Thread Number: 24181
Scary Vacuum Cleaners
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Post# 270495   3/6/2014 at 15:16 (3,675 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)        

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A memory -- or, rather, a realization -- came flooding into my memory today for some reason.

 

I have always known that when I was a little kid I was afraid of certain vacuum cleaners, most notably early Kirbys and Royals. What just occurred to me is the reason (or one reason, at any rate) why I was afraid of them -- because the exposed motors were scary to me! I was afraid I would get shocked by them.

 

I didn't realize at that young age that even though the motors were "exposed," they were still safe because they were insulated. But I was very afraid, especially when the motor was running.

 

I would probably have gone into hysterics if I ever saw any of the really old machines where you could see the sparks from the carbon brushes rubbing against the commutator through openings in the motor housing back there.

 

I had forgotten all about until, as I said, today the memory of being afraid of those types of vacuum cleaners.

 

Are there vacuum cleaners that any of y'all were afraid of when you were young?

 

 


Post# 270497 , Reply# 1   3/6/2014 at 15:22 (3,675 days old) by tylerawells (-)        
Sort Of...

I was never afraid of any particular type of vacuum cleaner, but Mom would never buy an upright with the hard plastic door because she was always concerned that the bag would bust the door open...strange I know, but it is the truth. So we always had soft-bagged uprights until she got a bag-less machine. Just out of curiosity - has there ever been a case where the hard plastic door came off in the course vacuuming because the disposable bag was too full?


Post# 270498 , Reply# 2   3/6/2014 at 15:27 (3,675 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

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Our babysitter back in the early 60s had an upright with a big black bag, I honestly have NO idea what it was, but that bag was huge and it was loud, that one I did not want to play with

Post# 270503 , Reply# 3   3/6/2014 at 16:37 (3,675 days old) by kenkart ()        
my Mother...

On the other hand, bought a Dial A Matic in 1969 because she said those with bags on the outside surely would.."Blow Dust!" LOL

Post# 270505 , Reply# 4   3/6/2014 at 17:07 (3,675 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

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The only vacuum cleaner I was afraid of were Kirbys. Or at least one in particular. My mom cleaned a building and in the storage room there was a Kirby (I forget what model) and a beige plastic base Hoover Convertible. For some reason the look of the Kirby scared me from trying it, so I would use the Convertible instead. I guess the metal look of the Kirby made me think it would be really loud or something.

Post# 270506 , Reply# 5   3/6/2014 at 17:19 (3,674 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)        
Sparks flying!

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I would LOVE to bring home new vacuums when I was younger, but when it came to see if it would run when I got home, that was another story! I would have to get someone to test it for me while I ran outside to a safe distance! I forget what machine I "ran" away from, I think one was an Hoover Elite II chop-shop special (I put a hard-bag and an older Hoover Qwik-Broom II cord on it).

 

Sparks, I too was scared of sparks! well, not so much the sparks, just worrying that the vacuum was broken, I always had this feeling I could be testing or using a "sparky" vacuum and it'll just explode on me! I had an Red Oreck "David Oreck signature" or something like that, and still do! I stuck it in the garage and didn't use it for years over some small arcing (Well, more of a healthy glow were the carbons meet the armature) from it's motor! it didn't help that I could see it clear as day!

Even worse, We had an Oreck XL that sparked quite a LARGE amount, I NEVER used it or went near it, and was always worried when they used it! ESPECIALLY when they used it near ME!

 

Still today, I use a power strip at the wall to test cleaners, It is a nice, safe way to do it! I remember once testing a Hoover Convertible I had serviced by means of power strip. and I'm glad I did! that Hoover leaped and screeched when it's fan blew!

 

I'd love to hear more of these stories!

-Alex.


Post# 270507 , Reply# 6   3/6/2014 at 17:46 (3,674 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        
Agreed

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I was the same way with vacuums that I brought home. I would plug them in on the porch, run out in the yard and make my dad turn them on! I did find a Convertible once that I was just too afraid to try for some reason. It didn't appear to have anything wrong with it, but I never tried it out.

