Thread Number: 30205  /  Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
So I've been watching Owen Perkins videos...
[Down to Last]

Vacuumland's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate vacuumland.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 335393   10/7/2015 at 22:37 (3,094 days old) by Vacuumdude (Spokane WA)        

He collects Spencer turbine vacuum systems, soooo now I WANT ONE lol. How do they cost and how heavy, if I do get one I want one of those small ones on wheels.

Post# 335401 , Reply# 1   10/8/2015 at 02:25 (3,094 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

Used to use a Spencer Turbine portable vacuum at another gov't workplace.Replaced its motor brushes-how they got replacement-never know.During studio renovation that little monster ate all kinds of debris-you dump it and it came back for more-was a fun vacuum like a NSS M1.The machine had a polished aluminun housing-multiple fancase like a minaiture Spencer turbine-blower.A small filter was on the exhaust.Had a cloth shakedown bag you shook into the lower canister.That came off so you could dump the machine.Want one too,they are big,heavy.The motor was a REAL Lamb 10A 120V universal motor drove the Spencer compressor like a small organ blower unit.The vacuum used to be used for collecting cuttings from disc lathe recorders.Figure it was built before WW2.The building it was used in was built a year before WW2.Somewhere in it lurks the central Spencer vacuum unit.Would have LOVED to see it-don't know if its still in there-none of the building techs know where it is.There are still Spencer vacuum inlets in the halls.Cohen building in SW Wash DC.Gov't building that has VOA and Dept of Health and Human Services.Site was built in 1939-was rumored the building was used for planning during WW2.1939.

Post# 335420 , Reply# 2   10/8/2015 at 12:28 (3,094 days old) by Vacuumdude (Spokane WA)        
Cool history

I heard the sound cool, dont the Spencer cv look like the carwash central vacuums?

Post# 335430 , Reply# 3   10/8/2015 at 16:02 (3,094 days old) by adambomb (Undisclosed )        

I've used his machine. It's a lot of fun to play with! Owen is a terrific guy!!

Post# 335642 , Reply# 4   10/13/2015 at 16:45 (3,088 days old) by centralvacs1928 (Chicagoland)        

I'm glad you like my videos :) I found my newer portable Spencers (the gray 1 1/2 HP machine and the green 5 HP one) on eBay, where you can occasionally find a "good deal" on one for less than $1,000 plus shipping via truck freight (a few hundred dollars, typically). "Newer" is relative...they are both 40+ years old. Blue Spencer machines are usually less than 20 years old and their resale value is in the multiple thousands. Brand-new Spencers are significantly more than that.

You might have some luck going to equipment auctions for industrial facilities that are being closed down. The price you would pay would be much cheaper than you would see on eBay, as the eBay sellers are typically buying machines at auction and reselling them. Boeing buys a lot of portable units, and will get rid of the old ones from time to time.

To get your hands on a really old Spencer from the teens or twenties, you will have to keep an eye on Craigslist to find someone who has one in their old house that they're looking to get rid of. You might see a local pickup eBay auction, but no private residential seller would likely be willing to ship. All of my machines are 400+ pounds each. It's lots of fun trying to get one up a flight of basement stairs! I recommend at least partial disassembly.

Residential Spencer units will be single-phase, so you can run them from your home power supply. Many will be set up for 240 volts, but often can be re-wired to run on 120 volts at twice the amperage. Commercial units will almost always be three-phase, requiring a phase converter or variable frequency drive to operate. The exception is the little 1 1/2 horsepower unit I have, which uses a 120 volt motor with carbon brushes. The brushes are indeed still available, as I had to replace mine. Check out eurtonelectric.com for any weird carbon brushes for old motors. They are a tremendous resource.

Hope this answers your questions! If you're ever in Chicago, you are welcome to come and see these machines in person. They are truly machines, rather than appliances.

-Owen



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

Woops, Time to Check the Bag!!!
Either you need to change your vacuum bag or you forgot to LOG-IN?

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy