Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Carmine,

This will probably fall under your area of expertise and experience, but all are welcome to contribute. As I transition from being unemployed to being self-employed, I am looking for more specialized services to offer my clients.

There are specialized 'rug dusters' for sale which tap the accumulated dirt, dust, sand, and grit out of Oriental rugs by laying them face down over a grid which gives the debris room to fall. These cost upwards of 4,000.00! These have been developed as an alternative to the huge stationary 240 volt dusting machines. All of this to replace regular vacuuming with a Hoover 300, 700, or 150, the ones with the dual divergent agitator bars, with shorter agitator bars and bristle strips in between on each side.

The magic of the Hoover was that the 5,000 taps per minute during slow motion vacuuming set up a wave pattern that  vibrated the rug, dislodging the dirt, sand, and grit. It was not accomplished with tremendous suction, though the airflow was good, it was the balance of enough suction to keep snapping the rug up after each tap. The sand was not actually beaten out of the rug as much as the rug was pushed down leaving the sand in mid-air to be caught by the airflow generated by the fan, as explained by the laws of Newtonian physics.

My question is this: Short of finding and restoring a few 150 Hoovers, is there any alternative? Would any later model Hoovers accept the dual divergent agitator? How late? A current Guardsman, maybe, with some alteration perhaps?

A Kirby with a cloth bag has been suggested to me. A G series will not accept a full-fledged sani-emptor, and probably is too powerful to sustain the tap/snap action. A cloth bag would yield too much airflow, and a hepa bag too little as it fills. A Heritage I with a cloth bag seems the only other possibility. The Sanitaire Vibra-Groomer I is not sufficient, about the same as the standard Hoover agitator with just one strip of beater bar per side.

The idea of being able to restore neglected Oriental rugs with simple thorough vacuuming for good pay is very appealing. As I understand it, Hoover abandoned this configuration of agitator because as area rugs gave way to wal to wall carpet, it did not grab and hold the wall-to-wall carpet as well as the newer, less expensive to produce version, which had just the one spiral strip per side. Hoover could have ruled if they had stuck to being a status symbol. Imagine being able to switch out the roller and bottom plate to adapt the vacuum to whatever carpet/rug/floor needed to be cleaned. The mind boggles, while the Hoover just beats, as it sweeps, as it cleans...

Trebor

Carmine wrote:  Sadly, I've never learned the art of backing down, w/wo the leash tightly held.

Carmine! Surely you are not saying you are too old to learn, "Sit. Stay." ?

(please forgive me, Carmine, but I'm laughing so hard I can hardly breathe! )

Trebor

Unfortunately, I omitted a key aspect of ORECK's success.  It's Carpet and Rug Institute approval for over 25 years including currently with the revised green label seal.

Carmine D.

Model2 wrote:

Until you/anyone here like you who claims in their opinions that dyson is an overwhelming success and the most popular vacuum seller "antes" up proof to contradict my statement above, I'm sticking with it.   Get use to it.  You and your dyson cohorts will be hearing and seeing alot of it in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.  The truth always come out. 

Carmine D.

Here's some more to make your day and give you a laugh:

How a vacuum brand can have not just one model worthy of being called the Greater, but several.  While another brand wishes it had even one!

How a brand that touts "never loses suction" as its mantra, loses a test of pure suction power by over 50 percent to a lowly contender like Electrolux, a lightweight vacuum no less with a full bag, and deemed here the ASA winner.  Not just once, but twice!  Even with the relevant facts culled, excerpted, and highlighted for ease of reading.

After you use the Greater HOOVER and have a performance standard, try the latest HOOVER Platinum lynx cordless stick with Windtunnel technology.  See if you are not equally impressed with the results.  Then you will have saved your best laugh for last.  I'll even provide my 4 legged furry pet friend to make the test interesting.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

If you don't like Dyson, Carmine, don't buy one (and you don't need to tell me you won't!). Simple as! I'm going to respect Trebor's wishes and let the matter drop.

On to the rest. Use the Greater Hoover (Model 700), and establish a performance standard: Check.

As for the cryptic 'punchline' - the Hoover Platinum cordless stick isn't available in the UK. If you'd like to furnish me with one, I'd be happy to give it a try. And I have a dog, so I won't require the loan of yours, as I'm sure your wife will be happy to hear. If you feel the performance of the two is equal, why didn't you recommend this machine to Trebor at the beginning of this thread?

Model2 wrote:

I own a DC07 pink and it's stored at my daughter's house.  Due to the style of our carpets here in the USA and dyson's gawdawful clutch, it does not work.  I don't like/dislike vacuums, including your fave brand.  They all have their pros and cons. 

I dislike disingenuous statements of facts and claims to tout one brand's superiority at the expense of another.  Especially w/o proof for back up.  That is my pet peeve.

There is no differences in the 725 and 750 that would warrant them not worthy of being called Greater just like the 700.  The 700 was just first.  In fact, the later models may be more worthy than the 700 for the title.  Note all the 700 series have the same inscription on the motor hood.  Something about "Servant to the Home?" 

I suspect the Platinum lynx cordless stick will be available in the UK in short order.  Be patient.  You'll get your chance.  Finally, I didn't mention the newest because I thought I'd save the best for last!  For a good laugh.

Carmine D.

BTW, with regard to the pictured HOOVER 700.  Some observations.  There are nicks and scuffs on the chrome.  Whovever buffed it out missed them and its very obvious.  Hope it's not my friend in NC.  The rivets holding the bumper are rusted and in need of a good cleaning and new coat of lacquer paint.  But, on a positive note, the MIELE in the background looks pretty and perfect.  And I love the words on the bottom of the 700 bag, "empty after each use."  Tho if I recall correctly in another picture from another view, the bag had a botched stitch job.  Very amateurish for a rebuilding job of such a fine specimen of vacuum history.  Another pet peeve of mine.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

'I don't like/dislike vacuums, including your fave brand.' - there you go again. Would you like me to repeat my ACTUAL favourite brand for the 3rd time? Or is this a 'lalalalala, I'm not listening!'-type scenario? I guess wisdom doesn't always come with age!

'Note all the 700 series have the same inscription on the motor hood.  Something about "Servant to the Home?"' - in the US they did. in the UK, they came with the Royal 'By Appt. to....' warrant. Hoovers no longer bear the royal seal of approval. Guess what brand of cleaner is used in Buckingham Palace now....

Well I know it's not the dyson Airblade!  Xlerator, and American made brand, has that distinction.

Carmine D.

Model2 wrote:

No guessing needed.  IQ is not a function of age.  I was brilliant even before the winter of my years.

Carmine D.