|
Thread Number: 42403
/ Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
1997 Sharp Twin Energy EC-12TWT4B |
[Down to Last] |  |
| Post# 446044 9/15/2021 at 03:39 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
Back again with another machine deposited into the collection, this time it's a Sharp! I was so excited to find one, I wanted to add a Sharp to my collection for a long time and this was just the one! It's in really good shape considering, just the usual scuffs and scrapes (which should polish out).
It's my first and only Sharp now so far. It feels really nice using this vacuum, it feels solidly built and even without being restored it does a good job at picking up dirt.. It has that "Japanese" feel to it when you push it around, it feels like a Panasonic. I got it for $13.50 at the Habitat For Humanity ReStore on 8/7/2021. It's about what the typical price is for vacuums in my area. The highest price I've ever seen is $25. The lowest was $4.99. Without further ado, onto the pics! | ||
| Post# 446045 , Reply# 1 9/15/2021 at 03:39 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Front profile shot of the vacuum. It has a nice shape to it, it feels like a sturdy vacuum but not overly clunky and cumbersome.
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:36 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446046 , Reply# 2 9/15/2021 at 03:40 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Here's a closeup of the front fascia and bumper. The trim is hanging off but I think that just clips back onto the plastic? The scuffs are not too bad, they should come out. Also I had no idea it was 1300W! It's no wonder when I was running it off the extension cord the cord was getting hot! It might have been just a tad over the ratings limit of that cord, whoops!
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:36 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446047 , Reply# 3 9/15/2021 at 03:41 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Closeup of the cool little decal that was left on the vacuum. I believe they called these "shelf talkers" is that right? For display models that would have been used on the shelf? I cannot really vouch for it being "library quiet" but it does have a less harsh motor whine.
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:36 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446048 , Reply# 4 9/15/2021 at 03:42 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Side shot of more deeper damage and the old standby bodge of choice - duct tape.
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:36 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446049 , Reply# 5 9/15/2021 at 03:42 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Rear profile shot. Missing the tools, which is common for thrift store vacuums. I actually didn't even know it was available with onboard tools, which was a surprise seeing tool slots on it! I am not that fond of how tightly the cord loop is set up, though, I feel it just puts more strain on the cord, but I guess they were going for a seamless appearance aesthetic.
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:37 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446050 , Reply# 6 9/15/2021 at 03:43 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Shot of the model tag and serial #. I have noticed the middle letters where it says "TWT in mine, change from model to model. Not sure why, maybe some kind of plant code or they made separate models with additional features? I assumed "297" meant Feb 1997 which lines up with advertisements I found from Jan. 1997.
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:37 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446051 , Reply# 7 9/15/2021 at 03:44 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Here's a bottom shot of the vacuum. It actually does not look that bad, the brushroll is in great shape (assuming its original).
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:37 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446052 , Reply# 8 9/15/2021 at 03:45 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Here's a shot of the bag after I opened the bag door. It just kind of "spilled out" of the vacuum body. I guess the baby will be due any day now, lol
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:38 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446053 , Reply# 9 9/15/2021 at 03:45 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
"Type PU2" "PU" is right! It definitely smelled of must and funk for sure. I wonder how long that bag has lingered in there?
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:38 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446054 , Reply# 10 9/15/2021 at 03:46 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
And finally, here's a shot of the price tag. It sat in the store for over a week and a half, almost 2 weeks before I found it. I would have thought someone would snatch it right up, especially compared to the bottom end model Bissell and Dirt Devils that were around it, but I guess not. It's funny when they put out some Eureka Bravos they were gone within 2 hours of being put out on the floor, but not this. lol
Photo taken on: 8/8/2021 4:39 AM
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446055 , Reply# 11 9/15/2021 at 03:49 (952 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Here's the earliest advertisement I could find for it. It was featured in a January 5, 1997 advertisement for H.H. Gregg out of Nashville, TN. It was advertised for $149.99 in 1997 which adjusted for inflation would be $247.35, which sounds about right for a high end midrange vacuum based on how pricing is structured today.
| ||
| Post# 446056 , Reply# 12 9/15/2021 at 04:03 (952 days old) by LadyDobermann (Marshfield, Wisconsin) | ||
amogus | ||
| Post# 446057 , Reply# 13 9/15/2021 at 04:09 (952 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota) | ||
Nice.
