Thread Number: 37734  /  Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
Something satisfying with an old vac
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Post# 402363   12/10/2018 at 23:43 (1,934 days old) by Rivstg1 (colorado springs)        

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Is it just me, or is there something uniquely satisfying about using old or antique equipment ,especially vacuums , realizing your using something that old....and it works perfectly? I like all things ‘old’ though ...just using something before your ‘time’ is cool. I don’t feel the same way ( whether it cleans better or not is irrelevant ) using my modern vacs.

Anyone else ?


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Post# 402365 , Reply# 1   12/10/2018 at 23:55 (1,934 days old) by compactc9guy (Bathurst NB)        

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Got that right feel the same way about using my Compact or Electrolux they still work amazing i cant let em go and never will.

Post# 402375 , Reply# 2   12/11/2018 at 05:01 (1,934 days old) by kenkart ()        
Oh Yes

I do have 1 new vacuum, a James, that I really like, but for the most part I use everything vintage, All my small appliances etc.


Post# 402377 , Reply# 3   12/11/2018 at 07:05 (1,934 days old) by DaveVac (Westlake, Ohio)        
Better believe it !

I use a refrigerator from 1934 to keep drinks cold.....I wash my clothes in a
gasoline engine Maytag ringer washer from 1924 or sometimes in a 1898 washing machine that is fully manual. Of course, I run an old 1920s Apex vacuum.
I can't honestly say that the vacuum works as well as my wife's new Shark but it's
more satisfying to me. The washers DO get clothes cleaner than our new (junk)
Whirlpool. We also cook on a converted wood burning stove from 1881...but that
doesn't really count.I love the old stuff !


Post# 402378 , Reply# 4   12/11/2018 at 08:19 (1,934 days old) by Rowdy141 (United Kingdom)        

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I agree.
Vintage quality & design is part of the appeal. Restoration is rewarding in itself, feeling you've preserved something, and if it functions too, that's a bonus.

This not only applies to vacuums though; Valve Radios, Sewing Machines, Clocks, Fans...
Before you know it, your home looks like a museum.

Funny watching my son trying to use my Bakelite dial Telephone for the first time. He'd never seen a phone without a keypad before.


Post# 402379 , Reply# 5   12/11/2018 at 08:36 (1,934 days old) by crazykirbydude (Lexington, KY)        

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I love any Aerus Electrolux, especially the older ones. They were, and still are, really high quality machines. My favorite design wise has to be the famous Model 30. It's beautiful art deco styling is too much to resist. It's also a real powerhouse and it's whisper quiet.

Post# 402384 , Reply# 6   12/11/2018 at 10:16 (1,934 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        

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Yeah, when the vintage machine performs better, lasts longer and is designed to be repaired, unlike modern plasticrap vacs, there is a special feeling to using them and keeping them running.

Post# 402416 , Reply# 7   12/11/2018 at 19:56 (1,933 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

Kelton, you sure like showing off that fabulous D50 that you beat me to... :o)
I still have all the Christmas decorations that we had from the 60's also - would be nice to get time to put them out again some day. I even have the old tree in the original box.

YES, I definitely have the joy and satisfaction in using these old relics that beat most new crap in terms of longevity and performance.

My Kirby Omega (that was already ~20 years old when I bought it) is one of the originators of this feeling. It was such a good design that Kirby finds it hard to radically change. I still drive my Mom's 78 Ford that she bought new - runs great and easy to work on if needed. It was the true originator of my obsession with vintage things...
Speaking of old cars I have a '72 and '86 Olds as well, both will drive anywhere anytime. .

When I had moved back in 95, I had bought a bunch of new stuff. Most of it had gradually been replaced with vintage stuff as it had broke or just did not work well.
My small kitchen appliances were all replaced with 60-s era chromies. I have a vintage fan or two in every room, dating from 1920 to 1980. I have a wooden radio (with full rich sound) in every room as well. A whole-house transmitter allows me to play what I want to hear on them. A 1982 GE clock radio (with full sound) replaced my crappy 1997 Timex POS. I have three console stereos, all working nicely. I was listening to 60-s Christmas LPs this past weekend. I have 4 Kirby vacuums from 1945 to 2000, all work great - I rotate them as I change the bags. I need to rotate my toasters as well - I have 5 now... My dad's old 1966 Craftsman edger still has the original sparkplug, believe it or not... I can go on and on about my old stuff. My lady friend enjoys and collects classy vintage clothing from 70s to 90s. Some are even older with union names on the tags. Many then were made in the USA! In fact she has many things from the 70s-80s with perfect elastic still. I have stuff that is 5-10 years old with dried out elastic. I still wear some stuff from the 80s that the elastic is still good also. WHERE HAS THE QUALITY GONE?? Down the tubes for quick profit. I appreciate quality things that I can use nearly forever, but that is bad for company sales...

Now some of those new things I had bought when i moved (20 years old now) I had found to just been so good that I have held on to them. And I plan to always keep them. My Kenmore direct drive laundry pair is one of them. It uses water and washes really well. It is gentle for my lady's selicate stuff as well. My Lawn Boy 2-cycle Gold Series lawn mower is another keeper. I have some Canon digital cameras from 2007 or so that work great and make great pictures. Also it is big enough to hold and use with my fat fingers. They have viewfinders as well as printed manuals - beat that...

In conclusion, I prefer to shop at thrift stores, despite making a good salary. It is just too hard to buy anything new now-days... Pay a lot for an inferior item that will break or rot soon after the warranty expires. I can go on forever about loving vintage stuff. Pleasures to own, fun to use and easy to repair if needed.

"Yeah, when the vintage machine performs better, lasts longer and is designed to be repaired, unlike modern plasticrap vacs, there is a special feeling to using them and keeping them running"
Amen to that! And it often does not take much to keep them running, esp a Kirby!

"Before you know it, your home looks like a museum. "
My home is much this way already! My next house will be a true step-back in time...


Post# 402420 , Reply# 8   12/11/2018 at 20:25 (1,933 days old) by rivstg1 (colorado springs)        
vintage stuff IS cool !

rivstg1's profile picture
texaskirbyguy; man, you LIVE the old/vintage stuff!! I"m gonna HAVE to see some of that next time I"m traveling down that way! That DS50 runs sweeeett!!!!!! especially now that it has double roller brush, new bearings, and a hepa/charcoal bag !!!

davevac: wow, you live ti too!!! nice


Post# 402425 , Reply# 9   12/11/2018 at 20:54 (1,933 days old) by texaskirbyguy (Plano, TX)        

Yes, I think you will enjoy seeing my hoard of antiques and collectibles. Best part is that most everything works perfectly, unless it is in 'project form'. Hopefully you will be back down here just in time for vacuuming day again... :o)

Bad part of this 'disease' is that I am very low on space and have no good room to display everything the way I want.

The latest addition to the hoard is an old Califone 1925 DJ phonograph with three separate 12" speakers. It worked but I cleaned it all up real good and put in a new needle. I was rocking with it a few days back.


Post# 402426 , Reply# 10   12/11/2018 at 21:11 (1,933 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)        
Hey

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I love old Kirby vacuums. I f found a new love in the compact c9. It's build to last.
I picked up a 509 all original at the thrift store. I cleaned out bag lubed a couple places. I started it up and vacuumed with it. I made a video for you tube if it but idk I'll post it soon.
I completely rebuilt a 510 last year basically new everything. This vacuum sounded just as strong as my 510. Usually on older Kirby's when you turn it off you here bearings soon down. This didn't.b a 79 year old vacuum running better than new vacs. The metal fan is awesome.
People here I collect and fix vacuums older ones and they think I'm nuts. I let them try out a 500 series vacuum and there blown away.
I'll enjoy my compact I'll finish my plethora of old 500 Kirby's in due time.
I'm excited how to see my American Lincoln super vac performs.
Les


Post# 403736 , Reply# 11   1/7/2019 at 22:50 (1,906 days old) by vacuser (milford,ohio)        
love old kirbys also

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they just rock. here are some of mine.even a sweet bison.

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Post# 403738 , Reply# 12   1/7/2019 at 23:02 (1,906 days old) by Electroluxxxx (……)        

I have to completely agree! Sometimes I’ll grab a 40s hoover to clean my upstairs bedrooms, sometimes I’ll grab an old eureka f&g cleaner, A lot of the time I’ll grab an old electrolux and do weekend cleaning. My clothes are washed and dried in 2 1960s sets of maytag automatics, and I tend to love using older tools and devices to complete daily tasks weather around the house or at work. There is definitely something ever so satisfyig about using something vintage or antique. Those were the days when things were made to last and what’s amazing is that some companies didn’t expect machines to go 40+years and still be in daily use.

Post# 403742 , Reply# 13   1/7/2019 at 23:28 (1,906 days old) by rivstg1 (colorado springs)        
Electroluxxxx

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Amen to what you said about using old stuff

Post# 403746 , Reply# 14   1/7/2019 at 23:40 (1,906 days old) by compactc9guy (Bathurst NB)        

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I cant beat my Compact C9 and Electrolux ap200 for cleaning performance i love vintage vacuum the y work period


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