OMG!!!

Four more days to go until June 1. I would expect it to go for well over $100, if not reach $200. We'll wait and see.

Meanwhile, I know this seller VacMom well and have gotten several vacuums from him. In fact, I'm driving down to Toledo on June 13 to retrieve this lovely green & gray Lewyt 88 I bid on and lost.
Unfortunately for the person who won it, it inexplicably arrived with one of the cast aluminum tool holder prongs broken off and it was returned & refunded. No longer of eBay quality to VacMom's standards, it was offered to me for considerably less.

By pure happenstance, Pete found a forelorn Lewyt 88 curbside for me a while back with a bojack hose, cracking cord rubber & replacement plug and no tools or wands. A simple swap of the unboltable tool rack and I have a mostly complete green 88, except for the floor brush - no doubt that will show up in jig time, as these things do. I located a green dusting brush from Doug Smith and found a green crevice tool in my partz bins when Pete found the 88. :-)

I am somewhat interested in this Doty, as well...mmm...

"speak now or forever hold your piece, er...peace."

Dave

VacMom is justly famous for his erudite descriptions, to whit:

"To watch vacuum cleaner ads today you might think manufacturers never gave suction loss a thought before His Eminence burst upon the scene. But that isn't so. Over the years several makers have attacked the problem of diminishing power. Filter Queen succeeded, more or less. Rainbow certainly did. And Lewyt did, too. In fact, no other vacuum we've seen can stuff a bag so full and still take your arm off at the end of the hose like a Lewyt. Its huge lid is one giant sucking surface that first pulls, later pushes, and finally crams dirt into the bag until it's as dense and heavy as a sack of cement. We are amazed at the engineering brilliance of the Lewyt--so simple, so effective, and so gratifying to use.

This 1956 Model 88 is in absolutely sublime condition. Its motor rouses warmly to life, and runs at a tempered and substantial note. It creates every bit of the fierce suction it did when new. The hammertone painted body is charming for its depth and visual complexity. It has a beautiful shiny glossiness, and there is hardly a flaw in its finish. Incredible.

Everything is original. The cord is soft and pliable. The floor tool still has the labeling, and its natural floor bristles are still stiff and un-splayed underneath. The wands are excellent, too--with smoothly operating lock mechanisms and soft rubber ends. The hose still has the original ends, including the rubber handle with LEWYT stamped into it."


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Post# 99159 5/26/2010 at 14:44 (5,081 days old) by kirbyklassic80 ()
Checkrate/Likes Take a look at this.BTW, I am the one who is currently bidding on it. CLICK HERE TO GO TO kirbyklassic80's LINK on eBay

Post# 99165 , Reply# 1 5/26/2010 at 16:07 (5,081 days old) by crevicetool (GA )
Checkrate/Likes Good luck Daniel! I hope you win! Rick

Post# 99173 , Reply# 2 5/26/2010 at 16:41 (5,081 days old) by eurekastar (Amarillo, Texas)
Checkrate/Likes Seeing a vacuum like that just reminds of why people were so skinny back in the day. After kneading bread all morning, another workout was required to vacuum the home!

Post# 99181 , Reply# 3 5/26/2010 at 18:46 (5,081 days old) by caligula (Wallingford, Connecticut)
Checkrate/Likes *Fantastic bellows style non electric* The Doty, or Dotty as some call it, has an interesting history. I believe this was designed by a doctor from the Toledo, Ohio area named Daniel B. Replogle. At least he designed a machine of the same style in 1917. Unlike James B. Kirby who's name is forever linked with vacuum cleaners Dr. Replogle was interested in the medical side of vacuum cleaners. His big worry was the dust inside the home that people were breathing. It's not clear if he marketed and sold this machine or not, but he did apply for a patent on June 23, 1917. Patent granted May 4, 1920. As the patent refers to 'vacuum cleaner handle' he may have reworked the Doty. At any rate the good doctor was to help rid the world of dust and dirt in the home. With the help of two brothers Clarance and Pratt Tracy, Dr. Replogle designed a series of upright vacuum cleaners, and gave us the first disposable vacuum cleaner bag. Yes my friends, Daniel B. Replogle is the patent holder of the 1920 Air-Way Sanitary system. Once I get all my paperwork sorted out I will post the history of Air Way. Some say that the Doty is a British machine dating back to 1900. This is also possible. At any rate you are bidding on a great machine, I hope you get in time to bring it to the convention. I will be bringing my Air-Way information. Keep us posted on this rare find. Alex Taber

