Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I was remembering when with my Mother last night.  She is about to celebrate the 75th anniversary of her being on this planet so she has a little history.  In the conversation we were talking about her sweeper, who was a member of the family for many years until his death in a fire.   He was promptly replaced with another (actually by the Kirby company.)

She said in those days the vacuum a woman owned was a status symbol to the others.  In those days the women didn't work outside the home, in fact they though my mother was next to a tramp when she took a job to help out when my dad had his second heart attack.  Anyway, all the women in her circle of friends either had a Kirby or and Electrolux. The main determination was if you liked an upright or a tank.  She said that when the other women came over for coffee, your vacuum was always placed in the corner so others notice which one you had.    The other women, usually those who's husbands didn't work at Boeing bought their vacuums at Macy's, Sears or Wards; they weren't as high up on the food chain.  Mom said she remembered a new girl, newleywed, just moved to the burbs--didn't even own a vacuum.  They usually sent the leftovers home with her--poor thing.

For the most part it was Kirby or Lux, much like the cars in your drive was either a Chevy or a Ford.  There may be the occasional Chrysler, but little variance from the norm in the "Leave it to Beaver crowd."  Mom said this competition continued with not only who had what Vacuum, but how many attachments you had with it until dishwashers became popular.  Then everyone that was anyone had to have a dishwasher. 

I'm just interested if others on this forum has any stories like this of the days gone by.   I am sure those of you in the business could tell some stories.

I would love to hear from you.

mole wrote:
These machines are still going strong some 30, 40, 50 years later.  The new buzz word today is environmentally friendly, well, make something that will last twenty or more years instead of two.  Gee, wouldn't this be an easy way to reduce landfill accumulation?? Speaking of Sunbeam, we still have these appliances that my grandparents bought in the 50's and 60's, try a sunbeam today, or any other brand for that matter and see how long they last today.  At the ripe old age of 42, I still remember the hoover portable spin washer, kick myself that I didn't buy a hoover frying pan a couple of months ago at the salvation army thrift store. 

Vernon

CarmineD wrote:

I drive a Ford.  I would not, however, drive an Explorer,  Where can one find a new Cadillac vacuum.  Not that I want one since they were not so good,

mole wrote:

Mole:

In the late 50's I carried the complete Westinghouse line, vacuums, radios, fans, small appliances.

In the early 60's and beyond I added the complete HOOVER line.  Vacuums, washers, driers, all the kitchen appliances even refrigs and heating plates.  Always carried the HOOVER irons: Aluminum and stainless steel soleplates.  Just as a convenience because customers would ask.

I still have the HOOVER electric coffee pot and pull it out when the coffee maker goes on the blink.  The HOOVER pot is almost 40 years old.  Still works fine.  I replaced the cord and glass top a few times. 

Carmine D.

Carmine,did you hear who got most of the machines from the HOOVER vault,what a score that was.no it was not Jeff P.

MOLE

My Mom was too busy for coffee clutch get togethers.

Had a dress shop 3 kids & was renovating a 100 yr old house.

Our vacs were all second hand but I most fondly remember the ancient electroluxes.

Had the Hoover constellation

I took it to college

We also had some weird R@ D@ cannisters I don't even know what they were.

Dad had a 57 Buick Special

Ugle Brown & built like a tank

I was ashamed as a child to ride in the monster

Mom had the 63  Chevy Covair

with a blown head gasket

Could hear it coming for blocks

OOOO those were the days!!!!

OOOOH but now how I lust for those old cannisters

I saw that on another vac forum which I tried to join 3 weeks ago but the owner was out of town & still hasn't gotten around to approving my membership

Argh...

Lots of #1'serial numbers & if I recall there was alot of envy

but it was a public auction & at least they went to someone who seems to appreciate them.

Pics were posted so least the rest of us could view some of the contents of the vault.

I took apart & cleaned that darn Hoover Convertible I found in the trash

1997 triple filtration & boy it had some nasty much in it.

When I got it there were pounds of fuzz & paper clips so it wouldn't suck

I cleared it with a hanger but never did a thorough wash

Well it was live or die with this guy & he got run under the water w simple green &

I removed copiuos amounbt of oily crud

Yuck

Dried it over night & powered it up today

Yeah sucks like crazy!

Hoovers for all the good & bad mostly the cheap current construction but all in all they really suck!

mole wrote:

No didn't hear.  

Carmine D.

Was it Tom Anderson?

camelotshadow wrote:

Considering Tom has the premier HOOVER vacuum collection of all time, he would be my choice too!

BAISAIC.

Carmine D.

camelotshadow wrote:

It certainly was Tom Anderson.

I heard he built a warehouse just to keep his collection in................

MOLE

mole wrote:

Wow, that's passion!