare. I don't find them all that uncommon. If I go outside the last 5 years, when I search thrift stores, they are probably the third most common vacuum to turn up in quantity outside of Kirby and Rainbow. I'm not saying you're going to easily turn up one I sometimes go to multiple stores a day weekly (I have a regular 5 stores I can hit on a lunch break at work and know others that do the same). On top of this they seem to sell fast at the thrift store level (poor man's Dyson?). Rainbows always get snatched first for trade in value most likely, Kirbys go to flea markets and garage sales, but it seems that Fantoms are the third most common of anything older than 5 years to turn up in quantity. The one year throw away specials are most common but outside of that general grouping. I'd be more likely to find a Fantom than most anything in that time bracket other than Kirby or Rainbow. Is this merely a regoinal anaomly since they were imported locally?

I think I realize this due to the fact that I frequent these stores. For example with the $4 Thunder I just found I realize that with a good cleaning it will outlast most of the cheapy $75 or less specials. The plastic is heavier and in comparison to the $75 Eureka I bought my Grandfather for his bday, I don't think the ones implementing the dual cyclonic technology due it as effectively (I don't think it filters as well) or have the same build quality.

Between me & my wife, my sister & her fiance, my mom & dad , my uncle & my grandparents there are at least 8 machines that see regular heavy use, 6 Thunders (may be branded as Destiny or 11 amp versions), 1 Lightning, and one Fury. All work perfectly well given proper maintenance. I occasionly use a Wildcat to vacuum the basement and a Thunder in the garage.

I have that like new Thunder that I purchased when I bought this house, if it holds up in accordance with the previous ones and their use I'd have it for another 20 years & I don't plan on beating on it.



Post# 252077 , Reply# 1   10/5/2013 at 01:05 (3,856 days old) by tylerawells (-)        

I had a Fury - the green one when I was younger, but here you don't see them turn up all to often. Could be a regional thing.


Post# 252090 , Reply# 2   10/5/2013 at 06:48 (3,856 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)        
No, Not rare, but un-common,

super-sweeper's profile picture
They were popular in some areas more than others. I still see them surface to a thrift shop or flea market maybe once a month. I have 2 thunders, 2 furies and a Cyclone XT with a bad board or something. Ran poorly once, then never ran again.

-Alex.


Post# 252099 , Reply# 3   10/5/2013 at 09:21 (3,856 days old) by KirbyLux ()        
Fantom

I have seen two, maybe, in the last 2 years in my area. One of which was a Thunder that my Mother had to have (she liked mine so well) and that was found in a junk shop. That was quite a while ago. Then recently I noticed a Thunder sitting at a new junk market it the neighboring town. These sightings were at least two years apart, and just one model. I really wish I could find a Lightning so I can finish mine! Or maybe a Cyclone XT. I wish I had kept that one.

Post# 252101 , Reply# 4   10/5/2013 at 09:36 (3,856 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

fan-of-fans's profile picture
I never saw them much in my area, even when new. A neighbor had a Thunder back in 1998 or so. About 5 years ago I saw a Fury in a thrift store and then earlier this year I saw a Thunder at a local flea market. That is all I ever saw of the Fantoms here.

Post# 252313 , Reply# 5   10/7/2013 at 22:56 (3,853 days old) by FantomVacuumFan (St.Petersburg, Florida)        
Yes and no

fantomvacuumfan's profile picture
Some models are very rare, the Wildcat and Crosswind 200 XL for example I have only seen a few times, including the ones I own, the Crosswind 600 XL I have NEVER seen, the Fury LE, SE, SE Plus etc are pretty hard to find, and the Single Cyclonic logo Fury, Cyclone and Lightning are very rare too. But the basic Fury models and the Thunder models are somewhat uncommon, but not rare, however the Lightning and Cyclone XT are pretty uncommon too, due to electronic components that tend to go bad. Basically, some models are impossible to find, some are very hard, some are uncommon and others are pretty common.

Post# 252316 , Reply# 6   10/7/2013 at 23:32 (3,853 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)        

kirbyvertibles's profile picture
Here they were the BIG DEAL but they were gone as quick as they arrived, however I see 3 or 4 a year, Destiny and Fantom.


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