Thread Number: 40632
/ Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
Going to vac shops as a kid? |
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Post# 431658   9/11/2020 at 23:24 (1,314 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)   |   | |
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Did your parents let you go to vac shops as a kid? I remember when I was little there were two main vac shops here. My mom took me to one because she wanted some extra wands and a floor brush for her vacuum. The owner there was really nice, and I remember him showing me a Sanyo Transformax upright that they sold which I was fascinated by. He also gave me a Riccar and a Beam central vac brochure (both of which I still have).
The other vacuum store here I remember going to once when we needed a new switch for my mom's Concept One. My dad took me, but he wouldn't let me look at anything in there. (I think the owner there was a bit less friendly, but I don't really recall.) I remember seeing one other sign for a vacuum shop here but we never went to that one. My mom would let me look in the vacuum aisle at Kmart when we went. But strangely I have very few memories of the Sears vacuum department over the years, until I started driving and going on my own. I'm guessing either there was a period of time I lost interest or my parents just didn't want to waste time going in that department. I do also have a brochure or two from there. (Most of the vacuum memories I have are from the old Sears appliance store, not the new larger dept store in the mall). Except the night we went to buy my mom's Kenmore Whispertone canister at the new mall store. One other cleaning supply store here sold Sanitaire vacuums. I remember telling the person working there that they looked like Eurekas and she said they were indeed made by them. She also gave me a brochure and I still have it too. |
Post# 431675 , Reply# 2   9/12/2020 at 11:50 (1,313 days old) by Oreck_XL (Brooklyn, New York 11211)   |   | |
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I remember several different shops as a kid. I was always drawn to the refurbished Kirby 500 series machines, buffed so shiny they looked like mirrors - done up usually in Tradition blue trim (sometimes red) and wrapped in a clear plastic bag to keep the shine.
My ONLY encounter with an Electrolux model V happened at an Electrolux dealer in Valley Stream, New York. It was a dark, dimly lit place and the owner smoked liked a chimney also. IIRC he also had a cat. I remember seeing the V in the window, along with other vintage luxes. I don't know why, but I didn't ask at the time if it was for sale. I probably would've been told "no." |
Post# 431684 , Reply# 4   9/12/2020 at 15:09 (1,313 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
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I don't really remember going to vacuum shops as a kid. If we walked through the vacuum department of a chain store, we didn't linger. I think Dad generally bought appliances at places like Sears or Kmart, depending on what it was. He was a HUGE Sears fan. He traveled in his job and did a lot of recreational shopping in the evenings, which I guess was better than going to bars.
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Post# 431731 , Reply# 6   9/13/2020 at 08:47 (1,312 days old) by DetroitDirtbag (Bottom of the Bag)   |   | |
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Post# 431931 , Reply# 8   9/16/2020 at 17:27 (1,309 days old) by EurekaFanSquid (Sacramento, California)   |   | |
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Post# 431941 , Reply# 9   9/16/2020 at 21:44 (1,309 days old) by ridgidwd0670 (se wood co ohio)   |   | |
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Post# 431998 , Reply# 10   9/17/2020 at 17:45 (1,308 days old) by anthony (leeds uk)   |   | |
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but i do remember back in the 70s as a service engineer being surrounded by them [new and old ]at the local department store [UPTONS]two days a week i would be sent to spend the day in the cellar of the building with lots of machines that had come back to the shop faulty .I would spend my day repairing them ready to go back on sale .In one corner there would be lots of old machines that had been traded in for new ones just waiting to be disposed of .I asked the manager what was their fate .he told me they were all off to the local tip and if i wanted anything just help yourself which of course i did
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Post# 432001 , Reply# 11   9/17/2020 at 20:29 (1,308 days old) by Thevacomaticiec (Bathurst New Brunswick Canada )   |   | |
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I recall always having a look in Sears at all the vacuums there and some times trying to take the canister fora spin hehehe .
Then a friend of mine had a trifth store so i had tons of time to check out the vacuums and take em o na play vacuum in the spare room and also try em out at home and deal and trade prices was good i lovvvvvvvvvvvvved it !!!! Was so fun to go to the second hand store and try out all the vacuums and clean the spare room hehe the front desk girl didnt seem to mind as i told her ihada few machine at home and id pay cash if i wanted to take one home she gave mea good price hehe sadly it closed down ... |