The 1962 Vacuum Cleaner Report

[unimatic1140]

Today's post on Product Stat give the entire 4000 word report rating vacuum cleaners of all kinds in 1962, makes for a very fun read!

http://www.productstat.com/reviews/vacuum-cleaners-62

 

[vac-o-matic]

Thx Robert! Interesting read!

 

[dysonman1]

I had no idea the Air-Way was so expensive in 1962. $220 is a lot for a straight suction canister. The Filthy Queen was $209, again for straight suction. The Electrolux G with an electric power nozzle was $200. The magazine got it 'wrong' in claiming the PN-1 Elux power nozzle didn't improve deep cleaning. Please. What were they drinking?

 

[kenkart]

I didnt realize..

The 500 Filter Queen was still out then, I thought the 31 came out earlier, also note the Strato Cleaner was still on the market, but I think it was gone by 63.

 

[dysonman1]

The Filter Queen model 31 WAS out by then. Mentioned in the report is the fact the new cleaner came out too late for the tests. Perhaps they bought the cleaners in 1960 or early in 1961 - you'll note the very old style Electrolux model G's hose cord with clips instead of straps. The GE C-100 was a 1960 model as well.

 

[kenkart]

Thats what I thought!

Didnt the first generation 31 come out sometime in 60???..the one with the small decal that still said Filter Queen arund the top .

 

[Metaphor]

I thought this magazine had pretty standardized objective tests for dirt removal? If they said a certain vac removed less dirt than another I would tend to believe them.

It would be nice if some modern magazine had similarly standardized and objective testing criteria for rating vacuums and took the time to test a wide selection of what is on the market today publishing the test results. I think it would burst a lot of bubbles over in the Contemporary discussion.

 

[kenkart]

Wouldnt it be nice!

To have this much variety in the new vacuums today, these were all very different, not like todays look alike stuff.

 

[Metaphor]

It's not all look alike today. Open your eyes. Miele, Sebo, Kenmore, Electrolux, Aerus all have very distinct physical appearances. I think it is especially true of the bagged canisters. Some like Electrolux, Kenmore and Panasonic have some innovation going on in the bag chamber with the bag supported off the bottom of the chamber by a secondary basket (Panasonic calls it Optiflow, can't remember what Kenmore calls it) to maintain airflow as the bag fills. Some allow the bag to be removed from the vacuum in the basket (Panasonic and some new Electrolux models) which is a pretty slick feature. Panasonic's version is like a little picnic basket with a folding carry handle. Some vacs have hoses that swivel from the top while other canisters still have straight end hoses attaching to the front. Suction and airflow of modern vacuums are both vastly superior to the best one could buy forty years ago (look at the weak sealed water lift and airflow numbers of a late 1960s "Sears Best" canister and compare these to what you can buy today). And of course you have the top filling canisters like Patriot, etc. Lots of diversity today.

Btw, one could argue that GE, Kenmore, Royal and Electrolux cylinder vacuums of the 1940s and 1950s were indistinguishable. It is a weak argument for either era.

 

[kenkart]

The canisters themselves..

Are not so bad...even if they are all plastic....Its the attachments I am most dissapointed with, dusting brushes that might dust a doll house, pitiful floor brushes, those abominable plastic wands on the newe Aerus and Tri Star machines...big awkward power nozzles, and most of all, clunky pistol grip hoses....no thanks, I will continue to use vintage...and when you find a new canister with more airflow than my 57 Apex Strato Cleaner....I will buy it!..And NO ONE makes a good straight suction rug tool anymore, unless you can still get the flipover one with the Aerus.

 

[Metaphor]

Panasonic attachments are basically the same pieces that came on Sears vacuums thirty years ago. Standard 1 1/4 inch wands and full sized attachments, just like the old days. It is one of their great virtues. Aerus still has excellent traditional attachments as well. But, really, who today wastes time trying to clean carpet with a suction tool? That is just beating your head against the wall. It's like riding a horse to work every day. Sure you can, but what's the point? Get a powered floor brush and do it right. A vacuum is first and foremost a tool. If you need to clean house, you aren't going to waste time and energy cleaning carpet with a silly suction tool when a powered floor brush does the job so much better and so much faster. I sure as heck wouldn't waste my time and energy that way.

 

[pr-21]

Aerus does still make the flip over rug and floor brush

I agree with Hans, I use the flip over tool for throw rugs, then I flip it over for all the hard surface floors, wood and tile. I do not ever run an upright over a bare floor, not even if you can turn off the brush roll. A horsehair floor brush is best. Rainbow also has a wonderful floor brush. They also make a rug floor tool that I have, but never used.....

Han's, I find that the Aerus and Rainbow floor tools will work on hard surface or throw rugs. It will not work well under a bed....will see if the Rainbow rug tool will fit my new E2 Black Rainbow next time I use it and vacuum under the bed with it.


Sincerely,

PR-21

 

[Metaphor]

Uprights? I thought we were talking about canister vacuums? Yes, for hard floors use a good straight suction horse hair floor brush. But for throw rugs and carpets I use a powered floor brush. Straight suction won't do the job. To me it is pointless to have a straight suction tool for carpets and rugs. It will never match the cleaning performance of a powered floor brush.

 

[kenkart]

I use

Straight suction rug tools 95% of the time..it worked years ago, so it will work now.Its amazing the sand and grit a good straight suction tool will pull out behind any upright.

 

[Metaphor]

I have dogs Kenkart. They are a long haired breed that sheds. Straight suction won't touch dog hair. I tried using different attachments. Even the full sized Panasonic floor brush teamed with a brand new full sized canister has a hard time on a couple of the throw rugs, requiring several achingly slow passes to remove the majority of the hair. Some never comes out. Simple sand and pebbles, maybe straight suction is ok, but not dog hair.

 

[suckolux]

some of our carpets have changed over the years also

 

[electrolux137]

~
~

[COLOR=#3366ff; font-size: 10pt]"....[W]ho today wastes time trying to clean carpet with a suction tool? That is just beating your head against the wall. It's like riding a horse to work every day. Sure you can, but what's the point? Get a powered floor brush and do it right. A vacuum is first and foremost a tool. If you need to clean house, you aren't going to waste time and energy cleaning carpet with a silly suction tool when a powered floor brush does the job so much better and so much faster. I sure as heck wouldn't waste my time and energy that way." [/COLOR]


 



While it may just be beating my head against the wall,  few things give me more pleasure than vacuuming the large oriental rug in my living room with an Electrolux Model XXX and rug nozzle. It's a beautiful, pleasant relaxing sound, unlike the jet engine screech of most modern machines. Someone who's never used one might be very surprised to discover just how much dirt -- including dog hair -- it will pick up.

For me, collecting is more about nostalgia and reminiscing about vintage vacuum cleaners (along with the industrial design aspect) than it is about efficiency and getting the job done better and faster. For me, a vacuum cleaner is not necessarily "first and foremost a tool."


 


Some folks may consider this silly, but then again, some folks think vacuum cleaner obsessions are silly in the first place. So I really don't get too concerned about what other people think!

 

[kenkart]

Re Lux 30 rug tool....

The Gleaner bar works wonders on dog hair, also the GE Twin Clean rug tool, and the Filter Queen tool will grab it up easily,Dont try to pick up hair with a Saniway rug tool....you just roll it around...I just really dont like a clunky power nozzle, not to say I never use one, but usually its a Electrolux pn1 or 2..

 

[kirby519]

Even today there is some call for a good straight suction rug tool. Those that have natural fiber carpets and area rugs are in less danger of damage to carpets made of natural fibers. while a good cleaning with a rotating bush with softer bristles is a good thing to do from time to time. Cleaning those carpets to often with a vacuum with revoving brushes designed for todays thick dense pile plush carpets would do more harm than good over time.

Also it comes down to a matter of personal preference. I do know some one that has had deep pile wool carpet and now a deep pile nylon carpet(over 30 yrs old) that has never been vacuumed with a powered floor nozzle. the only a straight suction tool is ever used on her carpets. Even when she had kids and pets living in her home and the carpet looks good. She also has never had the carpets shampooed or hot water or steam extraction cleaned. only spot cleaned as needed.

My personal wish is for the good quality above floor attachaments that came with all vacuums of years gone by. Todays combo attachaments and small sized tools are of no use or value to me.