ultimatevacman
Well-known member
I just found a photo of a brown numatic henry autosave online, any idea's what this is?
- Joe
- Joe
Brown Henry Autosave?
- Thread starter ultimatevacman
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vintagerepairer
Well-known member
It looks like a brown Henry with a dust control mop. What did it say on the website where you found the image?
eurekaprince
Well-known member
The mop has the identical disposable pad rubber latches as any Swiffer mop! You just wrap the cloth around the bottom surface of the mop and then press the 4 corners of the cloth into the rubber fins and the latches hold onto the cloth pad. You can see 4 of them on this mop.
Shame that Numatic did not design the mop to also suck up large pieces of dirt. All they would need to do is create a suction channel at the front end of the mop as the Swiffer Vac has!
Why bother selling a suction-less mop with a vacuum?
Shame that Numatic did not design the mop to also suck up large pieces of dirt. All they would need to do is create a suction channel at the front end of the mop as the Swiffer Vac has!
Why bother selling a suction-less mop with a vacuum?
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Why? Because the UK is still head over heels in love with hard flooring at the moment, and if one owns vast quantities of it, a dust control mop is much faster than a vacuum cleaner. With a dry electrostatic pad, all that is needed is a cylinder cleaner to vacuum the pad clean. The cleaner will of course also be useful to do all the other tasks one expects a cylinder to do.
eurekaprince
Well-known member
I agree that a dust control mop is a very good way to remove fine electrostatic dust from a floor. But you don't need to buy a vacuum cleaner to buy one of those mops.
I am just thinking that Numatic missed an opportunity here: combining the suction of a vacuum and the performance of a dust pad for fine dust is a wonderful combination. The Swiffer Vac is one of the best kept secrets of the floor cleaning world - it combines both actions into one! I always thought that Swiffer should market a bare floor vacuum brush that adds the benefits of a Swiffer pad to the dirt removing capability of a vacuum cleaner's suction. Filter Queen has such an attachment, and Sanyo once had a stick-vac that offered the combination as well. In fact, the new Shark Professional Navigator Lift-Away bagless upright has a deluxe version that comes with one of these cloth pad+floor tool nozzles!
Electrostatic mops with pads can not remove large pieces of dirt - they just push them around like any broom. And if a large piece of dirt gets stuck under the pad, there is always a danger of scratching the floor surface with the granule (stones, salt, spices, etc.) Buy sucking up the large dirt pieces before the floor pad reaches them, you prevent this kind of scratching.
Here's a link to the Swiffer Vac website - I am sure they are available in the UK by now:
http://www.swiffer.com/en_CA/produc...m_content=s79kUCked_15287568767_e_swiffer vac
I am just thinking that Numatic missed an opportunity here: combining the suction of a vacuum and the performance of a dust pad for fine dust is a wonderful combination. The Swiffer Vac is one of the best kept secrets of the floor cleaning world - it combines both actions into one! I always thought that Swiffer should market a bare floor vacuum brush that adds the benefits of a Swiffer pad to the dirt removing capability of a vacuum cleaner's suction. Filter Queen has such an attachment, and Sanyo once had a stick-vac that offered the combination as well. In fact, the new Shark Professional Navigator Lift-Away bagless upright has a deluxe version that comes with one of these cloth pad+floor tool nozzles!
Electrostatic mops with pads can not remove large pieces of dirt - they just push them around like any broom. And if a large piece of dirt gets stuck under the pad, there is always a danger of scratching the floor surface with the granule (stones, salt, spices, etc.) Buy sucking up the large dirt pieces before the floor pad reaches them, you prevent this kind of scratching.
Here's a link to the Swiffer Vac website - I am sure they are available in the UK by now:
http://www.swiffer.com/en_CA/produc...m_content=s79kUCked_15287568767_e_swiffer vac
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Well, to be fair, with a swiffer vac like that, we are not far off a traditional suction-only stick vac. I think we need to focus on the age-old issue that UK homes are very small in comparison to those in the US. A standard dust-mop on a handle is more than enough for a run-over of available floor spaces in a UK home. The fact it lies flat means it slips under furniture and so-on. Personally, I think the swiffer vac would sell over here, really I do, but only because of it's novelty value. It looks like something people would buy once and use sporadically, if indeed at all. We do that an awful lot in the UK you know.
eurekaprince
Well-known member
Benny - I agree with you that for bare floors, sometimes the old fashioned dust mop is the easiest and most effective solution. 