I too do the power strip myself when I test machines for the first time. I've never really had anything too "exciting" happen, they just start up, except for that Room Mate I found a while back that just smelled terrible and ran slowly.


Post# 270508 , Reply# 7   3/6/2014 at 17:53 (3,674 days old) by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona)        

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Alex, I was almost exactly like you. As much as I loved to try new cleaners, I was paranoid one might screech or a fan might shatter. My parents always had to be one to turn it on first. Older models caused me the most anxiety. Kirbys have the coolest looking designs, but a bit of a dangerous scary aura. They have such aggressive lines; it looks like a truck about to run you over when you are five. 


Post# 270516 , Reply# 8   3/6/2014 at 20:05 (3,674 days old) by s31463221 (Frenchburg, KY)        
Testing vacuums...

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I too was afraid to try a vacuum out when I found one, I ALWAYS made my dad plug it in and turn it on to see if it would run or not! What put the fear in me, I found an old Regina Electrikbroom and plugged it in and hit the switch. Instead of coming to life like my grandfather's did, it made a horrible noise, a loud pop and smoke poured out of it! These days I too like the power strip to test out a new find, and I must say I've been pleasantly surprised at machines I expected to "blow up" run quite well!

Charles, I was too little to remember, but mom loves to tell me how I would run and jump in top of my bed when she would turn her Olympia One on! Funny thing is, Electrolux is my favorite brand now! Go figure.... :-). Great thread!


Post# 270519 , Reply# 9   3/6/2014 at 20:16 (3,674 days old) by crackerdog ()        

As a toddler, I was terrified of my grandmothers Kenmore Bugeyed upright. I remember sitting on the floor and seeing this loud monster coming at me with two bright eyes. After the first time she made my grandfather hold me at the kitchen table, while she vacuumed the living room carpet. The connecting door was closed. Also, my aunt's cleaning lady gave me a scare, with an Electrolux. I was sitting in the corner of the living room watching her clean the sofa, when she turned around and started to slowly walk towards me holding the hose end at me. She had a big smile on her face. I thought I going to be sucked up into the bag, so I got out of there. Those were the days.

Post# 270521 , Reply# 10   3/6/2014 at 20:20 (3,674 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)        
Welcome, Crackerdog!

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I see this is your VERY first posting to this site, let me be the first to warmly welcome you to the fabulous VacuumLand!Laughing


Post# 270549 , Reply# 11   3/7/2014 at 00:55 (3,674 days old) by kirbyvertibles (Independence, KS)        

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I was affraid of my grandma and aunt's Kirby Classic Omegas. I was playing with grandma's kirby one day and my sisiter said it was going to bite my fingers off (I would have been 3 my sister would have been about 25). After that day I wouldn't have anything to do with any Kirby. All other vacuums were fine just no kirby's for little Phill.

Post# 270555 , Reply# 12   3/7/2014 at 05:09 (3,674 days old) by Craig_1982 (Newcastle Under Lyme (England))        

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I was quite the opposite with Kirby's when I was little, when I used to play up for my mother, she said she would sit me in my push chair bring out the Kirby turn it on and leave it running at the side of me, apparently it always made me calmer and fall to sleep lol.
Since joining this great site I have come across one Vacuum in particular that I know would have scared me if we had it when I was young, That Vacuum is the Bison Centurion at 31 years of age even today I think it look's creepy but saying that I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to own one, I just don't think it would sit in my room at night :-) lol


Post# 270556 , Reply# 13   3/7/2014 at 06:19 (3,674 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

The only vacuum that "scared" me as a little child was a Sears Shop Vacuum my Dad had-he used it to suck up hair clippings from the floor and your hair after he cut my hair.The suction of that machine felt like it was going to pull my hair out.The motor was under the drum lid-and it had a fiberboard drum.Now of course shop vacs aren't so scary-have three of them!Guess as we see on here the vacs that scared you when little are now ones you want to add to your collection.Oh yes,on that Sears shop vacuum there was a discharge port on the top of the lid-you could put the hose on it and use the vac as a blower-did like to watch the motor spin down when the machine was shut off.You could see the top of the motor armature.-and the slight sparking,too.

