Thread Number: 4548
The September Chronicles of Sarnia
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Post# 50916   9/8/2008 at 23:09 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
This is how it almost ended...

Left Pete's about 9pm in a steady light rain. Hardly any traffic on the 402, making good time on the 90 minute trip home...

1/2 hour from home, needing to 'relieve some fluids' I pulled into my favorite gas station out in the middle of nowhere to find it closed. Needed to relieve real bad now, so jumped out of the car to zip 'round the side in the dark. Get back to the running car to find I had bumped the virtually un-bumpable All Lock switch!!!

Can you say "heart plunged to the cellar of my soul"?

This is Classic Tragi-Comedy! Yup, It's raining, it's dark as night can be except for the car's interior, was locked out of the running car with the spare keys inside the briefcase. This has never happened to me, I am always so careful. And I mean I am in the middle of the countryside with the cellphone also taunting me from the dashboard.

Through some dumb luck I had at least pulled the car up to the lit up store windows and also the driver's door was not fully closed leaving a 1/8" gap between the frameless Subaru window and the body rubber seal. A Eureka moment dawned - I realized that with a straightened coat hanger I should be able to run it in and capture the lock latch. But wher to get one? I rummaged through the gas station's garbage bins but they had been emptied. There is a pay phone and I do have change but do I really want to call up CAA? maybe someone will come along I can flag down that will have a precious coat hanger with the dry cleaning>?

Pondering my choices I turned around and looked up and...walked a hundred yards to a house up the road with lights on. Turned out to be the Vietnamese feller that runs the gas Station. Things are looking up!

he recognized me but when I mentioned I need a wire coat hanger he grimaced and said - my wife has only plastic hangers.

ARGHHHHHHH...Shades of Mommy Dearest!!!!!!!

Well, he went into his garage, rummaged around for 10 minutes and came back with...one magled WIRE COAT HANGER! Saints be praised.

Within 2 minutes I had the latch snagged, popped the lock, got in the car and continued the drive, whooping hystericaly like a mad thing!

So adrenaline pumped I broke a rule and called Pete on the cellphone while driving. There was NO other traffic.

Home safe, sane and sound by 10:30.

Perhaps it was the vacuum shenanigans earlier that afternoon with Pete that turned me into an airhead?

Dave blowing up his head while inhaling mothball fumes...


Post# 50917 , Reply# 1   9/8/2008 at 23:15 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
OK, there were no mothball chrystals in the Filter Queen De-

aeoliandave's profile picture
But how else to explain how much I fell in love with this couch!!!

If I had the truck I would have bought it...and the matching armchair. I mean, that couch is 7 feet long and very comfy, big enoiugh for two to snooze.


Post# 50918 , Reply# 2   9/8/2008 at 23:16 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

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Pete just had to have a tussle with the Filter Queen Massaging hose thingy.

Post# 50919 , Reply# 3   9/8/2008 at 23:17 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
Group Therapy

Post# 50920 , Reply# 4   9/8/2008 at 23:22 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
I had brought along the Two blue Monitor cylinders. They look identical but in fact differ in subtle ways. One is US Made, the other Made in Canada. More later in another thread.

Post# 50921 , Reply# 5   9/8/2008 at 23:24 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
Brought along the shined up Nilfisk and the blue accesories and black expanding wand I have found that fit. Pete tossed in the Blue Royal...and we have a blue theme going.

Post# 50922 , Reply# 6   9/8/2008 at 23:30 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
With Pete's navigation I found the house my Aunt Jessie )Mom's oldest sister by 15 years!)and Uncle Bud ( the barber Shop baritone) lived in. We used to come visit for two weeks every summer. They've been gone to their rewards these past 10 years now.

Ugh, I thought...the place sure looks run down and inhabited by trailer trash...


Post# 50923 , Reply# 7   9/8/2008 at 23:36 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
Ah, but no...

aeoliandave's profile picture
I then spotted the actual neighbor's house two doors down to the west I remember so much, with the barn garage in the back where Mr Best let me watch & help out while he restored his 1940's Oldmobiles and Willys Jeeps. He had a full overhead belt & pulley workshop in that barn.

Post# 50924 , Reply# 8   9/8/2008 at 23:38 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
Jess & Bud's house right next door.

aeoliandave's profile picture
Ah memories. Well, their house is obviously still sweetly cared for.