I was just remarking that Numatic could offer an innovative bare floor tool for their vacuums so that the vacuum can really do an excellent job on bare floors. The bare floor brushes and tools often furnished with cylinder vacs and stick-vacs are not able to remove the fine electrostatic dust that clings to bare floors - only a mop or pad or rag can do that. At the same time, the mops or pads or rags can not easily remove large dirt particles unless you use a broom and dustpan before-hand.
By combining both in one vacuum attachment, you can really remove both fine and coarse particles in one sweep....
It just seemed odd that Numatic is marketing a floor mop as an accessory to their tank vac.
I was just remarking that Numatic could offer an innovative bare floor tool for their vacuums so that the vacuum can really do an excellent job on bare floors. The bare floor brushes and tools often furnished with cylinder vacs and stick-vacs are not able to remove the fine electrostatic dust that clings to bare floors - only a mop or pad or rag can do that. At the same time, the mops or pads or rags can not easily remove large dirt particles unless you use a broom and dustpan before-hand.
By combining both in one vacuum attachment, you can really remove both fine and coarse particles in one sweep....
It just seemed odd that Numatic is marketing a floor mop as an accessory to their tank vac.
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Hello again. Well I take on board your comments about the efficieny of a cylinder cleaner with a dust-mop floor tool. But I don't think it would catch on in the UK. To put it in perspective, I have known people who have homes with 100% hard flooring who have always owned upright vacuum cleaners with revolving brushes and used this to clean floors. We like uprights.
I admit I too have hard floors and an upright vac, but then my apartment is tiny and I never vacuum it. I use a dust-mop and I have a girl who comes in at least once every four weeks and cleans all through for me, using her Henry when she vacuums. The advantage of a stand-alone dust-mop on a pole is that it can be easily swivelled round and round, and in & out of cramped floor spaces (something else we are famous for in the UK, too much clutter). I think having it on a vacuum cleaner would make it less easy to use, though as you say more efficient. I can't dispute that.
I admit I too have hard floors and an upright vac, but then my apartment is tiny and I never vacuum it. I use a dust-mop and I have a girl who comes in at least once every four weeks and cleans all through for me, using her Henry when she vacuums. The advantage of a stand-alone dust-mop on a pole is that it can be easily swivelled round and round, and in & out of cramped floor spaces (something else we are famous for in the UK, too much clutter). I think having it on a vacuum cleaner would make it less easy to use, though as you say more efficient. I can't dispute that.
eurekaprince
Well-known member
Great explanation, Sir Benny. Thank you!
One thing I must say for the UK Numatic company: putting a face on a vac has made your Henrys and Hetties so friendly-looking. I was afraid of vacuum cleaners as a little boy, and I think I would have felt much more at ease if Mom had used a smiling Henry!
One thing I must say for the UK Numatic company: putting a face on a vac has made your Henrys and Hetties so friendly-looking. I was afraid of vacuum cleaners as a little boy, and I think I would have felt much more at ease if Mom had used a smiling Henry!
vintagerepairer
Well-known member
Sir? Good grief. And thank you. The smiling vacuum cleaners have been with us over here for so long that it is difficult to recall a time without them. It makes me wonder why other companies did not do something similar. I wouldn't suggest that people bought the cleaners because it had a cheeky little face, but certainly it became the one that everyone remembered very quickly. As did they with the name Henry. Henry has become an almost generic name for Numatic cleaners, with people saying they have a Henry even if it is a James or Basil or some other name, or even a Numatic brand. They just call them Henry.
The only complaints I ever did hear about Henry cleaners were from people who were used to using an upright on carpets. Even then you could say the complaint was actually about the type of cleaner (cylinder) and not the fact it was a Henry. No one can fault it, even people who simply do not like them cannot usually say that there is anything really wrong with them. Of the reviews I have read, the fact taht the cord winder is not automatic is mentioned as a mark against it, as is the lack of tool storage. What people seem to forget (or not realise perhaps) is that the very success of the cleaner is down to the way the cord winder does not break down, and that the small, easy to pull canister does not lend itself to having room to attach tools. Of the UK cleaners which had built-in full sized tools, all were very large and arguably cumbersome cleaners. Of the smaller cleaners with built-in tools, the tools were very smaller and less practical. So it is a compromise all round. Personally, I quite like the separate canvass hold-all bag supplied with some Numatic cleaners, in which all the tools and spare bags can be stored.
The only complaints I ever did hear about Henry cleaners were from people who were used to using an upright on carpets. Even then you could say the complaint was actually about the type of cleaner (cylinder) and not the fact it was a Henry. No one can fault it, even people who simply do not like them cannot usually say that there is anything really wrong with them. Of the reviews I have read, the fact taht the cord winder is not automatic is mentioned as a mark against it, as is the lack of tool storage. What people seem to forget (or not realise perhaps) is that the very success of the cleaner is down to the way the cord winder does not break down, and that the small, easy to pull canister does not lend itself to having room to attach tools. Of the UK cleaners which had built-in full sized tools, all were very large and arguably cumbersome cleaners. Of the smaller cleaners with built-in tools, the tools were very smaller and less practical. So it is a compromise all round. Personally, I quite like the separate canvass hold-all bag supplied with some Numatic cleaners, in which all the tools and spare bags can be stored.
