1932 Delco Vacumatic 32 volt DC - For Sale

[vacfanatic]

Thought I would shout out to the Vacuum collectors here who might not scour online for sales too often. I've posted my Delco on ebay in case anyone was interested.

I can be reached at [email protected]

~Andrew

http://cgi.ebay.com/1930s-Vintage-D...in_0?hash=item335512f120&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[ohio_tuec]

Well, I'm sure you'll make a mint advertising it here :-(

 

[crevicetool]

That is just a beautiful machine.

Andrew you sure did a fantastic job an that Delco. It looks better than new. So sparkly!!!!

Just wonderful.

Rick

 

[vacfanatic]

Thanks

Thanks Rick - I just though it would be nice to share my sale with the group here, I know that I'd rather have the Delco go to someone who would love it for their collection vs just anybody on ebay.

Andrew

 

[ohio_tuec]

That's true Andrew, but in all due respect, by advertising it here you are GUARANTEED to get top dollar for it. It ruins the thrill of the chase and makes the competition that much more fierce on eBay. It probably wouldn't make that much of a difference anyway, but listing it here just sort of "cheapens" things and ruins the fun. We all know the eBay waters are shark infested and in the final analysis, the only one who comes out smelling like a rose is the seller. The possibility of finding an ultra rare vintage vacuum for a reasonable price goes from slight to impossible. Just my two cents....

 

[vintagehoover]

Ohio_tuec:

It's not Andrew's responsibility to provide you or anyone else with eBay 'fun'. He's spent a lot of time and effort restoring that Delco and he deserves to get top dollar for it.

Where's the sense risking letting it go unnoticed by the collecting community, and possibly getting a lot less than it's worth, just because some people treat eBay like a game, and not the marketplace that it actually is? Obviously a seller is looking to get the most money they can out of whatever they're selling. Few of us are wealthy enough - especially in the current economy - to let the gems of our collections go for a pittance in a token gesture towards pleasing a minority of club members who think that would be somehow more sporting.

The practice of posting eBay auctions on this forum has caused controversy before, but until we have some clear rules on the Rules and Guidelines page, detailing what is allowed and what isn't, people are free to do as they wish.

Good luck Andrew - you deserve every penny you make on that Delco, and I hope it does well for you!

 

[lux1521]

That is one slick vacuum. As a big GM fan, I'd love to have one some day, but it will be a while. It will probably be around the same time I get that '58 Buick I think about a lot. What would be even cooler would be to get the hand held model (saw one on ebay once) to clean my car with. Anyone have pics of other models by the way?

Regarding the posting of ebay auctions, I have no problem with people promoting their own stuff. If the seller is clever enough to advertise properly, and know what it is their selling, then good for them. Its when people post other peoples stuff that bothers me.

 

[vintagehoover]

'Anyone have pics of other models by the way?'

Erick, here's the hand-held, the Delco Hand-y Vacumatic.

There was also a straight-suction upright, but I only have patent drawings of that, which I guess you will have already seen? I did post them back when Andrew first got this cleaner.

 

[lux1521]

Yes, that looks like it. Interesting body shape. This type of cleaner can be quite effective considering its simplicity. As a fellow Hoover dustette owner, you probably know what I'm talking about.

Actually, I've never seen the patent for Delco cleaners. I must have missed the ones that you posted. I have done research on Delco though. Its interesting how many brand names GM used at various times, and right up through the 90s. Throughout your car you would have parts from various divisions, and they would be labeled as such.

 

[tolivac]

That Delco vacuum would have worked at a summer cottage my Mom used to have-she would go there when she was a little girl.The whole island was wired for 32V.A generator and battery bank in a shed provided the 32V to the other cottages on the island.She said that grandmother used to have a sewing machine that ran from 32V.There were LOTS of 32V lightbulbs there-the place was rewired for 120V-Like a dumb kid at the time I tried a 32V bulb on 120V-it made like a flashbulb!

 

[vinvac]

Andrew,

Thanks for sharing your sale with all of us. That is a fabulous machine and hopefully it will go to a good home. It is so easy to miss something like this on Ebay if you don't check everyday.

How long did it take you to get the machine in such mint condition?

