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Thread Number: 5115
Vintage Central Vacuums |
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| Post# 57100 12/28/2008 at 13:01 (5,865 days old) by dirtfinder1 () | ||
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Just curious but does anyone on here collect or have a few different vintage central vacuum cleaner systems. I know they started making them as early as the 1920's but it doesn't seem anyone ever discusses them? | ||
| Post# 57110 , Reply# 1 12/28/2008 at 13:59 (5,865 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
Good question, ive been meaning to ask the same thing. Does anyone have any old literature, pics, ect you could post? I remember several neighbors having Beam Central Vac in their homes in the early 1970s,,,evidently its what was sold in the area at the time. I remember one neighbor having a Sears Kenmore Central Vac, where the wall inlets had a little silver/metal foil like pad where you had to touch to turn the vac system on and off. The long hose had a cord with straps to power the PN, which was also an early 70s Kenmore,,im pretty sure the hose,PN, and attachments were all white, and the attachments came in a little plastic carrier, (that looked like the top of their cannister vacs of the time,,had a handle on it the same as the handle of their cannisters). The attachements all tucked into their place a certain way in the carrier. The PN had its own built in non detachable wand, and the attachment kit came with its own chrome wands. Have always wondered if this was their (Kenmore's) first version of a Central Vac System,,,would have been around 1971-72. Anyone know for sure? | ||
Post# 57124 , Reply# 2 12/28/2008 at 15:17 (5,865 days old) by compactelectra  (Palm Springs) |
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I am a Central Vac Fan | ||
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Post# 57125 , Reply# 3 12/28/2008 at 15:19 (5,865 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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I have a couple of sets | ||
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Post# 57126 , Reply# 4 12/28/2008 at 15:20 (5,865 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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One Last One | ||
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Post# 57127 , Reply# 5 12/28/2008 at 15:23 (5,865 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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Here is a shot | ||
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Post# 57133 , Reply# 6 12/28/2008 at 18:18 (5,865 days old) by dial-a-nap (Omaha - the home of the TV Dinner) |
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"Greg Nunn now has the Com Vac" ...and he's going to make Terry clean with it real soon! ;-) That Filtex electric power nozzle looks just like the Oreck version you have, Fred. It was also available for a backpack vacuum (Lil' Hummer) about ten years ago. I had it but it was horrid on commercial carpet - sucked itself to the floor and stayed until you turned off the vacuum. Plush carpets were a lot better. | ||
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Post# 57134 , Reply# 7 12/28/2008 at 18:25 (5,865 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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Actually
That is an Oreck power nozzle. Can you believe how long they have been in production? I just got that power nozzle from Hesco. Probably some left over stock. The metal Filtex tools were the only ones Filtex made. Otherwise, they got accessories from other manufacturers. I remember buying my first Filtex unit at the address on Divison street above. BTW - better get Terry to work right away! We'll be there with the white gloves on Wednesday. Fred | ||
| Post# 57135 , Reply# 8 12/28/2008 at 18:45 (5,865 days old) by luxg () | ||
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White glove ready Fred, you know Greg is always ready!! Can't wait to see you. | ||
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Post# 57139 , Reply# 10 12/28/2008 at 19:04 (5,865 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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I Was Going To Mention | ||
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Post# 57140 , Reply# 11 12/28/2008 at 19:14 (5,865 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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Here's A Picture Of Andy | ||
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Post# 57141 , Reply# 12 12/28/2008 at 19:19 (5,865 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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I Just Bought a New Hose | ||
| Post# 57167 , Reply# 13 12/29/2008 at 00:20 (5,865 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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Thanks so much for scanning these pics,,,how cool! I love the remote control for the hose,,haha, those were the days! Do they still make the inlets with the lights and push button? Wow, i would sure love to have a set of Filtex tools for my Central System! I just replaced a 20yr old Beam Central Vac, with a new Honeywell,,,the new Honeywell isnt as quiet as the Beam, but is OK. Also got a Vac Pan, and a new Chrome Beam style inlet(for a new room addition ive built on the back of the house.) Andy, or anyone that knows,,on Central Vac Inlets,,there is a mounting plate that goes on the back of the inlet, attached at the wall stud, that holds the PVC tubing in back of the drywall,, and the inlet is installed at the front of the drywall, and the 2 then screw in together,so that the inlet is flush to thew wall,,is that right? I think my contractor did not install the inlets correctly,,darn it! May have to rip out and replace some drywall, but hate to, if not required,,,please advise! Thank you! | ||
| Post# 57168 , Reply# 14 12/29/2008 at 00:23 (5,865 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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| Post# 57174 , Reply# 15 12/29/2008 at 07:41 (5,864 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk) | ||
Hi: Actually central vacs go back to about 1904 when BVC (British Vacuum Cleaner Corp - later called Goblin) started to produce them in England. We have a number of homes here in Moose Jaw that had "Stationary Cleaners" in them when they were built in 1912. The biggest difference is that usually they only used a 15' hose and had more outlets in the home. Personally I find that alot easier to use than the 30' ones now in use. I'm including a picture of my 1930's Goblin Stationary Cleaner. Incidentally Brian - I install central vacs and you are correct. The mounting plate goes behind the gyprock and the valve infront. If its a new installation the plate is hooked to a stud. In an existing home it is often not hooked to anything but the valve as you would have to do gyprock work otherwise. As well they should always be connected by a short 90 elbow. This is the ONLY place short 90's should ever be used as it allows any larger objects to be trapped where they can be removed. If it passes through the short 90 it will have no problem passing through the rest of the sweep 90's. 
