1920's OHIO TUEC

[ellenk727]

Hello everyone,

I was hoping to gather a little bit of information about this vacuum that I found at an estate sale. From what I could gather, it was made in the 1920s. Just wondering if anyone out there had any more information about it, or knows what it might be worth. Thanks!

Ellen

 

[jrdavis]

that's awesome. I live in a small town in Oklahoma and my dad was a veterinarian so he and mom knew a lot of people. Dad had more business than the others in town because he also worked on large animals and the others didnt. Anyway, this being mom and dad knew a lot of people and a lot of people knew about my interest in vacuums. I got a huge surprise one day after school I found out one of dads clients had left me an old Ohio(however mine said "Modernized" Ohio on the motor. it ran a bit rough because the old bearings in the motor were shot. the motor is gone now but I still have everything else-bag, cord,handle wheels and nozzle.the bag I have is red color with gold lettering. Does yours run?

 

[madman]

Nice!

1920s is a very good guess. It's definitely around there, possibly a bit earlier, depending on the most recent patent date listed.

 

[kenkart]

One of Stann Kanns

Favorite vacuums I think it might be a few years older than you think, probably 1915 or so

 

[jrdavis]

what are the patent dates on it Ellen?

 

[phaeton]

An Ad for the Ohio Tuec Vacuum on eBay

Hello EllenK727 and All,
Great little vacuum you have.
On eBay there is an ad from 1923 for the Ohio Tuec which is interesting. It indicates the wheels drive the brush and and when you put the handle down it will start the motor.
eBay Item No. 153037215523.
It seem the company also made central vacuums the Tuce 170 of 1910 - 1912 (Google Search).
Also check out Thread Number 21822 from 8-6-2013 of Member bvac6.
Thank you for Looking,
Pete

 

[madman]

Pulling the handle turns it on? Now that's cool. It does kinda look like the switch is designed to be struck by a part of the wishbone.

 

[tolivac]

Modern Koblentz upright vacuums work that way.The raising of the handle turns the vacuum on.

 

[ellenk727]

The most recent patent date listed is July 22nd 1913.

I haven't tried to see if it works yet. There is a spot on top to add oil (which I have NEVER seen on a vacuum) so i didn't want to take any chances because I dont know anything about adding oil, or what would happen if I turned it on without oil in it.

Thanks for any info you have!

Ellen

 

[huskyvacs]

Yes, I would rent or buy an air compressor and blow out all the dust from the motor once you take the top off. Don't blindly add oil to it, because you could be putting oil onto dust and then gum up the motor with that sludge. Also the condition of the cord as well.

 

[madman]

Check to see that the motor spins freely. If the cord isn't exposed anywhere, and isn't too terribly crumbly, and you feel adventurous, you could try plugging it in. If it's not on fire by this point, turn it on. Don't let it run for more than one second, as the bearings are likely dry. If you've gotten this far, congratulations! It works. It'll probably need a complete teardown and any relevant maintenance, ie, replace the cord and any internal wires in bad shape, inspect the motor and bearings (oil them directly and through the oil hole), etc, etc.

If it's on fire, then you're in for a little more work.

You might want to plug it into a surge protector type power strip, one with its own circuit breaker. Plug it in while the power strip's switch is off. This way, you can flip it on and back off immediately if sparks start flying.

 

[akabent]

A thought, and a Request:

<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A good friend who is very leary of electricity and less adventurous than I mentioned that he only plugs 'suspect' cleaners into a protected (fuse-protected)  electrical strip first which actually is a very reasonable way to 'check out' a new-old acquisition!!!</span>


 


<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Would you consider taking a picture of the bottom of the machine as well?</span>


 


<span style="font-size: 12pt;">RB</span>