Post# 99182 , Reply# 4 5/26/2010 at 18:46 (5,081 days old) by kirbyklassic80 ()
Checkrate/Likes *Thanks Rick,* I still can't believe that it was only $9.00 and free shipping.

Post# 99184 , Reply# 5 5/26/2010 at 18:49 (5,081 days old) by kirbyklassic80 ()
Checkrate/Likes Alex, I sure will keep everyone up with the news.

Post# 99204 , Reply# 6 5/26/2010 at 22:58 (5,081 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)
Checkrate/Likes *crossing my fingers* for you!

Post# 99288 , Reply# 7 5/28/2010 at 13:55 (5,079 days old) by kirbyklassic80 ()
Checkrate/Likes *Well it had to happen at some point.....* I was outbid. I didn't expect to win.

Post# 99289 , Reply# 8 5/28/2010 at 15:07 (5,079 days old) by kirbyotronic ()
Checkrate/Likes *Keep in mind...* It has over 4 days left to go. Hold your bidding until the last 15 seconds. All you're doing when you bid so early is driving the price up. Good luck on it.

Post# 99292 , Reply# 10 5/28/2010 at 15:37 (5,079 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes The aforementioned 'destined for break-ness' rool rack.

Post# 99337 , Reply# 14 5/28/2010 at 23:42 (5,078 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes The 77 tool rack is a scarce thing to find but hope springing eternal I will find one some day. Beginning with the 88 in 1956 the tool rack became permanently bolted with a slightly different arrangement for tools - it made the swivel caster an integral part of the spin-on-a-dime Big Wheel (The 77 has a felt/rubber button instead of a caster). The pocket bin was abandoned and replaced with another tool post. But it could carry only 3 tools, which is odd in that it would have been easy to provide a second clip just over the caster housing for the floor brush, like the one for the upholstery nozzle...and place the upholstery nozzle in the lower center postion between the crevic and dusting brush. The floor brush was a standard item with previous Lewyt 40/44/55 and 66 in the kit and the 66 dolly had posts for all four tools. L-r models 77, 66, 40 & 120, with a Lewyt Big Wheel Storage Hassock. I have seen Lewyt aluminum floor brushes in other hammertone paint colors and so I assumed they were always available, as the Model 120/121 was the last Big Wheel made.

Post# 99338 , Reply# 15 5/28/2010 at 23:52 (5,078 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Doug's site shows matching floor brushes with Models 97 (1957-58) and the 105 (1959) and it would appear they became extra cost options.

Post# 99339 , Reply# 16 5/28/2010 at 23:59 (5,078 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes The original clip-on Lewyt 77 tool rack for 4 tools. Just in case anyone knows of one lying around as a spare. :-)