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Post# 57205 , Reply# 16 12/29/2008 at 20:15 (5,864 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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Brian
Indeed, the Filtex Company started by a woman in LA in the 30's I believe, was the predecessor to the Filtex Central Vacuum Company. The only thing that was left were the tools. Thank goodness, they are great. When I went into the distributors office in LA in 1980 to buy a unit for the new house, he still had a banner with the old portable unit on the wall. Interesting history.
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Post# 57206 , Reply# 17 12/29/2008 at 20:22 (5,864 days old) by compactelectra (Palm Springs) |
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Light and PushButton Inlets
Those were discontinued about 1978. They required special relays and wiring. They were neat. I had a set in Chicago. My inlets shown above are about the same, but without the buttons and lights. You can get them from www.builtinvacuum.com... | ||
| Post# 57209 , Reply# 18 12/29/2008 at 20:34 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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The Spencer Turbine Cleaner Here is the first brochure for the Spencer Turbine Company. This would be in the 19-teens, since the motor units were still vertical. More to come tomorrow. 
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| Post# 57210 , Reply# 19 12/29/2008 at 20:36 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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Look at how big those units are! 
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| Post# 57211 , Reply# 20 12/29/2008 at 20:42 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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pg 3 
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| Post# 57212 , Reply# 21 12/29/2008 at 20:43 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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pg4 
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| Post# 57213 , Reply# 22 12/29/2008 at 20:44 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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note the two different dirt collection pans 
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| Post# 57215 , Reply# 23 12/29/2008 at 20:45 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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pg6 
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| Post# 57216 , Reply# 24 12/29/2008 at 20:45 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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inlets 
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| Post# 57217 , Reply# 25 12/29/2008 at 20:46 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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in use. I always thought that swivel joint set up looked so ackward to use. 
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| Post# 57218 , Reply# 26 12/29/2008 at 20:48 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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Spencer's had "wall brushes" in addition to the floor brushes. 
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| Post# 57220 , Reply# 27 12/29/2008 at 20:53 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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dusting tools 
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| Post# 57221 , Reply# 28 12/29/2008 at 20:53 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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cleaning the stairs 
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| Post# 57222 , Reply# 29 12/29/2008 at 20:54 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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Tool set 
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| Post# 57223 , Reply# 30 12/29/2008 at 20:55 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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pg14 
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| Post# 57224 , Reply# 31 12/29/2008 at 20:55 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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pg 15 
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| Post# 57225 , Reply# 32 12/29/2008 at 20:56 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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pg 16 
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| Post# 57226 , Reply# 33 12/29/2008 at 20:58 (5,864 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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I have another Spencer brochure I will upload tomorrow, as well as brochures for the Sturtevant and Rumsey central systems. Doug, I've never seen that Goblin before. What's the suction like compared to a regular canister cleaner? | ||
| Post# 57228 , Reply# 34 12/29/2008 at 21:18 (5,864 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada) | ||
Spencer is also justly famous for it's ORGO-BLO series of pipe organ blower units. The multiple stage turbines make it possible to tap wind pressures from 3" up through 50" and 100" for the large installations. My friend Rich in Syracuse has a 'small' 30" Orgo-blo in his basement; it has three 30" turbine wheels. My Kinetic blower has two 24" wheels for 10" pressure at 500 rpm.