We don't see a lot of sharps being posted to the forum. They IMO were pretty solid machines and the twin energy models had decent amount of power to them.
You may want to check on the carbon brushes. the metal sheath surrounding the brush was known to come loose from the plastic holder and eventually it would wreck the commutator. See about 1:35 in the video below for more detail on this. ?t=95 | ||
Post# 446078 , Reply# 14 9/15/2021 at 15:01 (951 days old) by bagintheback  (Flagstaff, Arizona) |
||
Isn't it crazy how these now fit in the "vintage" territory?
I definitely understand what you mean by the "Japanese feeling". The Panasonic and Sharps from this time were so smooth. The motors and wheels were quiet and even though they didn't cost much it felt high quality. Tacony machines are basically the same design but are heavy and overbuilt imo. Congrats on your find! | ||
| Post# 446082 , Reply# 15 9/15/2021 at 15:27 (951 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah) | ||
Nice | ||
| Post# 446086 , Reply# 16 9/15/2021 at 17:56 (951 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
Thanks for the advice, Blackheart. I will keep that in mind when I work on it and check that part out.
Yes, sad to think that 1997 was over 20 years ago now. Feels like just 10. Yeah 1300W and 12 amps is pretty hefty, this was around the time vacuums were having "motor wars" at who had the biggest motor and best power, a lot of times they were just screamers and had more bark than bite. I think Sharp did this best, and found out how to make a powerful vacuum that didn't sound like you were on the taxiway of LAX. haha | ||
| Post# 446106 , Reply# 17 9/16/2021 at 04:03 (951 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA) | ||
 | ||
| Post# 446134 , Reply# 19 9/17/2021 at 02:51 (950 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
MadMan
I do that enough shaving, I didn't know they made razors too. haha kirbyklekter Thanks for sharing that tidbit of information, it makes sense now when you put it in that context. It should be an easy job. Just find the missing tools and address the furniture guard. I did a test of it on my basement (I only have low pile down there) and it ran really nicely and didn't seem like it was laboring or had any odd noises. The belt even seemed good, no lumpy feel to the brushroll rotating or like the belt was stalling. I didn't change the bag so it gave off a nice musty aroma while testing, I had to cover my nose with a rag. lol | ||
| Post# 446154 , Reply# 20 9/17/2021 at 20:04 (949 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA) | ||
I remember seeing those in the Good Housekeeping magazine when they reviewed vacuums. They do seem well built, never seen one here that I remember though. I guess these were mostly sold in vacuum shops?
On that tight wound cord, I notice most Panasonic made vacuums are set up that way too with the cord hooks close together. It seems like it takes more time to wrap the cord, because of so many more loops needed. From what I heard, they did this to minimize having to stoop or bend to wrap the cord on the lower hook, since it's up higher on the machine. Hopefully you can find the tools easily. Looks like it probably had a wide dusting/fabric combo tool, and the wand would store on the left rear with one of those long crevice tools that stores upside down inside it? Similar again to Panasonic. | ||
| Post# 446166 , Reply# 21 9/18/2021 at 01:58 (949 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
|
I found a photo online of another Twin Energy model - not sure if mine would have been equipped the same way - but the tools look like they were used across all model ranges.
View Full Size
| ||
| Post# 446175 , Reply# 22 9/18/2021 at 05:24 (949 days old) by Blackheart (North Dakota) | ||
|
Onboard tools
Sorry for the low resolution on these I took the photo as part of a spread of all the parts I brought home that day, and the machine they're on is boxed up offsite. The best bet is probably to find a vacuum shop that keeps older parts around. That's how I scored these.
View Full Size
| ||
| Forum Index: | 
| Other Forums: |
|
|
|
|
|
Comes to the Rescue!
;){kind=link}
;){kind=link}