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Thread Number: 21358
is this a XXX pre-war model? |
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| Post# 239010 , Reply# 1 7/5/2013 at 11:36 (3,946 days old) by knoxfrzb () | ||
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nother pic this might help...trying to use my laptop, i forgot my phone 
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| Post# 239015 , Reply# 2 7/5/2013 at 13:28 (3,946 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
Hi Knoxfrzb.
Unfortunately with the attachments in front of the runners, nobody can see the machine well enough to tell.
There are a number of ways to tell a pre-war from a post-war XXX. The color of the leatherette, the paint on the body of the machine, the runners, and the doors on the blower end to name only a few. The model XXX started in 1937, and ran till the end of 1954. Naturally, Electrolux was not making vacuum cleaners during WWII, as they were making what were called "motor's that fight!" (Generators and what have you.) Once they were given the go ahead to make vacuum cleaners they went back to the trusty XXX. The early XXX's 1937- the early 40's, were dark gray on both body and leatherette. The runners were flat on the bottom, and there were two or three sets of vents on the rear cover. Memory is failing as to if there were louver doors. Also, there was no 'Companion' (ride on tool holder), or cord winder. Those came out around 1948. The new model XXX's have the round runners, the paint and letherette gets lighter each year, till the last of them were a grayish blue, like the post-war XXX shown here. There were also the saloon doors as part of the real exhaust. Both Charles Richard Lester and Tom Gasko are better qualified to talk about the other changes, but those are the key things to look for. As for the attachments, they were standard equipment from 1937 to 54, with slight color changes in rubber trim. The only tool that changed was the rug tool. That design went through a number of changes during the years the XXX was manufactured. Oh yes, I almost forgot! Look at the dust bag. If it says anything about the new automatic cleaner, then it was sold as the lower end model at the same time the LX was being sold. And I'm sure Charles Richard, or Tom can tell you the numbering system to determin the age. There should be a series of numbers on the area where the dust bag goes. That's all I can think of for now. Alex Taber. 
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| Post# 239020 , Reply# 3 7/5/2013 at 14:02 (3,946 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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The last of the post-war XXX's
While the war was going on, and just afterward, Electrolux had to cut corners and save metal. Result was that both the upholstry tool, and dusting brush, were made of a light blue gray plastic, or what was called 'bakelite,' this was also used on the top of the rug tool. As for the color of the braided hose fabric, that and the rubber trim in the attachments, should match the body paint of the machine. I know you said that there was no hose, but that's what to look for to complete the set. As for the wands, they were the heavy steel.
The items like Companion, cord winder, polisher, and garment bag all came out in the late 40's, but will not detract from the machine. Many customers with older Electrolux XXX's, bought these months or years after the original sale. Please give us a look at the machine without anything blocking the view. You have a great XXX there, enjoy it! And here's a look at one of my LX's. Alex Taber. 
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| Post# 239022 , Reply# 4 7/5/2013 at 14:11 (3,946 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Special tools.
You may notice the white bristle dusting brush and wall brush. They were part of the complete package, and were designed for delicate places like wallpaper, or lamp shades.
What I've done here is recteat the picture from the instruction book. It's what my friend Charles Richard Lester calls a "beauty shot!" The only thing not original is the cord winder. I had the original, but the plug needed to be replaced. | ||
| Post# 239023 , Reply# 5 7/5/2013 at 14:15 (3,946 days old) by Collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk) | ||
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| Post# 239032 , Reply# 7 7/5/2013 at 15:18 (3,946 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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Opened.. The very first pre war has extra louvers over the blower, this was changed around 38 or 39 or so because it killed the use of the sprayer or vaporizer. 
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| Post# 239033 , Reply# 8 7/5/2013 at 15:20 (3,946 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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uinderside.. of the pre war, it does have the round logo, this one was made sometime between 39 and 41 or so. 
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| Post# 239034 , Reply# 9 7/5/2013 at 15:21 (3,946 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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The later one Has a slightly smaller back housing. 
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| Post# 239035 , Reply# 10 7/5/2013 at 15:23 (3,946 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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front The older one on the right,the difference is the older housing is stamped aluminum, the newer is cast. 
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| Post# 239037 , Reply# 11 7/5/2013 at 15:31 (3,946 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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Rug tools... Different versions. 
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| Post# 239038 , Reply# 12 7/5/2013 at 15:33 (3,946 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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New vs old.. Floor Brushes. 
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| Post# 239048 , Reply# 13 7/5/2013 at 17:43 (3,946 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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The Original Pre War Wands will have Electrolux and the logo stamped around them at the slots.also the side pieces are aluminum on the early machine, chrome steel on the later one. 
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| Post# 239050 , Reply# 14 7/5/2013 at 17:47 (3,946 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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I think you may have... A pre war machine, but the attachments pictured are definately post war, the rug tool you have is the later, 49 or 50 or later. | ||
| Post# 239075 , Reply# 16 7/5/2013 at 21:19 (3,946 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Pre-war/post-war XXX'S | ||
| Post# 239126 , Reply# 17 7/6/2013 at 10:01 (3,945 days old) by knoxfrzb () | ||
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video is uploading i think its pre-war from your comments...i am posting 2 videos, one of the machine and one of the machine running...it pulls about 40 kilopascals, which isnt too damn bad really | ||
| Post# 239131 , Reply# 18 7/6/2013 at 10:17 (3,945 days old) by knoxfrzb () | ||
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1st vid here is the machine in action..not original hose i know | ||
| Post# 239134 , Reply# 19 7/6/2013 at 10:53 (3,945 days old) by knoxfrzb () | ||
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full video so what do y'all think? | ||
| Post# 239135 , Reply# 20 7/6/2013 at 11:05 (3,945 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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| Post# 239136 , Reply# 21 7/6/2013 at 11:30 (3,945 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Tom's right, pre-war XXX.
Those are two great videos. and now that I've gotten a good look at this machine, I can tell by the flat runners and dark color of paint and leatherette that it is a pre-war! However, the rug tool is not original to this XXX, as the rubber trim looks like a light gray, or perhaps the blue/gray that went with the LX. The other tools seem to be original, as I said, the rubber trim should match the cody of the machine. Rear cover (blower end) is certainly pre-war, but seems to have been altered. As Tom said, the filter is newer.
Since I don't have audio on my computer, I didn't get to hear it run, or your comments, but I did get to see it. You need to complete the look by getting the Companion, correct cord, and correct hose. Hoses for the early Electrolux's are rare as hens teeth, but out there. With my LX, the hose is in fair condition, so I use it for show, and clean with the hose my buddy Steve, sent me. As I said before, you have a great find, enjoy it. Alex Taber. | ||
| Post# 239161 , Reply# 23 7/6/2013 at 14:19 (3,945 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Electrolux XXX. | ||
| Post# 239165 , Reply# 24 7/6/2013 at 14:26 (3,945 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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It sure Is possible, in any event....its old!!!lol. | ||
| Post# 239177 , Reply# 27 7/6/2013 at 15:17 (3,945 days old) by tig21er (Indiana) | ||
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Changes Just like the handles on Silverado and the Olympia One or changes in color on the model G. | ||
| Post# 239210 , Reply# 28 7/6/2013 at 20:53 (3,945 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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They are called...
"Revisions". The Simplicity Synergy has had 9 of them during its run.