Morgan

 

[aeoliandave]

I certainly remember the condition this Delco was in, filthy bag and broken wheel and all, when Andrew took charge of it quite a few months ago. The transformation is spectacular, Andrew. Good luck to you and this is one auction we'll be watching with bated breath.

Dave

 

[ohio_tuec]

Posting eBay auctions on VacuumLand

It would appear as if no one who feels like I do has come forth as of yet. Jack, offering it on this website FIRST (like Kyle Krichbaum just did) for one of us to buy for a flat amount is not a "token gesture." Everybody screws everybody else over on eBay (ala "sniping"), and now with their new policy can do so with anonymity. Clearly, he knows what he wants, as there is a reserve on the auction, and with the work he put in, will get alot more than he paid for it. I agree the economy is down right now, but eBay is pretty recession-proof. Frankly, I would rather not eat then sell gems like my Kenmore Imperial or Golden Trophy Kirby Tradition. Whether it was posted on this site or not, the right collector will see it on eBay, and there is no guarantee it will be one of us. Okay, I am getting down of the pulpit now....

 

[luxg]

Andrew I for one really appreciate the fact that you posted your ebay link here. Like many others I often miss things on ebay. You have done a wonderful job of restoring this machine and I wish you the very best of luck in its sale! Terry

 

[vintagehoover]

Ohio_tuec:

Once again, you've made up your own 'rules' for eBay and the forum, and seem to be expecting everyone else to live by them. Sniping is not against eBay's own rules, so therefore, whether or not you think it's 'fair' that someone will bid at the last minute, either themselves or using a remote bidder, is academic. You call it 'screwing people over'. I call it winning a shiny new (or possibly old!) vac!

Not eating, and putting your collection before your health, is a little extreme. Some of us have to be realistic; we all have bills to pay, and I'll soon have to part with a number of cleaners I'd much rather keep - but frankly, I need the space and I need the money! It's not our business to question Andrew's motive for selling - and certainly not for us to condemn him for doing so. If vacuums are really your financial priority, why not put this week's food-budget towards bidding on and winning the Delco?

If everyone plays so dirty on eBay, and 'the right collector will see it' anyway, why get upset about Andrew posting it here? It just sounds like you've already resigned yourself to the opinion that either way, you won't win it, and venting the bitterness here.

 

[vacfanatic]

How long did it take you to get the machine in such mint con

Morgan,

I'd probably say a good month to a month and a half's worth of weekends. I'd work for a few hours, then save the rest for another day, sometimes I'd work on it after work to unwind from my chaotic days here in the office. I've spent a lot of work trying to restore shine to that 77ish yr old metal. That was a chore at the buffing wheel let me tell you! Thanks for your nice comments!

Regards,
Andrew

 

[vacfanatic]

Thanks everyone

Dave - Thanks for your encouragement This one was quite a bit of work, so selling them is part of being a collector. I can't keep them all, and this one is really unique so I decided to part with it. Being born in 1982, this one is a bit early for my collectors taste, but it was fun to restore! We all have different types of machines we like and want to collect.

Jack - Thanks as well for your comments and everyone else as well. I enjoy hearing nice feedback after displaying my hard work. Makes it really worthwhile!

Andrew

 

[ohio_tuec]

"If vacuums are really your financial priority, why not put this week's food-budget towards bidding on and winning the Delco?" Simple - even if I were to do that, it still wouldn't be enough. There's always some SOB out there with deeper pockets then mine. I consider myself fortunate to have the vintage machines I have before competition got so fierce. I really don't care why Andrew is selling the cleaner, but yes, some of the things that have happened to me on eBay aside from "sniping" (like paying for and never receiving the item, or making an agreement with a seller offline and having it sold out from under me on eBay) have made me extremely bitter. We live in a mean-spirited society and everybody is out to screw everybody else over. Like Captain E.J. Smith so eloquently put it "Women and children first, and every man for himself...." I have already resigned myself to not getting the cleaner, as I already know it will not go for a fair price. And even so, at 32 Volts, it can't be plugged into normal household current. Maybe you have the funds to ship all these vintage vacs to the other side of the pond, but I don't.

 

[kirbyotronic]

Lets forget about the drama brought on from a member and focus on the machine, ok?!

Andrew, you're burning my eyeballs out with those metal polishing jobs of yours! My D80 will love you .

~Alex