Thread Number: 33805
/ Tag: Pre-1950 Vacuum Cleaners
How much restoration is acceptable? |
[Down to Last] |
Post# 367190 , Reply# 1   2/19/2017 at 22:45 (2,593 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I have always gone full Monty, I return it to new condition.
With alloy machines that's easy, You simply rebuff them and from a antique point of view very little is done to remove the machines originality. On painted machines it depends on what condition I fond them in, a few are in really good condition with only a few tiny scratches, Others look like they were used as boat anchors and need a respray. I don't collect vacuums as an investment, Probably the opposite. I collect them to restore them to new condition and display and share them. I am sure some of them have some decent value to them just due to their age but like so many have said their value is only what someone will pay for them. At the end of the day they are mine for my enjoyment and as such I will keep them in a condition that pleases me. I think that if done right a good restoration job can increase the value and appeal of a item like a vacuum, Very few people are going to want a scrappy looking machine , or pay good money for it because its original, If it looks good they will pay more for it. Look at vintage Coke dispensers and fridges. when restored they go for ridiculous prices. |
Post# 367194 , Reply# 2   2/20/2017 at 02:53 (2,593 days old) by midcenturyfan (Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I have to admit that I tend to be the other extreme. I would, generally, rather see a tatty original machine than one that has been painted. That, of course, depends upon the condition of the machine when you get it, and each case has to be judged on it's merits. Obviously, I try to buy machines that are in as good a condition as I can find.
I don't use any of my machines, so a perished original cable does not cause a problem, but if you want the thing to work, then it must be safe. Robin. |
Post# 367199 , Reply# 4   2/20/2017 at 06:36 (2,593 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
1    
I think it also depends on whats available, Here were I live finding a good conditioned machine is nearly impossible, But them I love to restore them, I must admit my favorite machines are the ones that caused me the most headaches in restoration.
I do try and keep the parts original, Motors and Cords but their is only so much you can do and if the motor is gone and a original replacement is not available then I will make a plan to get it running with the next most suitable motor. No butchering though. Even if I must fit a newer style motor into the machine as was in the case of my Electrolux d70 twin motor, it must look like it belongs their. Some times things dont go to plan though, The light green/white came out to dark but after spraying it I liked it so much I kept it that way. I like to see it as giveing a wreck a new lease on life rather than becoming a part of the fender for your new Buick. |
Post# 367211 , Reply# 5   2/20/2017 at 11:31 (2,592 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
The answer to your question is totally subjective. It's in the eye of the beholder and as others have stated, it depends on a lot of variables:
•how old is it? •how rare is it? •how complete is it? •how readily available are replacement parts? •are there compatible parts available that will significantly improve design and/or function? The older an item is, the more rare it is, and the more complete it is, the more I'm likely to err on the side of being a preservationist because it's only original once. But if the item has a lot of missing or broken parts, I'll likely be more open to restoration but depending on the situation, I may opt to improve upon the original by incorporating newer or better parts because I'm not opposed to creating a frankenvac. Case in point: A few years ago, I bought my G5 and while I paid what felt at the time like a good price for it, I ended up spending more than twice as much on replacement parts as I paid for the machine in the first place. It came to me with a handle back panel from a G4 so it was already not original and because I was shopping price, most of the parts I bought were fully compatible but were for other models. It needed a brush roll, so I got one for a Sentria because it was cheaper and arguably superior to the original. The outer bag was shot, so I managed to come up with an entire outer bag assembly for an Ultimate G, including emptor and fill tube, for less than the cost of a new outer bag and gained a few minor design improvements in the process. The light gray G3 cord was a matter of taking one for a third the normal retail price. It's functional and the light gray color ties in with the similarly colored emptor on the other side. What I ended up with doesn't look bad at all, kind of reminiscent of a Classic III color scheme, and functions at least as well as it did when new. It's also not a particularly rare machine, so no harm done. I use it and enjoy it the way it is. |
Post# 367214 , Reply# 6   2/20/2017 at 11:39 (2,592 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 367225 , Reply# 7   2/20/2017 at 14:13 (2,592 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
1    
This machine was an absolute wreck .Its original gold and brown paint job was practically gone [i have never seen one of these with so much paint worn away]and its bag was so full it was dragging on the floor and full of holes but just as you would expect it ran beautifully so i did a nut and bolt strip[ motor as well] and because it had a grey handle grip and the replacement bag was grey i decided on this colour scheme.When i do this to a machine i strip everything off [and i mean everything.I have seen machines suposedly refurbished where wheels /furniture guard and other bits are left on the machine] .Thats not good enough for me .when finished these machines have to look as good as i can possibly make them look .I enjoy doing this but once finished i completely loose interest and am looking for the next one .I think this machine looks just as good in grey and black as it would in its original garb
|
Post# 367226 , Reply# 8   2/20/2017 at 14:27 (2,592 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Gsheens senior looks great i like the green better than its original colour I am currently doing up a tired old 375 whose bag while original is literally disintegrating before my eyes and has been poorley repaired before so i am going to have a go at making a new one .I am using the old one as a pattern once i get the thing made i will dye it black and then have a go at replicating the Hoover logo
|
Post# 367227 , Reply# 9   2/20/2017 at 14:43 (2,592 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Anthony The 612 looks awesome. I have a few of them, One is restored already , it was a daily driver right up until the lady traded it in about 4 years ago for something smaller and lighetr for her retirement home. But I have two more mmmmmm I see a grey and black one in my future.
This was the Hoover stripped down. Do it properly the first time I say. The only rubber part I left in place was the handle grip because they are near impossible to remove and about the same going back on
View Full Size
|
Post# 367237 , Reply# 11   2/20/2017 at 16:26 (2,592 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
on my restorations paint will not peel off and is more durable than the original stuff .What you cant see is the coat after coat of clear cellulose on top of the colour .this means that you can bang the machine into most things without doing any damage in order to spoil the paint job you literally have to hit it with a hammer [i have tested this out ]and usually my machines are as good[and safer] than the day they left the factory .Gsheen its great to see that senior stripped and repainted love the green .i have to say i only do this to a machine when its a complete basket case [the sort of thing most people would write off ]
|
Post# 367310 , Reply# 15   2/21/2017 at 16:33 (2,591 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 367663 , Reply# 18   2/28/2017 at 11:40 (2,584 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 367664 , Reply# 19   2/28/2017 at 11:47 (2,584 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
1    
making the bag was not a problem but how to do the graphics Hmmm so i simply cut out the bit of cloth with them on and stitched it onto the new bag yes i know i cheated but i just couldn't think of any other way .I used a bit of shoe lace for the loop
|
Post# 367665 , Reply# 20   2/28/2017 at 12:14 (2,584 days old) by Real1shep (Walla Walla, WA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Anthony! I praise anyone willing to make a bag like that. Graphics would probably have to be silk screened. People do that still, but it can be cost prohibitive as a service.
Kevin |
Post# 367670 , Reply# 21   2/28/2017 at 16:11 (2,584 days old) by gsheen (Cape Town South Africa)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|