Post# 99291 , Reply# 9 5/28/2010 at 15:36 (5,079 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes *Dropping out, Daniel?* Four more days to go until June 1. I would expect it to go for well over $100, if not reach $200. We'll wait and see. Meanwhile, I know this seller VacMom well and have gotten several vacuums from him. In fact, I'm driving down to Toledo on June 13 to retrieve this lovely green & gray Lewyt 88 I bid on and lost. Unfortunately for the person who won it, it inexplicably arrived with one of the cast aluminum tool holder prongs broken off and it was returned & refunded. No longer of eBay quality to VacMom's standards, it was offered to me for considerably less. By pure happenstance, Pete found a forelorn Lewyt 88 curbside for me a while back with a bojack hose, cracking cord rubber & replacement plug and no tools or wands. A simple swap of the unboltable tool rack and I have a mostly complete green 88, except for the floor brush - no doubt that will show up in jig time, as these things do. I located a green dusting brush from Doug Smith and found a green crevice tool in my partz bins when Pete found the 88. :-) I am somewhat interested in this Doty, as well...mmm... "speak now or forever hold your piece, er...peace." Dave VacMom is justly famous for his erudite descriptions, to whit: "To watch vacuum cleaner ads today you might think manufacturers never gave suction loss a thought before His Eminence burst upon the scene. But that isn't so. Over the years several makers have attacked the problem of diminishing power. Filter Queen succeeded, more or less. Rainbow certainly did. And Lewyt did, too. In fact, no other vacuum we've seen can stuff a bag so full and still take your arm off at the end of the hose like a Lewyt. Its huge lid is one giant sucking surface that first pulls, later pushes, and finally crams dirt into the bag until it's as dense and heavy as a sack of cement. We are amazed at the engineering brilliance of the Lewyt--so simple, so effective, and so gratifying to use. This 1956 Model 88 is in absolutely sublime condition. Its motor rouses warmly to life, and runs at a tempered and substantial note. It creates every bit of the fierce suction it did when new. The hammertone painted body is charming for its depth and visual complexity. It has a beautiful shiny glossiness, and there is hardly a flaw in its finish. Incredible. Everything is original. The cord is soft and pliable. The floor tool still has the labeling, and its natural floor bristles are still stiff and un-splayed underneath. The wands are excellent, too--with smoothly operating lock mechanisms and soft rubber ends. The hose still has the original ends, including the rubber handle with LEWYT stamped into it."

Post# 99293 , Reply# 11 5/28/2010 at 15:48 (5,079 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes the machine that Pete found curbside. The 'morsel' of this story? Never give up! I bid on and won another Doty exactly like this one out in Oregon two weeks ago at the last minute. Unfortunately, the seller neglected to mention the handle and dust compartment lid were missing. At almost $80 shipping I had no choice but to cancel the sale, the first time I have ever done such a thing on eBay. Fortunately, the seller was most gracious about the whole thing. Dave

Post# 99326 , Reply# 12 5/28/2010 at 21:10 (5,079 days old) by luxg ()
Checkrate/Likes Hey Dave, that is a beautiful Lewyt. I didn't realize they ever came with a floor brush. I am pretty sure they didn't here.

Post# 99334 , Reply# 13 5/28/2010 at 23:16 (5,078 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes Are you sure of that, Terry? I can't say for sure that ALL Big Wheels came with the floor brush but I do know the first model 77 did. It is a slightly smaller cast aluminum nozzle just like the main hard floor/carpet nozzle but with floor brush bristles all around. The 77 had a different tool caddy that was an option, clipped on to the backside and carried all four tools. When using the floor brush you popped the hard floor/carpet nozzle in the pocket bin... as seen here.

Post# 99363 , Reply# 17 5/29/2010 at 10:24 (5,078 days old) by luxg ()
Checkrate/Likes Thanks for the pictures Dave, we had neighbors back around 1955-56 that got the Lewyt Green Big Wheel and I know for sure it didn't have a floor brush or a place on the attachment rack for one.

Post# 100282 , Reply# 18 6/8/2010 at 22:42 (5,068 days old) by collector2 (Moose Jaw, Sk)
Checkrate/Likes Hey Dave: The 77 was the only "Big Wheels" model that came with the floor brush but they were available in matching colours for all the subsequent models as an option. Makes them a bit harder to find though. Doug

Post# 100294 , Reply# 19 6/9/2010 at 06:51 (5,067 days old) by aeoliandave (Stratford Ontario Canada)
Checkrate/Likes That's good to know, Doug. My eyes are always peeled and scanning in boxes and under tables. Picking up the 77 this weekend and who knows what else. Then on to Pete's to see two 77's side by side and admire his new furniture, walls and carpet...er...hardwood flooring. This will be my final two day break - it'll be 6 days a weeks, matinees and doubles mostly, until mid-August. Except for the week off to go to the Buffalo AMICA Convention in July. Dave