Post# 270558 , Reply# 14   3/7/2014 at 06:50 (3,674 days old) by dandagreer (Nashville, TN)        

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Even though I always loved Kirby's, my Mom's cousin was babysitting me one time--they had an old, pre-classic Kirby. I used to play with it all the time, unplugged. Her husband plugged it in without me knowing and it (to me) mysteriously just came on. The bad thing was it had a broken fan blade, so it was VERY loud. It literally scared me to death. I ran upstairs in a crying fit. After that, like some others, I was always a little gun shy to turn on unknown vacuums. I used to turn the switch on then run the cord to a far away outlet and plug it in to make sure it was going to blow up or something. I know...kids irrational fears are funny sometimes.

Post# 270561 , Reply# 15   3/7/2014 at 08:48 (3,674 days old) by bagman75 ()        

Any upright with a soft bag scared the heck out of me. I was always terrified that the bag would get really big and explode all over. Crazy, I know. The bigger the bag, the more scared I was. So obviously Kirby's scared me the most. Funny that today its the total opposite. I love vacuums with huge inflatable bags on them. The bigger, the better!!

Post# 270563 , Reply# 16   3/7/2014 at 09:04 (3,674 days old) by bvac6 (Fort Wayne, Indiana)        
Kirby

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I was afraid of Kirby's, especially the 1CB Omega. When I was very young I used to spend the day hanging around my dads office and the building it was in. His secretary/receptionist one day brought in her Kirby Omega to clean the lobby (she liked to do that herself and insisted the cleaning staff half-assed the vacuuming) and asked if I wanted to use it. No Way I said! The sheer sound of it drove me from the room! Nowadays I love that model of Kirby and I even own one, all original with all the attachments and accessories!

Post# 270608 , Reply# 17   3/7/2014 at 18:30 (3,673 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)        
Bagman75,

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At 6 posts, you also appear new. Welcome! which bag is your favorite? which one do you think inflates the largest? what's your favorite bag material? 


Post# 270811 , Reply# 18   3/9/2014 at 00:10 (3,672 days old) by smow69 (Muskogee Oklahoma)        
eureka vac

when i was young about 8 my mom had a eureka 1405 a it had a broken fan was very loud and vibrated real bad it scared the daylights out of me. she used to have to treaten me to vacuum after that for a while.this isnt it but its identical i still have this vac today.

Post# 270835 , Reply# 19   3/9/2014 at 11:29 (3,672 days old) by bagman75 ()        
Super-sweeper

I've posted a few things here from time to time, but mostly I just come on here and like to read the posts. I'm not sure if I'd classify myself as a collector, but I enjoy reading about others peoples love of vacuums like I have. Now to answer your questions....I have a kirby classic 1-cr that has an enormously large inflated bag on it and I love it. It's one I would have absolutely been scared to death of as a youngster!! Bag material favorite would have to be vinyl. I love the 1400 series Eureka outer bags and Hoover convertible outer bags that have the large vinyl bags on them. Too bad they don't inflate as large as the Kirby bags do. That would be my dream vacuum bag!

Post# 271299 , Reply# 20   3/11/2014 at 15:26 (3,670 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)        
i was

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terrified of my grandma s Goblin wizzard delux [ looked very much like a Hoover 119]i think pale blue with a cream handle .Wizard de lux written on the bag with a red goblin staring out at you it was pretty useless as a vacuum but good at scaring me . the one thing that sticks in my mind was the handdle grip it was blue and looked strangely like a budgie or some other small bird

Post# 271458 , Reply# 21   3/12/2014 at 07:41 (3,669 days old) by Turbo500 (West Yorkshire, UK)        

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This one, Anthony?

Post# 271471 , Reply# 22   3/12/2014 at 09:22 (3,669 days old) by dirtmaster37 (Ypsilanti, Michigan USA)        
The only vacuum that scared me...

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So I have two.

My very first "vintage" vacuum ever given to me was a late 1940's Kenmore upright. Tom has one at the museum. I was given it by a great aunt, who just marveled at my "interest" and had it down in her basement in the laundry room just sitting there, and offered it to me at one of her Christmas parties. Much to my parents dismay.

When I got home, I wanted to TRY out my new toy, so i plugged it in in the dining room, and reached for the the switch and as I touched it to flip it on, got a NICE SHOCK!!. Well my dad, saw me stumble a bit and he yanked the cord from the socket, and cut the cord off the machine. It was forever, until it was tossed when i was gone somewhere years later...to being just that... a PLAY vacuum.

Later on we had a mom-n-pop thrift store, junqueatorium in our town that had an early Raymond Loewy Singer S3 that the old bat told me would ELECTROCUTE me if I touched it, which oddly she always left plugged in. She probably used it to clean the old joint but IDk anymore. After the experience with the Kenmore tho, i wasn't ABOUT to push my luck....

Chad

Here is a look at what I'm doing today. Showing new vacuums to the people. Just not with the neat G.E. that hes demonstrating....


Post# 271483 , Reply# 23   3/12/2014 at 11:40 (3,669 days old) by dysonman1 (the county)        
To Tylerawells

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The Hoover Sovereign was notorious for flowing the bag door off if the bag got too clogged with fine dust (immaterial of how full it was). The Sovereign was sold only through Hoover Factory Service Centers, and not very many were sold. The problem was that, even though it had a hard bag door, the air was BLOWN into the bag, so the resistance to airflow as the bag's pores became clogged was tremendous. Enough that the bag would cause the latch to fail and the door would blow off, and usually the disposable type O bag too.

Post# 271516 , Reply# 24   3/12/2014 at 13:06 (3,669 days old) by tylerawells (-)        

Didn't know that Tom. Thanks for the info. Thinking back the earliest machine I remember us having was the blue soft-bagged Singer upright (like the Bissell one), then we had a red Dirt Devil with soft-bag, and a couple of Hoover Elites, then a Fantom Fury, and after that a plethora of forgettable bagless vacs.


Post# 271522 , Reply# 25   3/12/2014 at 13:41 (3,669 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)        

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Mine was this, at the day care I went to as a young child they had one, No one could figure out the actual truth as to why I was afraid of it but Most of the adults thought the cleaning lady must have scared me with it so that the vacuum obsessed me would leave her alone. Funny thing is that to this day I hate this particular machine and The name Sybil ( cleaning lady's name ) also brings back a very uncomfortable feeling.

 

Gareth  


Post# 271537 , Reply# 26   3/12/2014 at 15:05 (3,669 days old) by uksausage (eastbourne east sussex UK)        
Omg. Mine is that very junior

That Hoover junior used to scare me so much. Instead of putting the tools on daily my mum used to pick the whole vacuum up and vacuum the sofa and arm chairs, I just used to see this big orange coming towards me that made noise and I would run off screaming.
Now I'm (a lot ) older it's my favourite vacuum

David


Post# 271566 , Reply# 27   3/12/2014 at 20:16 (3,668 days old) by paulg (my sweet home Chicago)        
Oh yes, the Westinghouse upright

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Our Westinghouse upright was just simply scary looking. Although my parents were married in the late 1950s, the vacuum cleaner was bought used. I suspect it was from the late 1940's.
It certainly worked well but it had a big, brown bag that inflated to a big balloon. It was dark metal and bakelite with deco accents on the bag and on the removable fan cover. There was little attractive to it ... at least to a youngster.
I ultimately overcame my fears and would use the inflated vac as a punching bag. It was fun seeing the dust poof out just a bit when whacked.
To clean the bag you had to twist the bottom collar and lift the bag off. Bend the bottom of the bag so the dust doesn't dump due to gravity. Then you had to run outside and pull off the very-hard-to-pull-off metal clamp at the top. Drop all the dust into the alley's garbage drum and shake it out. Cough a bit.
I've not yet seen a picture of this unit on this website as yet. Hopefully someday.
As an aside, there were other things that were frightening at that time (1960's). Our Admiral TV/Stereo was frightening as if you DARED to put it into HIFI mode, cracking would come from the speakers followed by a big BANG! That was never fixed.
Our Webcor phonograph (OK...FONOGRAF for you enthusiasts) was frightening as half the time you used it you would get shocked pretty bad when you touched the tone arm.
It is a wonder we baby-boomers survived with our lives with those products!