Post# 50925 , Reply# 9   9/8/2008 at 23:44 (5,680 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
So I'm off to bed with this teaser shot of what came home with me from Sarnia. Oh yes, Sarnia Thrift Stores were canvassed... cheap & tawdry trinkets liberated by brain addled massage victim airhead Vacuum Lovers. :-)

Dave, grateful to not be still standing bleak and forelorn in the rain at the side of the hiway.


Post# 50927 , Reply# 10   9/8/2008 at 23:54 (5,680 days old) by charles~richard ()        

I am verrrrrrrrrry curious to see what came with that BROWN Roll-Easy box....... might this at long last be confirmation that there was a canary-yellow model...??!



Post# 50928 , Reply# 11   9/9/2008 at 00:13 (5,680 days old) by vac-o-matic (Saint Louis, Mo.)        
Monitors?

Hey guys, I have a Universal blue tank that looks like the Monitors. Were they made by the same company?

Rick


Post# 50929 , Reply# 12   9/9/2008 at 00:16 (5,680 days old) by petek (Ontario)        

I believe that GE eventually bought out Monitor. Monitor was the company that originally built the compressors that were used on the GE Monitor top refrigerators as well.

Post# 50934 , Reply# 13   9/9/2008 at 03:29 (5,680 days old) by ttuee2006 ()        

Oh sweet, a Futura! We had a TOL beige one in the early 90's with the cord winder and had it for something like 15 years until my IDIOT sister decided it was time to vacuum out her SUV.........without a bag!!!! That pretty much ended its career....

I LOVED that vac......so quiet and powerful! Well......until the rogue rock busted the fan.....


Post# 50937 , Reply# 14   9/9/2008 at 04:42 (5,680 days old) by arh1953 ( River Park, in Port St. Lucie, Florida)        

arh1953's profile picture
Dave, keep that Futura, you'll love it! I have a black and grey one. You and Pete are vegged out to the max, I wish I had whatever you were into. Looked like a lot of fun, and what a haul! Yes, let's here more about the brown Roll-Easy box too!

Post# 50942 , Reply# 15   9/9/2008 at 08:38 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
Monitors.

aeoliandave's profile picture
Some folks have recognized this sleek shape and tell me it was sold in the USA as either a Kingston or a Firestone. I have only ever seen these two. The first one - cylinder only - came from the Petrolia Junque Barn Pete took me to on my first Sarnia visit, detailed in Dave & Pete's Micro-meet thread, the same barn where I found the turquoise dog groomer hose for the Roll-Easy. The second came with the hose, wands floor nozzle and dusting bruah from a great lady in Philadelphia who's friend read the thread; it had been her grandparents vacuum at the Michigan cottage. It had one day simply stopped running and she was happy to send it to me for the shipping. Turned out to be that the cord had been tugged one time too many - the cord-to-switch internal connection had separated. Easy fix.

This is the vacuum I want to find transparent blue spray paint for, as a final coat over new gray or silver 'Hammertone' to approximate the original look.


CLICK HERE TO GO TO aeoliandave's LINK


Post# 50943 , Reply# 16   9/9/2008 at 08:46 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
Hoover Futura

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Pete gifted this to me. Haven't played with it yet. Came with the electric hose in excellent shape, no tools (I'll find 'em in the partz bin) Not crazy about the plastic wands and Power Nozzle (same ones used on the Tempos) but that's easily swapped for a GOOD PN from the PN bin. :-) This model does not have a cord reel - you wind it around the tool tray clips.
Will need a tear-down cleaning as the bag inside has exploded open.


Post# 50945 , Reply# 17   9/9/2008 at 08:52 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
Roll;-Easy Tool Caddies

aeoliandave's profile picture
Sure wish I had more information to give you...

The brown box came with my first version Roll-Easy. The turquoise one came with the 2nd version R-1. This is not to say they are original to the Roll-Easys they came with. They differ in size, construction and graphics - no other markings other than the Logo typeface used.


Post# 50946 , Reply# 18   9/9/2008 at 08:54 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
The size difference becomes clear in this front shot.

Oh Felix, you have become such a Big Boy!


Post# 50947 , Reply# 19   9/9/2008 at 09:00 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
Bottom construction details. The brown caddy is the same width and 1/2" longer.

My guess would be it is the later of the two and belongs with the 3rd version plain aluminum trimmed R-1.
Anyone else have Roll-Easy caddy boxes? What does the font style tell us?