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| Post# 57279 , Reply# 35 12/30/2008 at 19:33 (5,863 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk) | ||
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Hi Andy: The goblin (model T-2 incidentally) has about twice the suction of a cannister of the time (which isnt saying alot). Wish I could find the rest of the parts but thats all I got with it. The guy that had it was using it as a shop vac and had no idea that it was actually a central (Hence the ugly yellow dolly under it). Excellent brochure incidentally. Love it and I look forward to seeing the rest. Doug | ||
| Post# 57284 , Reply# 36 12/30/2008 at 19:58 (5,863 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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| Post# 57287 , Reply# 37 12/30/2008 at 20:07 (5,863 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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| Post# 57299 , Reply# 39 12/30/2008 at 23:24 (5,863 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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Thank you for that link,,thats excellent. I coulda swore i heard or read once that Titanic, and its sister Olympic were equipped with the pnumatic (sp?) vacuum tubes, to send messages back and fourth across the ship, and this system was also used to power the central vacuum cleaning system on board. This could all be false too,,,as it could be a different ship entirely,,not sure. | ||
| Post# 57392 , Reply# 41 1/1/2009 at 17:24 (5,861 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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Right, the household type central vacs are only meant for one inlet to be open at a time, or else there would be too much suction loss. The commercial, or industrial units are much larger, and do have the power to supply several open inlets at once. Notice that one Spencer unit that was 50 HP! I remember reading where there was a large old theatre somewhere that had such a large central vac unit that when it was turned on, the whole building rumbled like thunder! | ||
| Post# 57393 , Reply# 42 1/1/2009 at 17:27 (5,861 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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| Post# 57394 , Reply# 43 1/1/2009 at 17:30 (5,861 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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CompactElectra,, | ||
| Post# 57439 , Reply# 46 1/2/2009 at 21:09 (5,860 days old) by swingette () | ||
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... CLICK HERE TO GO TO swingette's LINK | ||
| Post# 57450 , Reply# 47 1/2/2009 at 23:52 (5,860 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
Wow, Jack, and Brett
Thanks for that patent info. That's an eye-opener. Hoover was really smart in anchoring that patent against their competition. It helped, too, that the individual vacuum became popular at a time when the price point was more affordable than a built-in plant. I have some ARCO-WAND pamphlets that I'll dig up, so we can continue the thread about built-in systems. Thanks for the great patent research. John L.
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| Post# 57541 , Reply# 49 1/3/2009 at 21:44 (5,859 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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Spencer Systems | ||
| Post# 57542 , Reply# 50 1/3/2009 at 21:45 (5,859 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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Spencer - next | ||
| Post# 57543 , Reply# 51 1/3/2009 at 21:46 (5,859 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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Spencer - more | ||
| Post# 57544 , Reply# 52 1/3/2009 at 21:47 (5,859 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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still more | ||
| Post# 57545 , Reply# 53 1/3/2009 at 21:48 (5,859 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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and on - | ||
| Post# 57546 , Reply# 54 1/3/2009 at 21:49 (5,859 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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and forward - | ||
| Post# 57547 , Reply# 55 1/3/2009 at 21:49 (5,859 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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getting toward the end - | ||
| Post# 57548 , Reply# 56 1/3/2009 at 21:50 (5,859 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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last page | ||
| Post# 57557 , Reply# 58 1/3/2009 at 22:34 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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Title Title page 
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| Post# 57558 , Reply# 59 1/3/2009 at 22:34 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57559 , Reply# 60 1/3/2009 at 22:35 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57560 , Reply# 61 1/3/2009 at 22:37 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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The triple unit pictured here is for the building in the previous post. For reference, we can estimate that the motor units were around eight feet tall. In other words, freakin huge! 
