Another one off the list...

I've been wanting an Ell Dee(Birtman) since I was about 10, so I got this one about two weeks ago and have put a tremendous amount of work into it.

The front bearing was totally stuck(but works great now), and the rear one was wrecked, so I took a bearing from a tin can style motor, cut out part of the bearing plate to act as a spacer, and jammed a piece of metal in the back of the housing to help hold it in place. It runs great now! The whole vac was repainted on top of the old wrinkled paint, with a near perfect match. Not a perfect job, but it is miles better than the corroded heap it was. The original Ell Dee badge was long gone, so I painted a Royal type badge to match the vac. One of the brush bearings was incredibly pitted and frozen, so modified that end of the roller to use an Elite roller brush bearing. Now I just need to finish up on the bag repair, and repaint the handle pole.

This thing definitely scared the crap out of some young kids back in the day lol, it had to be one of the most imposing vacuums I have ever seen.

How is the middle wheel assembly supposed to go together? If I tighten the bolts the wheels won't turn, if I leave them a little bit more loose then pushing the vac makes the wheels undo the bolts.

Photos... < > Photo 1 of 2 View Full Size


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Post# 452590 5/14/2022 at 13:49 (712 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)
Checkrate/Likes 2 I've been wanting an Ell Dee(Birtman) since I was about 10, so I got this one about two weeks ago and have put a tremendous amount of work into it. The front bearing was totally stuck(but works great now), and the rear one was wrecked, so I took a bearing from a tin can style motor, cut out part of the bearing plate to act as a spacer, and jammed a piece of metal in the back of the housing to help hold it in place. It runs great now! The whole vac was repainted on top of the old wrinkled paint, with a near perfect match. Not a perfect job, but it is miles better than the corroded heap it was. The original Ell Dee badge was long gone, so I painted a Royal type badge to match the vac. One of the brush bearings was incredibly pitted and frozen, so modified that end of the roller to use an Elite roller brush bearing. Now I just need to finish up on the bag repair, and repaint the handle pole. This thing definitely scared the crap out of some young kids back in the day lol, it had to be one of the most imposing vacuums I have ever seen. How is the middle wheel assembly supposed to go together? If I tighten the bolts the wheels won't turn, if I leave them a little bit more loose then pushing the vac makes the wheels undo the bolts. Photos... < > Photo 1 of 2 View Full Size

Post# 452601 , Reply# 1 5/14/2022 at 18:40 (711 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)
Checkrate/Likes 2 I coated the part of the handle that touches the bag clip in black tape so it doesn't wear through a new paint job(also, an excuse to not get black paint lol). The light trim is partially glued on as it fell apart during reassembly, but at least it is there. It runs really well! Photos... < > Photo 1 of 4 View Full Size

Post# 452602 , Reply# 2 5/14/2022 at 18:48 (711 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)
Checkrate/Likes 2 View Full Size

Post# 452605 , Reply# 3 5/14/2022 at 19:25 (711 days old) by kirbyklekter (Concord,Ca.)
Checkrate/Likes *Klaatu barada nikto* I would be thinking along those lines if I saw a vacuum like yours as a kid! Glad you have finally acquired something you've been after for so long, it's a great feeling,enjoy!

Post# 452616 , Reply# 4 5/14/2022 at 22:27 (711 days old) by bikerray (Middle Earth)
Checkrate/Likes Looks like the bag is corduroy

Post# 452636 , Reply# 5 5/15/2022 at 15:25 (711 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)
Checkrate/Likes If this came before Kirby started bulking up their cleaners, and as well as long before Bison - I think we know where the inspiration came from!

Post# 452649 , Reply# 6 5/15/2022 at 22:35 (710 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)
Checkrate/Likes The wheel bolts are likely missing a spacer that the bolts can clamp down on, instead of clamping down on the wheels.

Post# 452662 , Reply# 7 5/16/2022 at 13:09 (710 days old) by Hoover300 (Kentucky)
Checkrate/Likes *Thanks all!* BikerRay - that is just the pattern on the bag. It says on the inside what fabric it is, I forget what it said but it is very soft, like a good pair of sweatpants. Husky - It certainly could be the inspiration for that! I think it was made right after the war, as the plated blueish ones came later on and the metal is not as refined under the paint. Madman - I fixed the wheels. You were right, it ended up needing a couple washers and nuts.