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Thread Number: 44224
/ Tag: Recent Vacuum Cleaners from past 20 years
David Oreck |
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Post# 460416 2/17/2023 at 21:36 by Vinvac  (Dubuque IA) |
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David Oreck has passed away at age 99. Many folks here don’t like the Oreck Vacuum but I have to say that David truly believed in his product.
He stood behind the product and knew how to market it. I have to say I have a model XL21 and I believe it cleans very well. It is easy to use. I have the Buster B that went with that model and find it to be a great little vacuum as well. However you feel, the man was a legend in the vacuum world and sold millions of his machines.
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| Post# 460419 , Reply# 1 2/17/2023 at 23:43 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
I agree, he was a genius. Not only through marketing but also his products as well. I once had a love-hate relationship with Oreck where at first I loved their vacuums, then I didn't like them as much as I used to, but now I can say that I love them again. I think their XL21 is a good vacuum, I have two of those along with a Platinum model. I also think their classic vacuums are not bad machines for what they are. Sure they're screamers and not the super best at deep cleaning but I like them for what they are because they're simple to use, easy to fix or maintain, and assembled here in the US. And I think their dual motor 14T and 18T commercial uprights that they had licensed from another company was not only their best Orecks in my opinion but also one of the best vacuums ever sold through my experience, I wished they still sold those machines.
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| Post# 460420 , Reply# 2 2/18/2023 at 07:17 by Blackheart (North Dakota) | ||
oh wow.
Not many live to the age of 99 we should all be so lucky.
While some of their vacuums were certainly divisive in the collector community the original style 4 amp machine was respectable, decent performance in a very simple and light package. We later had more powerful machines like the 21 (and all of it's offshoots), and the magnesium both of which are pretty good machines. Clearly his real strength was marketing. Who hasn't seen one of the ads for their 8 lb xl. I remember hearing about these risk free trials and really wanted my parents to take the "Oreck challenge" cause the machine looked so amazing on tv. | ||
| Post# 460422 , Reply# 3 2/18/2023 at 12:47 by wstonehockertv (North Carolina) | ||
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David Oreck, a true legend. I'm glad he made it to 99. He almost reminds of Billy Mays in a way. At least we still have James Dyson, even though Dysons are very overrated and overpriced machines that don't deep clean well. | ||
| Post# 460424 , Reply# 4 2/18/2023 at 13:17 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
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Personally, I'd take an Oreck over a Dyson. Even though I think James is also a genius in terms of marketing and coming up with a no loss of suction technology, Orecks are more about function. That's why I like them better. This is probably my favorite comparison video on YouTube between a Oreck and a Dyson.
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| Post# 460433 , Reply# 5 2/18/2023 at 22:34 by Lesinutah (Utah) | ||
Im | ||
| Post# 460435 , Reply# 6 2/18/2023 at 23:40 by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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| Post# 460444 , Reply# 7 2/19/2023 at 13:18 by human (Pines of Carolina) | ||
Yeah, I had no idea he was still living. He had a good run for sure.
I bought an OreckXL upright at a thrift shop a few years ago for $2 and fixed it up, but I was never all that impressed with it. I also have a couple of Oreck BB's in my collection and they're great for vacuuming out the car and other small tasks. I should run one of them in his honor this afternoon. | ||
| Post# 460448 , Reply# 8 2/19/2023 at 18:17 by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada) | ||
May he rest in peace.
I still would like to know if he invented the Oreck-style lightweight vacuum, or if he bought the rights to the design from the German company McDonald Electric. It would be interesting to actually figure out who was first to come up with the idea: single small sideways motor that blows the dirt up a hollow handle and into a large front-mounted bag. | ||
| Post# 460480 , Reply# 9 2/20/2023 at 16:15 by Kirbyg6 (York) | ||
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| Post# 460490 , Reply# 11 2/20/2023 at 19:27 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
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| Post# 460497 , Reply# 12 2/21/2023 at 06:52 by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada) | ||
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Post# 460499 , Reply# 13 2/21/2023 at 09:36 by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640) |
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99 IS awsome! | ||
| Post# 460533 , Reply# 14 2/22/2023 at 09:23 by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
RCA Whirlpool designed the 8 pound machine for Sears (1963). Oreck was a salesman for RCA Whirlpool. The machine did not sell well for Sears, so they discontinued it. Oreck sold janitorial supply houses on the machine, but even then it didn't sell well enough for Whirlpool. Oreck went to McDonald Electric for the CVR 4000 (which broke easily), then he opened his own factory to make his copy which was "The Oreck".
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Post# 460572 , Reply# 15 2/23/2023 at 08:30 by kloveland (Tulsa) |
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I know other collectors say that David Oreck took or stole the lightweight upright design from Whirlpool. Other vacuum companies have done the same thing or similar, right? Didn't Tacony take their original upright design from Panasonic? I think even Dyson did something similar.
I was bummed to hear this because the 17th was my birthday. I looked up David Oreck and found out he served in WII. Which is more than I can say for most people. David did have a good product. I have a few Orecks in my collection and my grandmother, mother and sister both have one as well. | ||
| Post# 460579 , Reply# 16 2/23/2023 at 09:49 by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada) | ||
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No matter who came up with concept first, it really is a great step in the development of carpet cleaning upright cleaners!
