Looking for a hose

Fie on thee, Blasphemer VW!

Since there was not the customary smiley icon I can only assume you were being serious...

We are vintage vacuum collectors and appreciate originality.

We DO NOT deface & insult cosmetically admirably displayable woven hoses by wrapping 'the leaking part in saran wrap or duct tape', when the preferable alternative for demonstration & use purposes is a secondary replacement. How many vintage woven hoses swathed in layers of duct, cloth bookbinder and/or electrical tape have I unwrapped and cleaned to find a perfectly serviceable beautiful hose beneath? More than a few.

Besides looking ugly as hell, wrapping a woven hose in duct tape (which has residual adhesive on the outside surface that will pick up floor dirt making it look even more tawdry in short order) will not restore full suction because the air continues to seep through the weave layers. Duct tape is what well meaning husbands will use to keep the wife's vacuum working a while longer but truly is the solution of the amateur adult or teenager with no imagination or respect.

On the other hand, neatly spiral-winding sandwich clingwrap along the hose length will re-create a full suction condition and still allow the beauty of the weave to show through. So if one really wants to use the original hose to save costs I do endorse it. In fact my Dad - something more than an unthinking amateur - did exactly that with Mom's discarded green Electrolux 87, as well as replace the cordwinder housing with one from a red 86, in order to use it as his workshop vac. I have that vacuum still with the wrapped hose not only for sentimental reasons but because it shows what a little forethought and care can achieve.

If you searched the archives you would know there is a viable method for restoring full suction to a leaking cloth or vinyl woven hose.
In the case of a newer non-woven solid vinyl hose of inferior chemistry that is cracked & split open along the coil there are several colors of vinyl electrical tape that can effect a decent repair that is acceptable.
IMHO
Thank you
Dave

Dad's hybrid rebuild of Mom's 89. Laugh if you like but I think it's purty. :-)


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Post# 126867 3/7/2011 at 07:15 (4,791 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes for the Eureka Empress II that I just purchased. Although the vacuum and hose are in terrific condition cosmetically, the hose leaks like a sieve. The hose is non electric. Were vinyl replacements hoses made? Anyone know where I could get one or at least get the hose handle and machine end connectors so that I could add a vinyl hose? Thanks! Gary

Post# 126921 , Reply# 1 3/7/2011 at 19:44 (4,790 days old) by vac_whisperer ()
Checkrate/Likes Dont buy a new hose. Wrap the leaking part in saran wrap or duct tape. VW

Post# 126943 , Reply# 2 3/7/2011 at 21:53 (4,790 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *I can not in good conscience let this abomination pass...* Fie on thee, Blasphemer VW! Since there was not the customary smiley icon I can only assume you were being serious... We are vintage vacuum collectors and appreciate originality. We DO NOT deface & insult cosmetically admirably displayable woven hoses by wrapping 'the leaking part in saran wrap or duct tape', when the preferable alternative for demonstration & use purposes is a secondary replacement. How many vintage woven hoses swathed in layers of duct, cloth bookbinder and/or electrical tape have I unwrapped and cleaned to find a perfectly serviceable beautiful hose beneath? More than a few. Besides looking ugly as hell, wrapping a woven hose in duct tape (which has residual adhesive on the outside surface that will pick up floor dirt making it look even more tawdry in short order) will not restore full suction because the air continues to seep through the weave layers. Duct tape is what well meaning husbands will use to keep the wife's vacuum working a while longer but truly is the solution of the amateur adult or teenager with no imagination or respect. On the other hand, neatly spiral-winding sandwich clingwrap along the hose length will re-create a full suction condition and still allow the beauty of the weave to show through. So if one really wants to use the original hose to save costs I do endorse it. In fact my Dad - something more than an unthinking amateur - did exactly that with Mom's discarded green Electrolux 87, as well as replace the cordwinder housing with one from a red 86, in order to use it as his workshop vac. I have that vacuum still with the wrapped hose not only for sentimental reasons but because it shows what a little forethought and care can achieve. If you searched the archives you would know there is a viable method for restoring full suction to a leaking cloth or vinyl woven hose. In the case of a newer non-woven solid vinyl hose of inferior chemistry that is cracked & split open along the coil there are several colors of vinyl electrical tape that can effect a decent repair that is acceptable. IMHO Thank you Dave Dad's hybrid rebuild of Mom's 89. Laugh if you like but I think it's purty. :-)

Post# 126945 , Reply# 3 3/7/2011 at 22:07 (4,790 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Gary, my experience with Eureka vinyl weave hoses is that they are among the more robust and long lasting. Unless the internal rubber is completely dried out along the length, which is evidenced by a stiff hose, it is most likely the leaks are confined at either end, most likely at the inlet coupler end from tugging the vacuum vigorously about the house. Looking at your picture I can see the coil pushing through to the surface. This leads me to believe your hose is an ideal candidate for the latex treatment. Possibly removing about 3" and re- joining will yield decent suction again. But in the end you'll probably want to have new hose stock attached to the original fittings. I have a bin of salvaged orphan hoses and lengths tucked in a back corner of the Attic Lounge; I'll have a good look this week in case I spot something suitable in pale beige vinyl. Dave

Post# 126974 , Reply# 4 3/8/2011 at 06:54 (4,790 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Dave, What is the procedure for cutting the hose and rejoining? Is the hose just pushed into the coupling or is it glued? Thanks for checking out your hoses! :-) Gary

Post# 126984 , Reply# 5 3/8/2011 at 09:44 (4,790 days old) by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Oh Nooooooooooo! Gary is about to perform radical surgery on the Hose of the Empress II! I shall close my eyes and pray for a speedy recovery now.... :-)

Post# 126990 , Reply# 6 3/8/2011 at 11:14 (4,790 days old) by countryguy (Astorville, ON, Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Well no I don't want to do it to the original hose if I can avoid it. That's why I was asking if anyone knew of where I could get the hose handle and machine end connections. Gary

Post# 126996 , Reply# 7 3/8/2011 at 11:54 (4,790 days old) by nick (Hastings, New Zealand)
Checkrate/Likes dont even think of messing with that beautiful hose

Post# 127011 , Reply# 8 3/8/2011 at 16:34 (4,789 days old) by vac_whisperer ()
Checkrate/Likes *(aeolian) Dave:* Those were the only ways i could think of repairing the hose; i suppose you could repair it from the inside, if the leak is close to the ends, but that would take some work and patience... I dont have any vacuums with thread-woven hose (however i do want one very baadly :P) But that doesnt mean i dont have any with leaks, and thats just my solution to dead hoses. I prefer saran wrap, though, because duct tape is nearly impossible to get off. VW

Post# 127012 , Reply# 9 3/8/2011 at 16:36 (4,789 days old) by vac_whisperer ()
Checkrate/Likes PS And i would rather do that than buy a new plastic "stretchy" hose. Somehow, i just cant buy an old Elux or Lewyt with a plastic hose. VW