Post# 50948 , Reply# 20   9/9/2008 at 09:25 (5,679 days old) by charles~richard ()        

I have never seen the brown Roll-Easy carton. It's an enigma wrapped in a mystery!

Re your Kingston, I have a Firestone in gray hammertone:



Post# 50949 , Reply# 21   9/9/2008 at 09:26 (5,679 days old) by charles~richard ()        





Post# 50950 , Reply# 22   9/9/2008 at 09:27 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
The trunkload glamour shot

aeoliandave's profile picture
Dave monitors Pete's driveway.

Pete kindly & generously gifted me the two Filter Queens (I had brought along the chrome FQ PN, Polisher, De-Mother, Hair Dryer hood and Massager for the Filter Queen Frolics) and the Blue Royal!. I have a complete Red Twin for the Royal in an Electro-Hygiene. Oddly enough I also had the blue trimmed Royal Floor nozzle that he didn't. The blue Royal has lovely shiny Aluminum wands, too while the red E-Hygiene's are steel. Together at last.

Snatched up the dark green Kenmore Whispertone at Goodwill because the hose is in great shape and it has cord on the cordwinder. The bottom however has a huge crack in it. I have this same vacuum from the Woodstock Free Curbside Junk Day haul - that one has a split hose & cut off cord, but did come with the power nozzle and wands. From two shall become one...

Not in the picture are a Singer Slant Needle Model 774 Stylist sewing machine with Manual in an older slant needle case from Value Village, a turquoise two-tier Lazy Susan like Mom had, and a TRION Ion/ozone Air Cleaner about the size of a VCR, with washable re-usable filters. LOL

Hooray, I have the whole day to play until an evening work call and the sun is out blazing away again.



Post# 50951 , Reply# 23   9/9/2008 at 09:33 (5,679 days old) by luxg ()        

Dave, I am glad that your ordeal turned out well for you!! It looks like you and Pete had a great time!!

Post# 50952 , Reply# 24   9/9/2008 at 09:39 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
The Firestone/Monitor has such a sensuous wind-cheating shape like engine pods from the Jetsons. The one piece cast aluminum handle alone is a work of art. Front & rear caps are painted aluminum castings with polished out details. A heavy vacuum pulling almost 60" but smaller in diameter than a Universal, about the same size as an Electrolux XXX.

The hose coupling and wand diameter are incompatible with any other vacuum cleaner in my collection. The floor nozzle wand had two eccentric tabs that engage with the floor tool socket - like a Rainbow - but again, is not interchangable with the Rainbow.


Post# 50953 , Reply# 25   9/9/2008 at 09:46 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
I'm still giggling over locking myself out of the car. It was like I was in some weird cliche penultimate scene with all the B movie elements like rain, dark, alone, the single storm-lashed house up the road and The Last Coathanger in Existence that saves the world from imminent destruction.

Post# 50954 , Reply# 26   9/9/2008 at 10:12 (5,679 days old) by rugmaster37 ()        
WOW!!!!

I've never seen a Filter Queen hair Dryer before much less in use. What a cool idea. I know that ther were a few times when I was first out on my own, that I used the exhaust air from my Electrolux XXX 30 to dry my hair. I did not like the idea of using the dirty hose tho for that purpose. Seems Filter Queen as usual came up with the right way to do it. And with super clean air besides!

That is the most fabulous flowery "Davenport" I've everseen since I was seven. In Michigan , those long couches were always refered to as a "davenport". I wonder why? that would be the mostperfect rec.room couch to lounge about on.

The Filter Queen hose massager.... Well??? What's the synopsis on the "effectiveness of the device"?? I've never seen one ever. Apparantly those two attachments were either not popular in the middle of the mitten where I grew up, or people were ashamed of the items that brought them so much joy and burrowed them into the back of thier closets... When "normal" people came over...lol

The Monitor cylinders look exactly identical to the Kingston Cylinders, manufactured by The Kingston Division, of Scott-Fetzer Company, Bronson Michigan. I've learned from others that Kingston Division was the forerunner of the Douglas Division which produced more canisters thru the 1970's and early 80's. The owners manual I have for a late 70's Douglas Canister also stated that it was manufactured in Bronson Michigan as well... cementing that information.

The Universal was manufactured by Landers Frary and CLark of New Britian Conneticut. and I'm sure as with everything else there was probably some interloping between the makers for different products. At least "some" inspiration anyway...