Post# 271569 , Reply# 28   3/12/2014 at 20:27 (3,668 days old) by electrolux137 (Los Angeles)        

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.
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Paulg, was the Westinghouse a straight-suction or motor-driven brush model?

I have a straight-suction upright from, I'd say, the early 1930s.


Post# 271572 , Reply# 29   3/12/2014 at 20:55 (3,668 days old) by super-sweeper (KSSRC Refurbishment Center)        
I'm nearly CERTAIN

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It was one of These, this is Hygiene903's Cleaner. (The bag does not appear original, though).


Post# 365941 , Reply# 30   1/31/2017 at 17:25 (2,612 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)        

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This one scared me to death as a kid. It's just loud. It's a hoover Elite hard bag. I also had a Shop-Vac that scared me.

  View Full Size
Post# 365963 , Reply# 31   2/1/2017 at 07:59 (2,612 days old) by luxkid1980 (Richmond, Virginia)        

I don't recall being terrified of any vacuums (though our old Shop Vac at home was plenty loud) but what I do remember as a kid was a guy at the Winn Dixie supermarket using one of those large floor buffing machines with the orbital pad. They weren't loud at all but I remember that it was scary looking to me as a 4 or 5 year old and I did NOT want to go down the isle when he was using it.

Post# 365974 , Reply# 32   2/1/2017 at 12:36 (2,612 days old) by Real1shep (Walla Walla, WA)        
Ironic.....

that so many of us collect vacuums but were afraid of them at some point! I was never afraid of an upright, but terrified of the Rexair we had. For one, I didn't understand the water part....when the nasty water was dumped in the toilet, it looked to me like the machine was sick...lol. And then once I was standing there when the motor unit was separated from the water pan and the motor was still turning after it had been shut off. Through that protective grate, I thought I saw spinning razor blades that would happily eat my fingers. Not unlike escalators when you got to the top and/or bottom...the tread disappeared into the mechanism, I thought I would lose my toes if I didn't jump. 

 

To this day, I still give escalators the ol' fish eye when I get on & depart. I got over Rexair fear though....I think.

 

Kevin


Post# 365998 , Reply# 33   2/1/2017 at 22:02 (2,611 days old) by Vintagefox (California)        

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Funnily enough, when I was about 6, watching "Scream" with a bowl of popcorn on hand. Been a while since I last saw that movie, but one of the scenes made me jump and spill the bowl..

Didn't really feel like picking up the greasy kernels with my hand so I lugged out the Hoover Elite (the black hose/dark red model) and began vacuuming up the mess.
Unfortunately the Elite didn't like the mess and started making thudding noises along with blue sparks near the rear of the machine. Dropped the handle and backed up for a moment before pulling the plug. My mother found a dead Hoover the next day, I got in trouble and the Hoover got replaced with a Eureka "The Boss" with the hard bag cover. Only to be replaced with a Hoover Concept One (with the Handivac) 1 yr and 7 months later.


Post# 365999 , Reply# 34   2/1/2017 at 22:17 (2,611 days old) by KirbyClassicIII (Milwaukie, Oregon)        
electrolux137

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Charles,

As I said before, I had always been afraid of my mom's Kirby Classic III 2CB because of how loud it sounded to my ears at the time. I am not sure why: was it because one of the fan blades were broken?

Some vacuum cleaners were indeed quieter than others, including some Royal all-metal uprights.

~Ben


Post# 366007 , Reply# 35   2/1/2017 at 22:59 (2,611 days old) by Real1shep (Walla Walla, WA)        

Our Webcor phonograph (OK...FONOGRAF for you enthusiasts) was frightening as half the time you used it you would get shocked pretty bad when you touched the tone arm.