When the model 30 was launched in '37, all the parts (including side rails) were made of aluminum and buffed by machine, as were the attachments. Even the switch cover was buffed aluminum. The very first year of production, there were three slits above the exhaust door, that let air out. By the second year, the first revision had taken place with the elimination of these vent slits. By 1940, materials were getting harder and harder to come by. The third revision involved a lot. The flat filter was now used. The motor had the most revisions. In 1940, the motor mount was bakelite, as were the carbon brush holders and bearing bridge. The aluminum back was changed to steel as was the front cover, and side rails. I gave a perfect example of this model to Reggie Ridlin a few years back. In 1941, the dusting brush and upholstery tool and rug and floor tools were made of bakelite. Production ceased early in 1942. Back from the war, and the cleaner now had round runners and a saloon door exhaust port. This was the forth revision. The attachments were back to aluminum again and the cord winder, companion, and other special tools were launched in 1948. The final revision was in 1954. The color of the top cover now matched the model LX. The front door and motor cover were painted blue to match the LX (and soon, the LX1). And the attachments were the same material they would use for the model AE and E's attachments, with the exception of the bare floor tool. | ||
| Post# 239218 , Reply# 30 7/6/2013 at 22:23 (3,945 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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One thing I forgot to mention. Pre-war model 30's have less suction than post-war models. The motor started out at 475 watts. All post-war machines have 535 watt motors. All pre-war model 30's have rubber strips on the attaching lugs for the front cover. Post-war models do not have these rubber 'cushions'.
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| Post# 239225 , Reply# 31 7/7/2013 at 00:05 (3,944 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Thank's Tom.
While I have several books written by Electrolux on their so-called history, such as "Electrolux the first 40 years, 1924 - 1964,"these books talk about corporate stuff. I shared some of that when I did the chapters on "the war years, but they tell very little of the actual machines. As I've said often, I get my facts from books, and word of mouth, if that info is wrong, I have no way of knowing that. As always, you present the facts that the rest of us are looking for. Thanks again for sharing this.
Alex Taber. | ||
| Post# 239240 , Reply# 32 7/7/2013 at 08:59 (3,944 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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You're welcome Alex.
I guess one advantage I have in this, is the fact that I actually worked on and repaired these machines for customers. You have to remember that, even by the time I was 14 (1976), model 30's and 60's were still being sold, in high volume, in catalogs like Spiegel's Catalogs. Even the Woolworth's in St. Louis carried rebuilt model XXX's. All rebuilt by Metropolitan Vacuum in New York. They were everywhere. I also was buying the trade in vacs from the Rainbow dealer. Every few months he'd call me and bring by a car load. I remember very well sitting in my basement, on my workbench, and noticing the differences. The first time, I was actually FORCED to take notice. I was working on a pre-war XXX, trying to remove the motor. But it was a 1940/1941 model with the bakelite motor ring and bearing bridge. I cracked the motor ring taking it out, and I was screwed. Of course, I waited until I got another XXX to remove a motor from. That's when I really started noticing the differences and making mental notes. The fans changed, for example, when the Automatic F and the Special models were launched. Same motor watts, but more airflow and suction since the newly designed fans could spin faster. I spent a lot of time working on motors, and that's what lead me to understanding where exactly and what the "revisions" were - since many components were not interchangeable - yet were only 'slightly' different in size and shape. As a teenager, working on vacs in my basement, I had the advantage of an almost unlimited supply, very cheap. I bought the traded in vacs for $1 each from the Rainbow dealer. But these were the machines he'd already 'cherry picked'. The newest machines (like Celebrity II's and Dial A Matics) he'd already sold for a lot more than $1 to a vac shop. I got the Filter Queen 200's, the Modern Hygienes, the Jet 99's, the Rexair B and C's, the Lux 30's and 60's. Only an occasional Kirby, and a very rare Air-Way. The Rainbow dealer said he couldn't pry an Air-Way from an owners hands, because he couldn't get an Air-Way to blow dust during the demonstration. | ||
| Post# 239291 , Reply# 33 7/7/2013 at 16:04 (3,944 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Looks like hard work paid off for both of us.
You were blessed with learning repair, I was blessed with a great memory, and love of history. Repairing vacuum cleaners was not fun for me, but research was! The need to know who made it, why and where was of great importance, especially the non electrics. Somehow these early machines just came to me. But it was the strong desire to teach others that guided my life. And through the V.C.C.C. I've done that. Now through your museum you continue what John Lucia and I started.