You two look like you had a ball. And congrat's on your wonderful goodies that you found!!!


Chad

Ann Arbor Michigan


Post# 50958 , Reply# 27   9/9/2008 at 10:48 (5,679 days old) by arh1953 ( River Park, in Port St. Lucie, Florida)        

arh1953's profile picture
My Futura came with aluminum wands, the powerhead, and the dust brush. I'm being tempted by another black/grey one with chrome wands for $9.99. It has no tools, just hose and wands.

Post# 50959 , Reply# 28   9/9/2008 at 10:48 (5,679 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

collector2's profile picture
There was also a cannister style machine that was pretty much the same as the Royal.

This is a picture of the Kingston from the net. I'll put up my firestone next.


Post# 50960 , Reply# 29   9/9/2008 at 10:49 (5,679 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

collector2's profile picture
The Firestone

Post# 50961 , Reply# 30   9/9/2008 at 10:53 (5,679 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

collector2's profile picture
And for good measure - a friends Kingston accessory kit

Post# 50962 , Reply# 31   9/9/2008 at 10:59 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
Yeah Chad. I've heard these extra long sofas referred to as davenports, too. There's also the chunkier overstuffed Chesterfield size and a couch is just a couch, I suppose. Anyway, it was in perfect condition and I luv the grandeur of the fat carved posts under the arms. It is so spectacularly ugly - in an appealing way - it could only be vacuumed I think, with a Green flowered Sunbeam Challenger.

Honest to Gawd, it is sooo long, low and comfortable I've half a mind to ask Pete to pick it up for me in the truck and I'll haul it home on the boat trailer. LOL Seriously!

My current 'davenport' is almost as long but dreadfully tattered under a canvas coverup from 20 years of hard knocks and cat scratchpost duty. But I've not seen anything as long & low to replace it with. For this one I would cheerfully pitch the old one to the dump.

I like the massager unit and it is very effective at numbing and relaxing muscles. Easy to connect but you'd have to develop an enjoyment of the accompanying whoosh of the vacuum and the loud-ish frapping low drone of the Diaphone valve.

My Mom and Gramma had the FQ Hairdryers and used them regularly. For Sunday Church Mom would set my sister's hair up in rag knots and shove her under the FQ hood for 30 minutes. Little girls didn't get Perms back then in our neighborhood - the 1960s.

Firestone/Kingston/Monitor - going to start a new thread on these.

Chad, Pete and I have discussed how we should have a Vac Meet for our Michigan/SW Ontario area some day. Ann Arbor is so close to Port Huron/Sarnia. It'll have to wait until Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb with my work schedule. tho'.


Post# 50963 , Reply# 32   9/9/2008 at 11:05 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
Yes, yes, yes, Doug.

aeoliandave's profile picture
Monitor has the same swiveling floor nozzle and dusting brush as your Kingston canister.

Post# 50964 , Reply# 33   9/9/2008 at 11:07 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
For good measure, front cover of the Singer model 774 slant needle.

Post# 50965 , Reply# 34   9/9/2008 at 11:08 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
Copyright 1975. the back cover.

Post# 50976 , Reply# 35   9/9/2008 at 14:21 (5,679 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)        

collector2's profile picture
Hey Dave:

Thanks - that finally gives me a date for the Singer E12AC

Doug


Post# 50985 , Reply# 36   9/9/2008 at 15:48 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
The Blue Royal is re-united with the Prodigal Tools

aeoliandave's profile picture
I had the blue bumpered tool, narrower 'wall' brush and crevicetool brush. Added a generic tapered rubber dusting brush that fits in the end of the wand. Thanks, Pete. The flash kinda washed out ther color of the floor bumper trim, but if you know Roiyal you know the lovely rich blue it is.

the Red & Blue cousins are side by side now hoses entwined...perhaps they'll go bump in the night and produce little green Prince and Princess handvacs...


Post# 50986 , Reply# 37   9/9/2008 at 15:58 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        
Say Pete, remember that long brown vinyl weave hose you foun

aeoliandave's profile picture
Well, now it belongs to the Filter Queen Model 200A. I have the Model 200 manual. Look at the cloth weave hose the 200 came with!

Post# 50987 , Reply# 38   9/9/2008 at 16:00 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
Oh My Gawd, says I, another one of those Meant to Be revelations. Couldn't be more perfecter...

