1920's Imperial Upright vacuum Private Label Regina?

[vacuumheaven05]

Hi everyone, I'd like to pass along that I have an Imperial branded Upright Vacuum from possibly around the 1920s, I believe. The manufacturer is New York, New York. It has been fully serviced and restored, but that was a few years ago. The cord is a replacement braided cloth electrical cord for rewiring antique lamps and electric fans. The bag actually says Regina on it but I painted over the logo back a few years ago and hand silk screened the Imperial logo onto the bag, carefully with calligraphy pens, so that the logo matched the label tag that also says Imperial. At the time I just wanted to make this machine look more factory original, even though it's really not. The bag actually is a factory original Regina bag. The machine does run and works decently. although there's a little bearing noise from the bushings being somewhat worn.
As a side note it has been sitting around gathering dust for a while, as the polished cast aluminum is somewhat tarnished. I have not used it much at all since I got it as a Christmas gift, back a few years ago!
From Liam

 

[vacuumheaven05]

Quick Thought

I also have a new video on my YouTube channel, "Vacuum Heaven". It's of my 1920's Imperial upright vacuum. Please check that out too, as I do a demonstration of the machine running and I also share a story about how I ended up acquiring the vacuum in the first place.

 

[funvacfan]

Watched

your video. Your vacuum looks great, and it sounds like it has tremendous airflow! I have yet to find/run across one of the antique straight suction uprights like yours.

 

[vacuumheaven05]

Reply

I don't know very much information about the history of the Imperial Vacuum company. My best guess is that it was possibly a private labeled Regina manufactured machine. I'd really like to know more about the vacuum I have. I wonder how valuable my Imperial is or could be as far as worth goes. How rare are these machines?
From Liam

 

[hygiene903]

Nice Find Liam!

Saw the video and you have a nice collection! Your Imperial looks and sounds good! However, I don't think your Imperial was private labeled by Regina, as I have 2 of them in my collection (a model 39 and a model 59) and it really doesn't resemble either one of them. It is possible that Imperial built their own machines back then, but if it is indeed a private label it looks more to me like something that might have been made by Birtman, Clements, Hamilton-Beach, or Landers, Frary & Clark. Here are pics of my Regina 39 and 59 for comparison.
Jeff

 

[hoover300]

Hygiene903

This is a 1919 Regina model M, with a replaced bag that I owned for a short time. While it appears to have a few changes to the Imperial, handle being a main one along with nozzle width, they appear very similar.

 

[vacuumheaven05]

One Thought

So, If my machine wasn't made by the Regina vacuum company, then I wonder what the history of the manufacturer is? I tried to find information on the internet about the Imperial vacuum company and really couldn't find any information or history about the manufacturer. Maybe someone has more information about the history or other clues about the manufacturer. All I know is that the company was located in New York, as it says on the label tag.

From Liam

 

[vacuumheaven05]

Question

My Imperial vacuum seems like a very rare machine. Does someone know about how to find the value or how much worth an antique vacuum cleaner, like mine is? What are the price ranges that most rare or uncommon antique vacuum cleaners sell for? What is the value of most 1920s vacuum sweepers that sell, depending on their condition and their functionality, If they run well or have issues? Any information about machines like mine or ones similar, will help me determine what the worth of the Imperial upright vacuum really is!

From Liam

 

[vacuumheaven05]

Just Got Clues

I just got some good clues as to the manufacturer of my Imperial vacuum cleaner from the 1920s. I looked at the label on the machine and the manufacture of this machine says, "Vacuum Specialty Co. Inc. 111 West 42nd Street, New York. I don't know hardly any other information about the manufacturer or the history of the "Vacuum Specialty Company", and would like to learn more.
I found this Advertisement from 1928 that is for the "Imperial" Vacuum cleaner, and it mentions the Vacuum Specialty Company and their location.

From Liam

 

[hygiene903]

Hoover 300

This is the first time I've ever seen the Regina model M that you have pictured, but I have to admit that it DOES look quite a bit like Liam's Imperial. The only Regina upright models I had seen before were the "duckbill platypus" design like mine, or the Brush-N-Beat models they put out in the 60's.
Liam, as far as worth or value is concerned, I'm going to tell you the same thing that most other collectors will probably tell you, that a vintage vacuum cleaner is only worth what someone is WILLING TO PAY YOU FOR IT. Although rarity and condition do figure in to an extent, the bottom line is someone has to want a machine bad enough to pay the price a seller is asking for it. For example, if you were to put your Imperial up for sale for $100 and get no responses, it's probably not worth that, but if someone offers $75, there's your answer. Best advice I could give you is keep it and enjoy it, and don't worry about what it might be worth. And if it was a Christmas gift, that's all the more reason to keep it!
Jeff

 

[vacuumheaven05]

Response

I have had this machine for over a few years and I'll only be collecting more rare or uncommon antique vacuums. As for the Imperial upright vacuum, I'll hold onto it in the meantime. Honestly, most collectors will sell machines for a price that another collector or someone is willing to spend money for. The price depends on what someone is willing to spend on to buy the machine. Of course, the price also depends on the condition and functionality of the vacuum.

 

[hygiene903]

Liam,

Apparently you got it, because your response was pretty much the same thing that I was trying to tell you. That's good! I just wasn't sure if you understood that when I saw your earlier post asking about worth, value, and price. Glad we're on the same page there!
Jeff