Due to living in remote parts of PA. since July of 09, I've had no internet access to utill last September, when a hub finally opened up, and I was able to reconnect to Vacuumland. By the way, Hans just told me that you lost your partner David. I know how rough that is, I miss my Charles every day. My thoughts and prayers are with you, if you need a shoulder, I'm here. My email is Ralextaber@gmail.com. Please keep in touch. Bob Alex. | ||
| Post# 239294 , Reply# 34 7/7/2013 at 16:19 (3,944 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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Hi Alex:
David passed almost two years ago. We were together for 29 years. Austin Wilder died 8 days before David, then David passed, then David's mother passed two months later. I met my Dan a little more than a year ago - and we've been together ever since. I'm getting married in Iowa in September. Here's Dan with his 'baby' - his Miele Salsa S7 upright that I got for him. It's the only vacuum he uses, and since he cleans the house, it sure gets a workout. When I met him, he had a bagless Dirt Devil. So obviously, the Miele impressed him. To Dan, the Miele is what the Kitchen-Aid is to me. Indispensable! 
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| Post# 239339 , Reply# 35 7/8/2013 at 09:35 (3,943 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi Tom. Thanks for the info.
I have fond memories of David, and am glad you both had a long partnership. I'm also glad to know there is sonebody in your life, that helps a great deal. That's not the case with me. After I lost Charles in 06, I went into a deep depression and it was several years before I stopped hurting. I had a lot of gay friends to be there, but even now, I'm still not ready for a relationship. What I have now is a strong friendship with the guy I live with, but it's certainly not what Charles and I had.
I'm sorry that it wasn't until two weeks before he died that Charles got to meet you, Clay, Stan and the rest of the club, but at least you got to meet him. He was in awe of the Fox theater, and even though he was in a lot of pain, he had to do the full tour. My buddy and I are thinking 'road trip' a drive from PA. to San Francisco, and the St. Louis arch is on the list, so is a trip to your museum. I'm so glad you are back in my life. Here's a picture of me with my dog Felecia on my buddy's 100 acre farm. Bob Taber. 
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| Post# 239340 , Reply# 36 7/8/2013 at 09:59 (3,943 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi Tom, Remember this?
For those who were not with us in the early days of the V.C.C.C., here's a picture of the club museum. I took this picture right after the gathering in 93. It was at that meeting that I got to meet Tom, Charles Richard Lester, and a lot of other great guys. As I've mentioned before, Tom drove up with a van loaded with machines, and parts to give away. Interestingly enough, that was the last meeting at my house in Naperville, Illinois, the following year the club went back to it's birthplace, The Hoover Company, and the Hoover Historical Center. In 95, we went to Allentown, PA. to see the barn where Vac-Hunter, Bob Kautzman restores vintage machines.
That red Electrolux box is for the model LX. Tom not only gave me the box, but a complete machine. Tom, I still have that box, it's in the storage unit in Indiana. Bob Alex Taber. 
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| Post# 239367 , Reply# 37 7/8/2013 at 14:47 (3,943 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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Hey Alex:
You have always had a beautiful collection. I remember that very first convention (meeting) of the VCCC that I attended at your home. There were 12 of us, I believe. Having just come from being a Rainbow salesman at the time, I was under the impression that all the vintage cleaners were just 'dust belchers'. How wrong I was. Well, they are dust belchers (with the exception of Air-Way) but I was taught how glorious they were, when put into their perspective. I learned so much from you, David Watters, Clay Floyd, Billy Lipmann, Roger Proehl, and Mike Pupek. Twenty years has gone by since that first meeting. In that time I've owned my own vacuum business, designed an Air-Way, dealt with my best friend's suicide, had a museum built to house my collection, been on TV a lot of times, helped the engineers design some new models of vacuums, been a widow, and now am engaged to be married. I never stop learning though. Norm Brown recently visited with me at the Convention at the Vacuum Museum a few weeks ago. He brought me a huge bag of printed material (instructions, newspaper articles, etc.). Like you, I'm always learning. And I'm always happy to share what I've learned with the public. Within the last three business days, people have given the Museum a bunch of vacuums. Can't wait to restore them, and share them with fellow vacuum enthusiasts. Many young people visit the museum and I always like to send them off with a new vacuum for their collection. Something vintage, of course, so they can learn to appreciate the vintage machines for the works of industrial art they truly are. Below is a photo of the machines we've been given within the last three days. Recognize any of these models? I'm sure you know them all. Glad we're all friends again and this forum is a great place for all of us to share knowledge. 