 

Webcor had a penchant for this issue on most of their products. I had a Webcor tape player that nearly electrocuted me as a boy. It was plugged into a outlet that had a dubious ground and ZAP....barefoot on a slate floor....knocked me on my butt!

 

Kevin


Post# 366056 , Reply# 36   2/3/2017 at 00:09 (2,610 days old) by hygiene903 (Galion, OH)        
To Super-Sweeper,

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Yes, that IS the original bag on my Westinghouse. It's a bit faded and you can't see it in the picture, but it has gold trim stripes and the name WESTINGHOUSE also in gold, in similar lettering to what is on the attachment caddy.
Jeff


Post# 368441 , Reply# 37   3/14/2017 at 21:19 (2,570 days old) by EasyAce (Las Vegas)        

When I was about five, walking through a department store with my parents, I inadvertently bumped against the handle of an upright, I forget now what kind---and the sonofabitch kicked on and the bag blew up right against me. I had no idea the thing was plugged in for demonstration. I couldn't go near uprights for years to follow after that.

Fortunately, my mother owned a canister. (Early GE swivel top, traded in a couple of years later for her first Electrolux, a Model F.) So did my grandparents. (Maternal: Hoover Constellation, eventually traded for an Electrolux Model G. Paternal: Electrolux XXX.) I got over the fear of uprights---now I just despise them because they're a pain in the ass. ;)


Post# 368454 , Reply# 38   3/15/2017 at 09:07 (2,570 days old) by thebassetthound (Melbourne, Australia)        
this is all I think of...






Post# 368456 , Reply# 39   3/15/2017 at 09:34 (2,570 days old) by sleepdoc (St. Louis, MO)        
Colletors' fears of vacuums

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This is a little bit of drift, but someone (I don't remember who) asked me not too long ago if I was afraid of vacuums as a kid - in fact, she assumed I had been because she had the idea that all vacuum collectors were terrified of vacuums early in life. I never was afraid of a vacuum. But, I had it easy because my family had Electrolux canisters, which were quiet. I didn't (and still don't) like loud vacuums, but they irritate, not frighten, me.

However, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that people who grew up in the era of Hoover Elites, Dirt Devils, and other "screamers" were scared of them as kids because of the horrible noise they make. I don't have data, but it's an interesting speculation.


Post# 368472 , Reply# 40   3/15/2017 at 14:56 (2,570 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)        
Hi turbo 500

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yes thats the one .That red goblin still gives me the creeps .

Post# 368506 , Reply# 41   3/16/2017 at 07:01 (2,569 days old) by icee (Indiana)        
Fun fact for you....

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I used to be scared of all sweepers! Like all the way until I was like 13! Sad, I know haha. I really didn't like loud noises as a kid, and now I still don't really (ironicly I like rock and heavy metal, however that works). When I was really little I was also afraid it was going to eat me or something lol. I think one time I remembering seeing my mom accidently suck up a small tpy of mine so it freaked me out. Since we used to live with my grandma till I was about 6, they had a hoover elite. I know when my mom got married we had a dirt devil vision with the swivel wheels, but Idk if the vision was around in 98? So if it wasn't I have no idea what they had pre vision. But now of course I'm obsessed with sweepers and have a house full of them. Even when I was really scared of them, I still had like this small interest, or intrigue about them. I'm an odd one lol

Post# 368525 , Reply# 42   3/16/2017 at 16:18 (2,569 days old) by dirtmaster37 (Ypsilanti, Michigan USA)        
Scared of....

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See that many years back, commented on this thread. Had another revelation of a machine, or rather machines that scared me back when I was younger. The town my dad moved to, post my folk's separation, had another on of those "thrift type places" that had scads of vacuums in it. In later years, post licence, one found several machines there that I purchased. One being a NORCA model 80, which now resides with another collector in Illinois... It closed a few years back. Was heartbroken.

