It’s bulk trash collection time of the month here in the vicinity and I’ve come across that Shark I mentioned a few weeks ago but due to too many issues decided it should go back to the trash.
Now yesterday I came across a Kenmore Progressive canister a block down on the same street as that Shark and on a run to get a pizza last night a Hoover windtunnel self propelled upright and some sort of small red and black upright as well that was on a busier street so I couldn’t slow down to see what it was. The little red and black upright I’m guessing is a dirt devil and not interested...I can tell it’s a bagless, inexpensive “plastivac” and I already have one of those and it’s irritating me with the nasty filter that clogs instantly and it will likely get donated so I’ll leave that for someone else to rescue. The Hoover had the turbo tool mini power brush and since these by Hoover work quite well and it was on my morning walk, I took the turbo brush. There were no other attachments, just the hose and it is a bagged model and I’ll leave that for someone else or the trash too as I’m not interested.
Being a canister guy...I decided to swing by the house with the Kenmore progressive today and put it in the car. Got it home, it runs fine, isn’t very old at all, but the swivel neck on the “power mate” power nozzle is broken in two and someone had duct taped it at one point but there was no tape on it. I suspect someone else pulled the vac off the trash, pulled the tape off and threw it back on the pile as now the whole thing was in a different spot on the pile and the power nozzle was no longer attached to the wand like it was when I first saw it.
Anyway, I don’t really need any more vacuums so not sure what I’ll do. It does have the floor brush and the combination dusting brush upholstery tool. I didn’t try the power nozzle yet. The crevice tool is missing as is the mini power Mate(power mate jr.?) but the one from the windtunnel will work with it. The hose, wands, and existing tools are in good shape as is the canister as well. I did not try the power nozzle yet to see if it runs, but it likely does as I’m sure they chucked the whole thing due to the broken neck. I found a replacement swivel neck already for $19.99 on ezvacuum.com with free shipping and sears wanted $40 for the same part on their site. I may buy the part...replace it, clean it up and just sell it on eBay if ebay pricing of sold similar models yields it to be worth the time. I have plenty of crevice tools to fit one with it so the set can be complete again.
I have a friend who likes Kenmore and I think he has the same model but in purple instead of white so he may want it for his second story perhaps.
One part of me was ready to haul it back to the trash pile once I saw the broken neck but then another option of just throwing away the power nozzle and affixing the floor brush to the wand and donating it to habitat as a “hard floor canister” came to mind. It’s not all that old so I’m sure there’s plenty of life left in it.
Closely looking at these Kenmore canisters...this is the third I’ve picked up in recent years...shows me that yeah..they seem to be a bit better built than some machines to a degree...but really confirm for me why I really like the old American Electrolux machines and even Aerus machines so much more. I still have yet to experience a Miele thoroughly and have never seen or touched a SEBO in person to be able to compare those highly regarded current machines.
I’ll update as things progress with the “Progressive”! Ha! That just came to me!
Jon
Now yesterday I came across a Kenmore Progressive canister a block down on the same street as that Shark and on a run to get a pizza last night a Hoover windtunnel self propelled upright and some sort of small red and black upright as well that was on a busier street so I couldn’t slow down to see what it was. The little red and black upright I’m guessing is a dirt devil and not interested...I can tell it’s a bagless, inexpensive “plastivac” and I already have one of those and it’s irritating me with the nasty filter that clogs instantly and it will likely get donated so I’ll leave that for someone else to rescue. The Hoover had the turbo tool mini power brush and since these by Hoover work quite well and it was on my morning walk, I took the turbo brush. There were no other attachments, just the hose and it is a bagged model and I’ll leave that for someone else or the trash too as I’m not interested.
Being a canister guy...I decided to swing by the house with the Kenmore progressive today and put it in the car. Got it home, it runs fine, isn’t very old at all, but the swivel neck on the “power mate” power nozzle is broken in two and someone had duct taped it at one point but there was no tape on it. I suspect someone else pulled the vac off the trash, pulled the tape off and threw it back on the pile as now the whole thing was in a different spot on the pile and the power nozzle was no longer attached to the wand like it was when I first saw it.
Anyway, I don’t really need any more vacuums so not sure what I’ll do. It does have the floor brush and the combination dusting brush upholstery tool. I didn’t try the power nozzle yet. The crevice tool is missing as is the mini power Mate(power mate jr.?) but the one from the windtunnel will work with it. The hose, wands, and existing tools are in good shape as is the canister as well. I did not try the power nozzle yet to see if it runs, but it likely does as I’m sure they chucked the whole thing due to the broken neck. I found a replacement swivel neck already for $19.99 on ezvacuum.com with free shipping and sears wanted $40 for the same part on their site. I may buy the part...replace it, clean it up and just sell it on eBay if ebay pricing of sold similar models yields it to be worth the time. I have plenty of crevice tools to fit one with it so the set can be complete again.
I have a friend who likes Kenmore and I think he has the same model but in purple instead of white so he may want it for his second story perhaps.
One part of me was ready to haul it back to the trash pile once I saw the broken neck but then another option of just throwing away the power nozzle and affixing the floor brush to the wand and donating it to habitat as a “hard floor canister” came to mind. It’s not all that old so I’m sure there’s plenty of life left in it.
Closely looking at these Kenmore canisters...this is the third I’ve picked up in recent years...shows me that yeah..they seem to be a bit better built than some machines to a degree...but really confirm for me why I really like the old American Electrolux machines and even Aerus machines so much more. I still have yet to experience a Miele thoroughly and have never seen or touched a SEBO in person to be able to compare those highly regarded current machines.
I’ll update as things progress with the “Progressive”! Ha! That just came to me!
Jon