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| Post# 239477 , Reply# 38 7/9/2013 at 11:16 (3,942 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi Tom.
I'm so glad I was able to share in providing you with knowledge of the vacuum cleaner. Like so many others, you once thought like a salesman, failing to recognize the historic value of older machines. In the early days, you were concerned with the power of the motor, and what have you. With time, you began to see the artistic side, beauty of design, and so on. Now, like me, you are interested in the history, and through the museum, can educate others. I think the breakthrough was in the hospitality suite in that hotel in North Canton, when we all toured Hoover. That first cleaning contest was awesome. We've all come a long way since those early days. I simply got the ball rolling, then with the help of John Lucia, formed a club so we could share our knowledge, you took it from there, and really put the V.C.C.C. on the map.
You mentioned a number of guys in the early club, I know about Dave Watters, but not the others, any idea where they are? With deep respect and friendship, Bob Alex Taber. 
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| Post# 239722 , Reply# 40 7/10/2013 at 18:37 (3,941 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi Hans.
I have little memory of that meeting as my mind was preocupied with my new house in San Diego, which I would move into two days after leaving Allentown.
The years prior to that, both John Lucia and I had worked our fingers to the bone getting this club off the ground and keeping it going. What a lot of peole don't know, is that I went to The Hoover Historical Center in September of 1980 as a private collector. I left as an historian, armed with a lot of pictures, and historical data on not only Hoover, and the Electric Suction Sweeper company, but the history of several non electric machines. It was Stacy Krammes who started the club when she forwarded a letter from John Lucia (asking about the history of Hoover models 150 and 700). With my responce to John's letter, a friendship was formed, and about a year later, John embarked on a cross country drive. A trip to Indiana to see me and a tour of Hoover was on his list. He and I toured Hoover together, and were like two kids in a candy store. As we were leaving the Hoover Historical Center, Stacy gave us a list of names. Fellow vacuum cleaner collectors to contact. While John and I were on the road, I looked at this list, about five names, and asked "think we should form a club?" "I doubt if anybody will be interested, but write to them and see." On that list was Craig Long, and Mike Pupek. Both are Missing in action. As for Bob Kautzman, he joined the club years later, and is now known as The Vac-Hunter. As for Craig, he deserves a separate post. Alex Taber. | ||
| Post# 239734 , Reply# 42 7/10/2013 at 20:36 (3,941 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi Kenkart.
I have strong memories of Craig, he was a lot of fun. He was supposed to attend our first meeting, but just couldn't make it. Because he never contacted us, the great question of the weekend was "what happened to Craig?" He did make it the following year, and as a form of apology brought me an Air-Way, which I think was a model 55, (pictured here). As Craig didn't have the money for a motel room, I let him stay at my house. I put him in the vacuum cleaner room, and he loved it.
No matter what brand it was, Craig could recite the instruction book. He also liked to match cars with the vacuum cleaner.Something like "the Hoover model -- came out the same year as the Ford---."Craig was also a great cook, he made a wonderful lasagna for all of us. Unfortunately, Craig was not good with money, and fell behind in his house payments. He recieved several notices from the bank, but ignored them. One day he came home to find his house locked. Everything he owned was sold. Immediately after that he left the club, and none of us have heard anything from or about him since them. Even though Craig had created his own mess, none of us ever said "I told you so!" He was child-like, and didn't think it would happen. I miss him very much. Alex Taber 
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| Post# 239737 , Reply# 43 7/10/2013 at 20:39 (3,941 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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I hate.. We all didnt know, im sure we would have been willing to help him get back on track, im sure losing his machines devastated him as that was his life, I really would love to know where he was.. | ||
| Post# 239766 , Reply# 44 7/11/2013 at 08:55 (3,940 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi Kenkart.