BUT, back when one was a young lad on his bike, I'd make a pilgrimage there every single Sunday when I'd go to visit dad for a weekend. Around 13 or so, three machines came up in the little alcove they kept all the vacuums, that I had NEVER seen before. Two were Royals, Straight Suction, and one I believe; was A Purifier? And then a large Hoover, which today I can safely say to all, was a Hoover Senior. An early one, just after the bag ring was introduced.

One was terrified of plugging any of them in. All of them had tattered cords, and being not too far off from that electrifying experience with the Kenmore, received by my great aunt, and they just looked ODD to me, prevented me from ever plugging them in. Or using them. Stupid me. That Senior, would have been the neatest to use. I know this now having used both the Model 0, and several Seniors.

The more you know!

Chad


Post# 370232 , Reply# 43   4/7/2017 at 15:05 (2,547 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)        

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What was that Kirby-like vacuum in the Mr. Mom clip?

Post# 370266 , Reply# 44   4/8/2017 at 01:56 (2,546 days old) by Oreck_XL (Brooklyn, New York 11211)        

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It was a highly modified Kirby Classic 1CR

Post# 370365 , Reply# 45   4/9/2017 at 14:23 (2,545 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)        

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What's with that giant box on the back and the headlight? It looks like a Kirby from Mars!

Post# 370366 , Reply# 46   4/9/2017 at 14:25 (2,545 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)        

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Also, what's with the buffer handle?

Post# 370459 , Reply# 47   4/11/2017 at 03:12 (2,543 days old) by Ian (Dorking)        

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Hello,
It's really fascinating to read your vacuum cleaner terror tales! I was very phobic of upright cleaners as a child. Recently I had to record an audition tape to an appliance company to talk about why I like vacuum cleaners. Here it is!


CLICK HERE TO GO TO Ian's LINK


Post# 370518 , Reply# 48   4/12/2017 at 04:10 (2,542 days old) by matt8808 (Teesside - North East - UK)        

Shortly after I was born my parents bought a Panasonic MCE43N. My mum used to leave the machine running by my cot on low power to help send me to sleep (maybe this is where my vacuum interest comes from??).

I used to love this vacuum and as I grew up would play with / use it at every opportunity.

With two small children and a large german shepherd dog the vacuum used to get used a LOT. My mum was one of these people who never maintained her vacuum cleaner and the bag was often left to become so full that dirt would begin backing up down the hose. I can still remember my grandmother giving her a lecture as she pulled clumps of backed up dirt from the hose.

My uncle (mums brother) owned the same model Panasonic but also owned a Kirby Tradition with all the extra bits. My mum used to regularly borrow the Kirby with all its kit to give the house a good clean and shampoo carpets. I was TERRIFIED of this machine and would run from the room screaming as soon as it appeared. I can still remember hiding in my bedroom while she used it and trying to barricade the door so she couldn't get in with it.

Another memory I have of the Kirby is one time my uncle came to visit and my mum had mentioned that the Kirby wasn't working very well. Turned out the bag was so full that the dirt had backed up right the way down the fill tube to the emptor. I can remember watching as they stood it in the garden, took the bag off and tried to fish out all the backed up dog hair.

No idea why I was so scared of it. Maybe it was the inflating bag?

Can't of been the noise as my grandmother had a Hoover Turbomaster Freedom and that was noisy as hell in comparison to mums Panasonic but I wasn't scared of that!


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Post# 370645 , Reply# 49   4/13/2017 at 15:02 (2,541 days old) by shinymac (USA)        

The thread about exterior bags on upright vacs is interesting and one that appeals to me too. I live in the UK and over here these days, there are precious few vacs around with inflating cloth bags. This is sad. We seem to have become a "bagless is best" society..lol.

One thing that the USA had which we never have had over here is VINYL bags. I wonder why that is ? Did the vinyl bags perish with age ? Which upright in the USA had or has the largest vinyl bag ? Did anyone make one themselves and adapt it ?

The other thing I wondered is if anyone knows anyone (that ISN'T a vac collector) in the UK, but who still uses an upright vac with an inflating bag in everyday use ?