I wish Miele would come up with an Oreck clone….adding their expertise in sound suppression and excellent filtration. Maybe even two motors so the brush roll could be shut off for bare floors. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but this would make a great companion vac to their suction-only canisters! I really think these simple Oreck lightweight uprights are a great alternative to the heavier, bulkier, more complicated uprights on the market. | ||
| Post# 460587 , Reply# 17 2/23/2023 at 13:17 by OldCrankman (Lawrenceburg, Indiana) | ||
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Dont be sad hes gone. Be happy that it happened. | ||
| Post# 460610 , Reply# 18 2/23/2023 at 19:32 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
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Bryan, Sebo already came out with a lightweight bagged upright. Both in corded and cordless. I think that's as close as you're going to get for your wish because Sebo does have the same German companies who makes some parts for Miele such as cords, motors, accessories, etc. So they're kind of like sister brands almost. But unlike Sebo, Miele likes to make how their vacuums look and what consumers would want to have out of a vacuum. Whether it's bagless, cordless, robotic, etc. Sebo is more about function similar to Oreck. I don't think Miele will ever make a bagged lightweight direct air upright. Even if they did, I think it'd never be a success similar to their Art models. Because unfortunately they're an outdated design in my opinion. They lack having attachments on-board, they're not sealed systems, the brushroll doesn't shut off, etc. I know these are the complaints I hear whenever I'd read reviews online about Orecks or other machines that are similar to them, myself included. You can have a Miele canister with one yes. But I do know they can take up more closet space, most consumers would grow tired of switching over to a canister, there's more maintenance required, etc. Personally, I'd rather use something a few more pounds heavier like a Sebo Felix if I wanted a lighter weight upright. Or at least I'd spend a little extra to get a Miele canister with a powerhead that will definitely clean better on carpets.
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| Post# 460616 , Reply# 19 2/23/2023 at 22:13 by repairman (Woodridge, IL) | ||
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So what was the first Whirlpool lightweight upright? The CVR1000? Also, if the design failed for Whirlpool, why were they making the unit in the video below in the 70's? CLICK HERE TO GO TO repairman's LINK | ||
| Post# 460619 , Reply# 20 2/24/2023 at 06:53 by eurekaprince (Montreal, Canada) | ||
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Thanks for that reply Alex. 😊
I guess I have been very very happy with my Hoover Platinum Lightweight bagged upright…such a great deep carpet cleaner and such a pleasure to use. Can’t figure out why TTI discontinued it. Consumer Reports gave it a higher rating for deep carpet cleaning than any Oreck (excellent)….probably due to the segregated air channels in the “WindTunnel” brush roll chamber. | ||
| Post# 460644 , Reply# 21 2/24/2023 at 15:33 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
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I did liked that Platinum, I sold the Royal version before when I was working at a vacuum store. I'm pretty sure they got rid of them for a couple of reasons, the handle had problems with the build quality and reliability of the sensors, and marketing. Hoover did tried to re-enter the market with their ONEPWR cordless model but that didn't sell too well. I honestly don't trust Consumer Reports, I know they've been sued a couple times for their falsifying testing and they really don't know what they're talking about. Especially with vacuums. Recently they gave a Maytag Commercial top load washer a "poor" rating which I have no idea where they came up with that result because there's online videos from YouTubers like Lorain Furniture that showed how excellent the washer was. Or another example is this video from CR about their pick for the best vacuum back in 2008 and there were LOTS of machines in the background that would've easily beat their best pick.
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| Post# 460683 , Reply# 22 2/25/2023 at 17:32 by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana) | ||
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Love him or hate him or his vacs, you can't deny the man was a damn good salesman. He was old school and knew how to carry the pitch. I never got tired of watching his commercials and how he demonstrated the vacuums. Many seniors and the elderly trusted him and his vacuums and they sold so well to that market, plus the hotel and light industrial market as well for businesses with low pile carpet. They also are dead simple to repair and the entire vacuum can be disassembled with one Philips screwdriver and fixed with virtually no experience. Great vacuums to learn repair on. Much respect to him and these vacuums for what they do and what he did. [salute]
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| Post# 460685 , Reply# 23 2/25/2023 at 19:06 by Eureka1998 (New York ) | ||
RIP David Oreck
I was honestly incredibly saddened to hear this. Him and his infomercials were such an ingrained part of my childhood, and his vacuums were incredibly good for what they were capable of. And like others here said he stood by his product and believed in it till the very end. Whether it was the XL or the XL 21. And not only that, but serving his country in the Army Air Forces in WWII, hes an absolute hero, prayers for him and his family. RIP David Oreck
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| Post# 460688 , Reply# 24 2/25/2023 at 22:19 by panasonicvac (Northern Utah) | ||
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Post# 460984 , Reply# 25 3/5/2023 at 17:36 by bagintheback (Flagstaff, Arizona) |
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I signed into vacuumland for the first time in awhile after seeing the news. Recently had a death in the family and I thought to check if David Oreck was still alive. This is definitely sad. As a younger collector growing up in the early 2000s he was a big part of the contemporary vacuum market and I loved watching him. I always liked Orecks. I begged my family for one for Christmas and got a new Classic in 2003. It was our “daily driver” for probably 8 years. The 4amps are so loud. The older 3amp and newer XL21 variants don’t scream as much. If they were a tad quieter I’d have almost no complaints.
I remember when all us of were skeptical of the Hoover and Royal TTI buyouts, but they’ve treated us well. TTI Orecks are basically the same as they were before the buyout as well. I’m glad Oreck still lives, even with the old man gone. Rest in peace | ||
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