Once word got out that Craig was in danger of loosing his house and everything in it, we all tried to help, but Craig didn't want that. Craig was child-like in many ways, and dependant on family. I think he was overwhelmed with legal matters, and simply chose to ignore. Even his sister told him to contact the bank, to stop the forclosure before it was too late. He ignored her too!
None of us will ever know the reasons, though I do know that he fell in love with a fellow member, and when that ended, with Craig getting hurt, he simply gave up. Perhaps he just wanted to walk away. Again this is guesswork on my part. I haven't heard anything about Craig since the the early 90's. Alex Taber. | ||
| Post# 239788 , Reply# 45 7/11/2013 at 14:06 (3,940 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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From meetings to conventions.
When John Lucia and I first started this club it was merely a way to turn the useless information in our heads into vital information for the few people out there still strugling for answers.
Since John's interest was Hoover, he opted to deal with that exclusively. As for me, it was all encompasing, I liked them all Air-Way, Electrolux, Kirby and so on. My real interest however, was the non electric. In addition, I loved to write short stories, and research a myriad of topics not just the vacuum cleaner. I've already told how Stacy Krammes gave me a wealth of material to work with back in 1980, and then gave John and I our first membership. The backbone to our club was a woman who would serve the club very well in the first few years. This was my mom, Anne R. Taber. Since she'd been an executive sectetary for Yale medical school, she was well aware of writing, editing and what have you. The early newsletters were trial and error. I designed the lay-out, wrote the articles and so on, then my mom edited, typed and photo copied them. Both John and I ran a letter to the membership, and every other issue, John did a feature on Hoover. At that time, the newsletters came out every other month, and there was no cost for membership. We coasted along for a year and half, then one of our original members, Mike Pupek met me in person. During the conversation he suggested a meeting of the 5 or 6 members, and I downplayed it. "Nobody's going to travel cross country to see a few vacuum cleaners!" Mike responded with "put the question in the newsletter," I did, and the responce was "when do we all meet, and where?" The result was the first meeting at club headquarters, May 4, 5, 6, in Chesterton, Indiana. It was at this meeting where we, (minus Craig Long) set the by-laws of the club, talked about writing a book on the history of the vacuum cleaner, and so on. Immediatly after the meeting, I bought a house in Naperville, Illinois and turned a spare bedroom into the club museum. Officially however, the club headquarters was still Chesterton, Ind. My mom handled all club mail. This got a bit hairy when a few colorful people added off color comments to their letters! Like the guy who asked if he could descend my staircase in a a pink ball gown! Thank God my mon was gay friendly!! Our second meeting was held at my house, and this time Craig was there! Like all clubs, we asked for help from our membership (begged is more like it!) and ended up doing it ourselves. So much for our scouts who were to provide information from around the country!! The V.C.C.C. never shut down, but we did go on hold for a few months. Basically to recharge our batteries. Then I got a letter, and finally a phone call from Charles Richard Lester. He urged us to reactivate the club. Around the same time I got phone calls from Tom Gasko, Clay Floyd and others, they also wanted to pump new blood into the club. Result was that fantastic meeting on the first weekend of May, 1993. Because I'd just transformed my garage into the club museum and meeting room, and with the Ma and Pa motel at my corner, everything fell into place There were 12 of us! John Lucia flew in from California, Charles Richard flew from another part of California, Billy Lipman, Roger Phrol, and his partner drove from Baltimor, Tom Gasko, and Clay Floyd drove from St. Louis, Gary Wahl came from Florida, and Dom Emmet from someplace. I think Mike Pupek and Craig Long were there too. (Have I left anybody out Tom?) As Tom drove his van which was packed with give-aways, we all converged in my driveway. Machine after machine was placed on the ground, and glaring at us was my nextdoor neighbor, who didn't like any of this. That meeting was wonderful, now there were serious people ready to see that the V.C.C.C. was here to stay. At that meeting I appointed Charles Richard as editor/publisher, and I stepped back, taking my first breath since the days before the club. One afternoon I got a call from Jackie Love, P. R. person for The Hoover Company, asking if the club was interested in touring the factory? I jumped at it, and booked the first weekend of May 1994. Basically, the V.C.C.C. was returning to it's birthplace. Hoover