Cheers Guys and Gals



Post# 381798 , Reply# 50   11/25/2017 at 22:26 (2,314 days old) by Gj3476 (Prosper,TX)        

gj3476's profile picture
Back around the late 90’s - early ‘00s, my aunt Angela used to have a blue hoover widepath upright and I remember when she used to run a daycare at her house, she would pull out the Hoover and turns it on to vacuum while everybody including me would be taking a nap and I freak out, jumping off the floor to the couch like a monkey! Lol, good times! Here’s the one my aunt used to have. That’s how I started to love vacuums. I would love to find one like this soon.

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Post# 381827 , Reply# 51   11/26/2017 at 13:21 (2,314 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)        

huskyvacs's profile picture
Thanks to "The Brave Little Toaster" and the scene with Kirby going crazy, I was always afraid of running over the vacuum cleaner cord.

Starts at 00:52 if the link doesn't jump directly to that point:


?t=52


Post# 431218 , Reply# 52   9/4/2020 at 06:46 (1,301 days old) by Ilovehoovers (England)        

ilovehoovers's profile picture
I used to be (and still kind of am) terrified of loud vacuums. Convertibles, Orecks, you name it, I was scared of it. That's why I love my Constellation; it's nice and quiet.

Post# 431239 , Reply# 53   9/4/2020 at 13:45 (1,301 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)        
Definitely an old Hoover upright

Probably a #28 or#29. It was stored in the hall closet. When company came over mom would stick it in the corner of my bedroom to make room for companies coats and hats.

My parents were hosting a cocktail party so I was put to bed early. This was in the winter and we were having our fair share of thunder and lightening storms. As the night wore on the party got louder and so did the storm outside. At some point I woke to loud thunder and streaks of light shot through my shutters and would light all or just a part of the Hoover mom put in the corner.

She stuck an old wicker hat on the handle that was in the closet also just to make a little more room. I laid there side-eyeing this stranger in the corner of my room,barely visible except when a beam of light struck.

This little 3 yr. old was petrified, I was scared to even sit up and take a closer look so I hunkered under the covers until mom came in to check on me. I must of been crying loudly because some of the guests came in with mom to see if I was alright. I kept saying it's in the corner, it wants to eat me. Seen too many old cartoons with uprights eating everything in sight until they exploded! So yes old uprights scared me as a young man. Canisters, no problem!


Post# 431326 , Reply# 54   9/5/2020 at 17:16 (1,300 days old) by Jo (Dallas,TX)        
A few for me

I didn’t like seeing the sparks through the motor air vents on our Regina Elektrikbrooms. Also when I was a toddler Mom’s Electrolux model S had a malfunctioning switch and it would flicker on and off while using it. I could swear I saw sparks coming from the switch while Mom was vacuuming with it one time and was scared of it. Though I surely liked pushing the single wand with flip over rug and floor tool around, it was just my size as a little one. Even as I got older and the switch had been replaced...I did notice that those switches do spark inside when turning on or off. I can see it through where the metal shaft goes into the switch housing. My parents still have that Model S today though it resides as the basement vac now. We’ve had to put a few switches into it over the years. I last ran it when I visited them over the 2019 Christmas holiday when I vacuumed the basement steps and some of the basement for them to help out with some of the housework that is now a lot for them. I always think about that sparking switch every time I use the model S!!! Funny how that sticks you after all these years. The Electrolux model E, model R and early white model L’s all use that same flip type switch.

Jon

Jon


Post# 431330 , Reply# 55   9/5/2020 at 17:45 (1,300 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        
hatted Hoover

fan-of-fans's profile picture
That would be scary to see that vacuum in the dark with lightning flashes lighting it up spooky!

Speaking of sparks through vents, I used to have a Bissell 3 in 1 hand vac/stick vac that I got for Christmas one year. You could see the sparks through the vents on it too. I didn't realize that vacuum motors had brushes and sparked, so I thought that something was wrong with it. Other than that I liked the vacuum after my dad told me it was fine.



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