Vacuum Cleaners Discussions |
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DysonInventsBig
Location: USA
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Points: 1454
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Sweeper and Vacuum collection auctioned (UK)...
Original Message Jan 7, 2009 1:42 pm |
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Venson
Joined: Jul 23, 2007
Points: 1900
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Re: Sweeper and Vacuum collection auctioned (UK)...
Reply #4 Jan 11, 2009 1:22 pm |
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My thanks too, DIB. Vacuum collections are fascinating. Hi Venson: I'm guessing neither. Westinghouse was not producing vacuums in Europe and/or exporting. I suspect that the collector came upon it [a USA model] through other means. The pictured Westinghouse upright doesn't have its cloth bag. The UK vacuum along side, does not have the brush roll. Typical with vintage vacuums, that they are rarely complete. And of course not being complete diminishes the value even as a museum piece. Sadly, for most today who see these antiques, it's scrap metal and nothing more. Takes another vintage collector, preferably vacuum enthusiast, to appreciate their value and be the next caretaker. Museums are usually not interested in vacuums as conversation pieces of history. In part, because too many brands/models were produced and most don't know the underlying history. What's left around today in terms of vacuums is very unsexy for viewing by the current generation even as artifacts and history. Carmine D. Hi Carmine, I'll have to delve further into it but the question may be which Westinghouse. Per a Wikipedia listing, there was a British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company a subsidiary of America's Westinghouse.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_WestinghouseThus, the vacuum in question may well not have been made here in the States but in Britain. What I have to discover is what the British company manufactured. As far as the collecting end of things goes, in my neck of the woods, old houses and attics with lots of good stuff are hard to come by as hens' teeth but in the end it really all depends on the tenacity and talent of the collector. Many older, even particularly popular vacs don't come complete. Those units finally displayed may often be a compilation of tools and parts acquired individually or from other machines of the same make and model. Thus you can end up buying several to finally put together one complete machine to show. I've had my share of this with Rexair B's and see more of the same coming up if I ever get around to spiffying a Westinghouse T-6 canister I got a while back. Most of the tools are entact but I still have to come across a good set of authentic wands. Like most, I am not much in for breaking machines down bringing them back to pristine condition -- I also don't have the space for a work area to accommodate. I buy a piece here, a piece there till I'm content with what I've put together. In any case, the average collectors' efforts pale in the face of people like Bob Kautzman http://www.vachunter.com/restoration.htm and Charlie Lester http://www.137.com/ (see the pages about his garage clean up) but anyone with a real passion for it can achieve great results if they try. The trying however takes time and patience. Best, Venson
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DysonInventsBig
Location: USA
Joined: Jul 31, 2007
Points: 1454
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Re: Sweeper and Vacuum collection auctioned (UK)...
Reply #5 Jan 11, 2009 5:45 pm |
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My thanks too, DIB. Vacuum collections are fascinating. Hi Venson: I'm guessing neither. Westinghouse was not producing vacuums in Europe and/or exporting. I suspect that the collector came upon it [a USA model] through other means. The pictured Westinghouse upright doesn't have its cloth bag. The UK vacuum along side, does not have the brush roll. Typical with vintage vacuums, that they are rarely complete. And of course not being complete diminishes the value even as a museum piece. Sadly, for most today who see these antiques, it's scrap metal and nothing more. Takes another vintage collector, preferably vacuum enthusiast, to appreciate their value and be the next caretaker. Museums are usually not interested in vacuums as conversation pieces of history. In part, because too many brands/models were produced and most don't know the underlying history. What's left around today in terms of vacuums is very unsexy for viewing by the current generation even as artifacts and history. Carmine D. Glad you liked it.
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CarmineD
Joined: Dec 31, 2007
Points: 5894
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Re: Sweeper and Vacuum collection auctioned (UK)...
Reply #6 Jan 11, 2009 8:34 pm |
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Hi Venson: Nice detective work. Interestingly, one of Bob K's favorites is the Westinghouse hand vacuum made of dark bakelite. I believe he paid $50 for one complete. One of the higher priced pieces in his collection. The Westinghouse uprights, you may recall, that were made during the war years [1940's] in the USA exactly resemble the UK Westinghouse pictured but were produced in two tone brown hard plastic, if I recall correctly. Also Bob and his Dad separate the handles and bags from the vacuum bodies to store more easily in their barn in Pennsylvania. I don't see the value in that preferring like the late great Stan Kann to keep the vintage vacuums all intact. Charles Lester, as I recall, is the Electrolux aficionado among others. Great vacuum collector names, for sure. Keep me posted on your Westinghouse research and findings, please. I'll do the same. Carmine D.
This message was modified Jan 12, 2009 by CarmineD
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