outdid themselves! The entire club got the full VIP treatment! Factory tour, tour of the Historical Center, lunch and thanks to Mike Hays, a look at the models vault. I was the first person to see inside that vault in 1980, and only because Skip Marquadt, head of engineering let me inside. That vault was not even opened for the top Hoover brass, but it was for me! A few years later both John Lucia and I got into the vault, and in 94, the entire club. That meeting was fantastic. John Lucia presented Stacy Krammes with an outstanding achievement award, and made her an honarary member. The only down side was the bad press we got from some reporter who saw this as 'a stupid club!' He even insulted The Hoover Company! The following year, we were invited to Allentown, PA. to see the barn, and home of Bob Kautzman. As I've already mentioned that I'll move on. Up to this point we were all a total of 20 members, but we were growing. I knew it was time to bow out, get on with my new life in San Diego, and let the club fly on it's own. Tom Gasko was interested in becoming the first club president, and in so doing, took the club to hights I never dreamed of. When Mike Pupek suggested we get together I planned meeting, today the club is holding conventions. Even now I can't believe it all happened. Alex Taber. This post was last edited 07/11/2013 at 15:11 | ||
| Post# 239836 , Reply# 46 7/11/2013 at 20:47 (3,940 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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That first meeting...
Was the most exciting thing in my life up that point. It was more of a mini meet than a convention - there was no agenda, no banquets, no awards, no liquor, and just us twelve adults. Each person who was there brought something different to the table. Charles of course knew Electrolux and Kirby inside and out. Alex know all about the very early machines. David Watters knew all about the vintage pre-war uprights. Clay knew everything about Rexair. All we did all weekend long was learn. The array of instruction manuals and literature was awe inspiring. You have to remember this was before the internet. You couldn't just go on-line and find a picture of an old vacuum you were interested in. In fact, with no eBay, the vacuums I brought were gleaned from the trade in room at the Rainbow office.
Alex had one rug in the garage, One rug. I repeat that because it was a small oriental type carpet - perfect for the straight suction uprights. That rug was vacuumed probably a thousand times over the weekend. Alex had a stunning collection of the early uprights. I knew so little about them, and every one was so kind in explaining where they fell in the history of the vacuum. I came away from that meeting a thousand times more knowledgeable about vacuums than I ever was before - and I owned my own very successful vacuum shop at the time. I still have pictures of us inside the vaults at Hoover. Most people can never understand what that was like. Inside the vaults were literally one of every model of every vacuum ever made. I paid little attention to first ten aisles which contained the brand new Hoover models stored there - I went right to the back ones because that where the 'competitor' products were. To see a Model B Rexair that had been used once - to test it - then put on a shelf - was priceless. They had brand new Air-Way uprights, used just once in a cleaning test. It was awesome to see. Since there's no use in vacuuming an already clean carpet, I had the bright idea to empty the cloth bags of the two vacuums that the hotel maids found for Stan Kann. We threw dirt ALL OVER that room. I specifically remember someone using a Singer R-1 on the bedspread. No one got sick, no one died from exposure to dust. I do remember stripping back the cord on an Air-Way 88 with my teeth and plugging it into the bathroom outlet with the bare wires going into the receptacle. I knew it would run. Those were such great conventions. Once I was at the helm, my late partner David had the idea to send out applications to existing members, who were meeting other collectors through this new thing called the internet. The club grew from about 20 people to about 50 in just three years. One of the things I tried to do was continue with the tradition of giving each member in attendance a chance to ask as many questions as they needed to. Our banquet consisted of me and Hans going to the grocery store and buying all the meats, cheeses, bread, chips, and soda to feed everyone. It was still a rather intimate convention in that each person got to talk. We were all still learning from each other. Plus, we had the blessing of Stan Kann. He's the real reason we had three conventions in St. Louis. The world lost a VERY special person when he passed away. He opened his home to us every time, opened the Fox Theater to us each time, and went out of his way to TEACH us all something new about the very vintage models. | ||
| Post# 239851 , Reply# 47 7/12/2013 at 01:35 (3,939 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Thank you Tom.