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| Post# 57561 , Reply# 62 1/3/2009 at 22:38 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57562 , Reply# 63 1/3/2009 at 22:39 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57563 , Reply# 64 1/3/2009 at 22:39 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57564 , Reply# 65 1/3/2009 at 22:40 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57565 , Reply# 66 1/3/2009 at 22:41 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57566 , Reply# 67 1/3/2009 at 22:41 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57567 , Reply# 68 1/3/2009 at 22:42 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57568 , Reply# 69 1/3/2009 at 22:43 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57569 , Reply# 70 1/3/2009 at 22:43 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57570 , Reply# 71 1/3/2009 at 22:44 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57571 , Reply# 72 1/3/2009 at 22:45 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57572 , Reply# 73 1/3/2009 at 22:45 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57573 , Reply# 74 1/3/2009 at 22:46 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57574 , Reply# 75 1/3/2009 at 22:47 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57575 , Reply# 76 1/3/2009 at 22:47 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57576 , Reply# 77 1/3/2009 at 22:48 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57577 , Reply# 78 1/3/2009 at 22:49 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57578 , Reply# 79 1/3/2009 at 22:49 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57579 , Reply# 80 1/3/2009 at 22:50 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57580 , Reply# 81 1/3/2009 at 22:51 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57582 , Reply# 82 1/3/2009 at 22:52 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57583 , Reply# 83 1/3/2009 at 22:52 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57584 , Reply# 84 1/3/2009 at 22:53 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57585 , Reply# 85 1/3/2009 at 22:54 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57586 , Reply# 86 1/3/2009 at 22:55 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57587 , Reply# 87 1/3/2009 at 22:56 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57588 , Reply# 88 1/3/2009 at 22:57 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57589 , Reply# 89 1/3/2009 at 22:57 (5,859 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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| Post# 57592 , Reply# 90 1/3/2009 at 23:41 (5,859 days old) by swingette () | ||
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Bless you, John and Andy, for posting these! | ||
| Post# 57616 , Reply# 91 1/4/2009 at 02:16 (5,859 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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| Post# 57665 , Reply# 92 1/4/2009 at 22:57 (5,858 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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Andy - | ||
| Post# 57696 , Reply# 95 1/5/2009 at 16:27 (5,857 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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| Post# 57707 , Reply# 97 1/5/2009 at 19:03 (5,857 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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Jack This booklet was printed in the late teen's, I'm pretty sure. | ||
| Post# 57721 , Reply# 98 1/5/2009 at 23:17 (5,857 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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Hey Chad and Brian -
If the movie "The Road to Wellville" is to be believed, Dr. Kellogg was one crazy loon, obsessed with "bowel cleansing". In the movie, a terrible fire consumes most of the grounds, but I have no idea if that ever happened or not. The old structure(s) was made mostly of wood. I should take a gander at Jack's link that he put up.
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| Post# 57722 , Reply# 99 1/5/2009 at 23:34 (5,857 days old) by portable (Corvallis, OR) | ||
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A little later - | ||
| Post# 57739 , Reply# 100 1/6/2009 at 17:09 (5,856 days old) by briankirbyclass (Eudora Kansas) | ||
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| Post# 57741 , Reply# 101 1/6/2009 at 19:14 (5,856 days old) by rolls_rapide (-) | ||
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British Vacuum Cleaner Company Patented 1901. CLICK HERE TO GO TO rolls_rapide's LINK 
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Post# 57752 , Reply# 102 1/7/2009 at 08:09 (5,855 days old) by centralvacs1928 (Chicagoland) |
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Andy those are awesome! How come I never got to see 'em when I visited a year ago? Actually I think I remember you saying they were at another house at that time...oh well... How do you come across this stuff? -Owen | ||
| Post# 57902 , Reply# 104 1/9/2009 at 22:14 (5,853 days old) by andy (Boston, MA) | ||
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Owen, I found all of my stuff on ebay, believe it or not! | ||
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Post# 57904 , Reply# 105 1/9/2009 at 22:51 (5,853 days old) by centralvacs1928 (Chicagoland) |
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I should pay more attention to eBay! I've gotten a couple old advertisements (Spencer, Invincible, Arco Wand) and a vintage Spencer installation type booklet from the 1910s, but nothing like you have. | ||
| Post# 325985 , Reply# 106 5/28/2015 at 20:25 (3,523 days old) by pwbeantown (Newton, MA) | ||
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anyone want a Spencer central vac, possibly model 211? Our 1916 house has a central vac which we have not used for years. We are clearing out the basement. If someone wants the Spencer Turbine Cleaner, they can have it. Phil Boston area 617-527-1762 | ||
| Post# 325997 , Reply# 107 5/29/2015 at 01:01 (3,523 days old) by kenkart () | ||
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Somebody Better gET THIS..If I had it I guarantee it would be hooked up in my basement!!! | ||
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Post# 325998 , Reply# 108 5/29/2015 at 01:54 (3,523 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC) |
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Older Spencer unit--sounds cool!does the unit still work? | ||
| Post# 326016 , Reply# 109 5/29/2015 at 10:27 (3,522 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
Owen's Spencer Turbine from the 'teens'. Perfect balance of suction (pressure) and air flow. Took this photo during my recent visit to Owen's home in Chicago. Has a very interesting sound as it starts up - like a Hoover model 700 does.
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| Post# 326017 , Reply# 110 5/29/2015 at 10:28 (3,522 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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Owen's Ohio TUEC, high air flow but very low suction.
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| Post# 326018 , Reply# 111 5/29/2015 at 10:30 (3,522 days old) by dysonman1 (the county) | ||
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Owen's ARCO-WAND. Very high pressure (suction) but very low air flow. ARCO stands for American Radiator Company.
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