You are bang on there Benny, just like "hoover" has become a generic name for Vacuum Cleaners "Henry" has become a generic name for Numatics.
That little guy has a lot to answer for, but all good fortunately.
One thing that a lot of people mention about Numatics is the fact the cord winder is manual. They don't seem to realise that having an automatic rewind would add more weight to an already rather heavy cleaner, plus be a hindrance when it fails as those things do.
I do hope Numatic keep things as they are because after all, it's been working well for over 30 years now.
That little guy has a lot to answer for, but all good fortunately.
One thing that a lot of people mention about Numatics is the fact the cord winder is manual. They don't seem to realise that having an automatic rewind would add more weight to an already rather heavy cleaner, plus be a hindrance when it fails as those things do.
I do hope Numatic keep things as they are because after all, it's been working well for over 30 years now.
sebo_fan
Well-known member
Miele actually made a suction only floor head years ago that could be adapted to have something called an "E-Cloth" added to it. I don't think there was much demand for it in the UK though - I recall reading about it in one of the user manuals that came with one of my Miele cylinder vacuums.
The thing about Numatic is, even if this vacuum cleaner only comes with that mop floor head, it isn't going to cost the owner an arm and a leg to get a replacement standard suction only floor head anyway. Im sure Numatic could bring one out that could be used on the Charles Wet and Dry, too.
As for tool storage - well there's the James model - it wouldn't add in extra weight to put a partition at the back of the Henry as Hoover have done with their latest tubs for tools to slot into. It would make sense to locate the slots where the new floor head storer slot is, or somewhere around it. Therefore tools would be to hand, whenever they are required. Much prefer my James in that respect, even if the tools roll around at the top.
Just all comes down to marketing too - not just from the fact that UK buyers are now getting more hard flooring put in and thus may need a likewise brand to offer machines that can cope with it. Cue Miele's Cat and Dog cylinder vacuums. Far cheaper at times to get the base model and add what you need to match the specs offered on the Cat and Dog model. But then again, this only occurs for buyers who are happy to shop around constantly for parts, spares or whatever rather than buy a machine that has it all, the first time around.
The thing about Numatic is, even if this vacuum cleaner only comes with that mop floor head, it isn't going to cost the owner an arm and a leg to get a replacement standard suction only floor head anyway. Im sure Numatic could bring one out that could be used on the Charles Wet and Dry, too.
As for tool storage - well there's the James model - it wouldn't add in extra weight to put a partition at the back of the Henry as Hoover have done with their latest tubs for tools to slot into. It would make sense to locate the slots where the new floor head storer slot is, or somewhere around it. Therefore tools would be to hand, whenever they are required. Much prefer my James in that respect, even if the tools roll around at the top.
Just all comes down to marketing too - not just from the fact that UK buyers are now getting more hard flooring put in and thus may need a likewise brand to offer machines that can cope with it. Cue Miele's Cat and Dog cylinder vacuums. Far cheaper at times to get the base model and add what you need to match the specs offered on the Cat and Dog model. But then again, this only occurs for buyers who are happy to shop around constantly for parts, spares or whatever rather than buy a machine that has it all, the first time around.
dysondestijl
Well-known member
you sure thats not a normal henry with the colour brightness changed???
ultimatevacman
Well-known member
Sure.
Hi
A brown Henry ! I want one !!! Where are these available to buy?
I have to admit one of the things that did initially put me off buying a Henry was the fact it seemed a bit, well, basic compared to other vacuums. Now however having had one for 18 months or so (& having acquired others...) I look on this as a plus.
Henry's remind me a bit of an older type LandRover. Basic & uncompromising, but they work. Are virtually indestructible & even if you do break them, are cheap & easy to fix.
They're cute too ;-)
Cheers
Dave
A brown Henry ! I want one !!! Where are these available to buy?
I have to admit one of the things that did initially put me off buying a Henry was the fact it seemed a bit, well, basic compared to other vacuums. Now however having had one for 18 months or so (& having acquired others...) I look on this as a plus.
Henry's remind me a bit of an older type LandRover. Basic & uncompromising, but they work. Are virtually indestructible & even if you do break them, are cheap & easy to fix.
They're cute too ;-)
Cheers
Dave