Yes, the first meetings were what we would call a mini-meet today. Tom's right there was no agenda, no awards and no banquet, but we did gather at a great restaurant called Rasckles for a formal dinner on Saturday night, and if I recall correctly, the club members picked up the tab for John Lucia and I. In fact, the club did that several times over the years.
Tom, there was a reason for no liquor. At the second meeting in 86, my mom made cocktails for everybody, we also had a full bar (on my kitchen counter,) and munchies in my dining room. One of our early members got stinking drunk, and very nasty. The fur was flying and our member left in a huff! Once the dust settled, Mike Pupek says "Bob, I suggest that we not have booze at the meetings. That was the only meeting with a hissy fit. The reason for no formal agenda was that up to then, we were just vacuum cleaner buddies talking shop. We, the club, were cutting our teeth, trying out ideas and learning the ropes. However, we did have a repair demo. At the first meeting in 85, Mike Pupek did a repair on an Electrolux 1205, (see photo) and in 86, a Rexair model B, I forget the others, but Mike was the 'repair guy.' Because there was the Stardust motel on my corner, I could provide a block of rooms for everybody, and Mike and a few others were on hand to pick up people from the airport. A local rental store provided me with folding chairs, 30 cup coffee maker, projector and what have you. There was also a Dunkin Donuts at the corner (across from the Stardust, and Rasckles two blocks away. As for a presentation, John Lucia outdid himself with the talk on the Sears catalog. Imagine my suprise when I saw the first non electric they carried was The Dust-Killer, and the first electric was the Eckhardt. John knew that I had both in my collection, and wouldn't let me near his print-out till the presentation started. I agree with you, Tom, that was our best meeting! It was also the start of the clubs growth, because we finally had serious collectors who were dedicated enough to spread the word. Both you and Clay were a big part of that. If you recall we were a bit gun shy of shop owners at that time. The guy who'd had the meltdown in 86 was a shop owner, and had no interest in the collection of vacuum cleaners. The old machines in his shop window were a hook to draw people into the store to sell them a new machine. John and I wanted people who's first interest was the history of the vacuum cleaner. You, Clay, and others made suggestions of what to do, and in so doing, gave John and I the tools to improve the meetings. You are also right that because the club was word of mouth, we were still very much a grass roots group. Also, as you said, there was no internet, and until the V.C.C.C. went into cyberspace we were in the embreo stage. As I wasn't there after 95, I can't say exactly when Charles Richard Lester took us into cyberspace, but that was the first major breakthrough. For me, the greatest moment came years later. In 04, I was in contact with the club after several years away. It was a few weeks before the convention in Itasca, Illinois, and as I spoke to Ken Wagman, he said "we've been searching for you for years, the convention is in three weeks. Be here!" Once there I saw old friends like Tom, Clay and made new friends like Air-Way Charlie, and Tania. However, my fondest memory was the next morning. I asked the manager of the Holiday Inn to unlock the meeting room for me. There before me were at least a dozen tables all holding vacuum cleaners! There were tears in my eyes, as I thought of John Lucia and I leaving Hoover and my asking, "think we should form a club?" It was not ego, or swelled pride, but more a feeling that our hard work was indeed worth it, that not only had our little club gotten off the ground, but was helping people from as young as 4, to men as old as 80 live their dream. Alex Taber. 
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| Post# 239879 , Reply# 48 7/12/2013 at 10:33 (3,939 days old) by Caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut) | ||
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Hi Tom. | ||
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