Post# 50988 , Reply# 39   9/9/2008 at 16:02 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
See how long it is beside a regular FQ hose. And it's airtight! Whee...

Post# 50990 , Reply# 40   9/9/2008 at 16:11 (5,679 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)        

aeoliandave's profile picture
Another Model 200 Manual page showing the hose and other tools, all with long necks. Unique button latch connections slide into a long slot on the necks. Note the floor nozzle doesn't yet have a rubber bumper. Unlike later styled Model 30s and 700s etc, only one curved wand, the upper section is straight. It is the hose pipe end that is curved and connected to the tools or wands.

And gol'darnit, if I don't have the correct long neck slotted Crevice Tool for this Filter Queen. Many many thanks, dear Pete. Another vacuum comes together like globs of mercury...


Post# 50991 , Reply# 41   9/9/2008 at 16:16 (5,679 days old) by rugmaster37 ()        
Post....50965

OH MY WORD.....

I just peed a little in me panties.

Singer U-59 in the owners manual advertisement(my baby)!!!AND in color no less!!!

Yeah Rusty Andres and I were talking about having a mitten meet also. It has been tossed around, nothing serious as of yet. Would be great to meet more people. I have of course met Pete. Sarnia not that far if you take good ol' I-75.

That sounds like a good idea in the winter. Just not when it's about to dump upon us a foot or more of the fluffy powder. I mean no one wants to drive on that stuff!! LOL

Glad to see that someone remembers them being called Davenports as well. We just got rid of ours off our three seasons room up at the parents house. Ours was dark green and gold tapestry effect upholstery. It was awful, but in the summer I could lounge out ther all day with my iced tea, Camel Lights and a good book and waste the entire day. For me being 6 ft. + there was no better way to relax completly stretched out thatn laying on that thing... SADNESS;-(

It was replaced with a wicker love seat thing. My mom has hit her "bout to be 70" stride. She wants all her furniture out there to match, and it all to be white painted wicker. It's like being on the set of the Golden Girls. NOT that that would be a bad thing BTW!!!

Sorry

Chad


Post# 51013 , Reply# 42   9/9/2008 at 20:30 (5,679 days old) by xraytech ()        

that is very similar to grandma's Davenport it is maybe a little longer and has a lower back. It is in a chestnut brown background with a brown and orange floral print, it was made by Century Furniture and she has two matching side chairs. Very comfortable except that after almost 35 years it is starting to sag some

Post# 51046 , Reply# 43   9/10/2008 at 06:45 (5,678 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)        

countryguy's profile picture
My mom had the hair dryer attachment for her Filter Queen but I don't remember ever seeing her use it. Instead she had a similiar looking bonnet and tube which connected to a dryer that sort of looked like what we know as todays blow dryer. It was all chrome, about 10-12 inches in height, maybe made by Sunbeam, but I'm not sure.

Gary


Post# 51061 , Reply# 44   9/10/2008 at 10:49 (5,678 days old) by charles~richard ()        

One of the early hand vacuums from the late 1920s or early 1930s, either a Eureka or Kenmore, I don't recall which now, had what was probably the most successful hair dryer attachment for a vacuum cleaner -- successful because it contained a heating element in it.

It was not a hair drying bonnet or helmet but rather a hand-held blow-dryer. The way it worked, as best I recall, was that a heating element was affixed to the blower end of the machine, then a short electrical cord leading from it was plugged into the side of the vacuum cleaner motor. Then, a short flexible hose, 3 ft. or so long, with a hand-held 'pistol' sort of nozzle on the business end, was connected to the heating element.

The details on this are quite fuzzy now as I've never actually seen one, only an illustration of it. But the thing that sticks out about it is the fact that it did have a heating element in it rather than just relying on the mild warmth that comes from the vacuum cleaner motor.

The 1920s Air-Way chief also had a hair-dryer bonnet that, if I recall correctly, was very similar to the Filter Queen setup. The instruction booklet suggested that the user place the motor "near a fireplace" so as to introduce heat into the air stream! Can you imagine?!



Post# 51067 , Reply# 45   9/10/2008 at 12:36 (5,678 days old) by arh1953 ( River Park, in Port St. Lucie, Florida)        

arh1953's profile picture
One of the ads that shows up on the POD is a hand vacuum with a dryer attatchment. I think it's a Eureka.


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