Thread Number: 432
Tornado Vacuums
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Post# 4085   11/16/2006 at 17:40 (6,341 days old) by electrolux-dude (Canyon, TX)        

Does Anybody remember seeing the old, all stainless steel drum, type Tornado Vacuums, the ones with the Huge Cloth bags? I can remember seeing one and using one at the school I attended back in my "early" days, I'm guessing from the late 1960's to early 1970's. If I recall correctly, they could be used as either wet or dry. I'm just wondering if there are still any of those old Tornado's around? Feel free to send pictures, as they are what I'd think to be Vintage machines. Are they indeed made by Tornado or is it a different brand? I do remember also seeing a lot of the red colored Pullman Industrial vacuums at the same time of year, along with quite a few Silver King. Anyway--Feel free to share--


Post# 4106 , Reply# 1   11/16/2006 at 22:15 (6,341 days old) by akabent (LEFT Coast)        
TORNADOS

WOW! Now that takes me back in time a bit. I DO remember those vacuums, they were big and (fairly) loud and powerful. And I thought it was kind of neat the way it would essentially separate the light dirt from the heavier dirt and place it accordingly in either the tank or the BIG cloth bag (with clip) My rememberance of these goes back to the very early 60's. I also remember the long, heavy, and very commercial-type fabric/rubber hose. Did something bring one of these monsters to mind for you?
Rick


Post# 4116 , Reply# 2   11/17/2006 at 04:03 (6,341 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

The Tornado machines are still made-Grainger sells them.Thats where I got mine-it has the yellow plastic drum instead of the SS one.It has the giant cloth bag.-It has a 15A motor.NSS made a similar external filter wet-dry vac under the "Bronco" name.I am trying to find one.they were beautiful machines.Sadly used ones are used so bad that the drums are corroded out and the motors are long worn.somewhere at home I have a Daycon supply catalog(janitorial supplier in the Wash DC area)that used to sell them-up to the 70's.Tornados are the only external filter wet-dry vacs that I know of.they are VERY efficient machines-use mine to clean up after the Shopsmiths.That external bag really traps the fine sawdust.What I would love to see for the Tornado is a cloth bag with a paper disposable inner b ag-like on the current NSS Model M1's.would be less messy.

Post# 4117 , Reply# 3   11/17/2006 at 04:07 (6,341 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

Just thought of another external filter Wet-Dry vacuum-The Cadillac "Quick-vac"They use the Cadillac blower motor for suction and a cloth external bag for the final filter.Come in 10Gal-55Gal sizes.The tornado is the same configuration.both make adaptors to fit 55Gal barrels.these have TWO motors and bags.You need a 220V line to run them.Also Tornado makes external Wet-Dry vacs that work off compressed air.You need something like a 15Hp compressor to use them.They are used for specialized waste cleanup or hazardous areas where the electric motors can't be used.Again Grainger sells those.

Post# 4205 , Reply# 4   11/18/2006 at 19:04 (6,339 days old) by electrolux-dude (Canyon, TX)        
My Experience with Tornado Vacuums

My Experience, with a Tornado Vacuum, is, as I said earlier, was when I was in Grade School, and I actually got to use it once or twice. Yes, Rick, I do remember the stiff hose, and thought it was pretty un-usual for a vacuum cleaner--I always thought all vacuum cleaners used more flexible hoses, but if I recall, the Tornado's hose almost was as hard as a stiff radiator hose used in cars. If I recall correctly, you are right again, Rick--The Tornado was quite loud! It seemed like with that bag on it, that when the vacuum was turned on, that bag would emit a cloud of dust, and the noise of the vacuum did indeed sound like "A Tornado"! It had a silver stainless steel tank on it, probably 10 or 20 gallons, or so. Since that time, which now is over 30 years ago or more, I haven't seen another vacuum like it. Toward the later years of grade school, when I was in the 9th or 10th grade, our school had moved to a newer location, the school bought wall to wall indoor/outdoor type carpet, which as I recall, was a multi-colored orange, brown, and white, they bought new vacuum cleaners, and again, I had the privelege of vacuuming with them, the new vacuum cleaners were these big upright Advance commercial uprights, the ones with the 15 or 16 inch wide heads. I still occasionally see an Advance commercial vacuum around, the Advances that our school had, were the big red & white ones, and talk about HEAVY! Anyway, I think vacuums back then 30 or 40 years ago were built a lot better than these new ones of today!

Post# 4218 , Reply# 5   11/19/2006 at 00:17 (6,339 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        

The newer Tornado I have has the stiff hose-made from clear polyurethane.and the hose is longer than other WD vacuums.

Post# 4222 , Reply# 6   11/19/2006 at 04:38 (6,339 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)        
cadillac "Quick Air" vacuums

Found a link to the Cadillac website showing their line of ext filter WD vacuums they make sizes from 10Gal to 55Gal with up to two motors.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO tolivac's LINK



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