Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

Sam's club is offering this 8 lb vacuum that is advertised as being made in the US.   It seems like this used to be sold under the Rubbermade brand, the Bissell brand, and the Kenmore brand.  Not sure about the availability of bags.  Has anyone used one of these? 


http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=189078&navAction=push#desc

Description

At only 8 lbs., Piranha's lightweight vacuum has the power to deliver heavyweight commercial cleaning results with an incredible 160 CFM. Tackling even the toughest commercial cleaning tasks, this 8 lb. vacuum will not only maximize cleaning speed and results, it will help minimize on-the-job injuries and worker's compensation claims due to its light weight.

Specifications

Warranty

Assembled Country

Component Country

USA

The Art could not simply have had a brush roll inserted into its existing chassis. The motor was not designed to power both suction fans and a brushroll. Even if you get around that one, the chassis was steeply rounded, meaning the pulleys would not have been able to to line up to drive the brush. No room for a second motor, and there goes the weight if you add one. No, better to simply have sold it for what it was, a very powerful, effective, convenient bare floor vacuum, but at a more reasonable price.  I think had they hung in with it for a year or two more, people might have gotten over the sticker shock and purchased one. Hard floors are not cheap, and are not easy to properly maintain. The Art had suction strong enough to clean upholstery, not typical of your average stick vac. Some people just don't like canisters, period, and the Art filled a niche that remains empty.

Trebor wrote:

Hi,

I am not saying the exact same design would fit the ticket but something very similar with the motor mounted crosswise allowing a spindle on the opposte end of the motor shaft for belt drive.  How this would or would not allow for a sealed system I can't say but considering as it was of molded plastic, the sky's the limit for the arrangement of things internal.

My only other argument as regards the sticker price is for what this machine cost to buy, you could have bought either a can with P/N or a well accoutered upright and gotten better value for the expense.  The Art however did address limited storage issues.  One question -- was this machine designed for haning flat on a wall?

Venson

I liked the Art's design but having used one, the bags were far too small on dirt capacity and its L shaped suction channel meant blockages happened rather a lot than necessary. Miele could have put a brush roll in if they wanted - hell, Electrolux's small stick vacs from the 1980s have been made to accomodate brush rolls and there was nothing stopping Miele from doing so. I rather think though that Miele's reason to bring out the D'Art wasn't just for Americans - Germans tend to have hard floor surfaces everywhere as it tends to be more hygienic than keeping carpeting.

vacmanuk wrote:

Yet, no longer on the German MIELE site as current production.

Carmine D.