400 vacs for sale during the Convention in June

[dysonman1]

I'm getting so excited. The annual Convention of vac collectors is just weeks away. Sixty people so far have confirmed they are coming. And, since it's always held at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum, in St. James, Missouri (every year), how nice that folks don't have to bring any vacuums with them.

I have decided to sell off 2/3 of the vacuum museum's collection. Very rare vacuums, obsolete parts, obsolete bags, etc. are all available for sale. The only machines not for sale are the ones on the Museum's display floor. Whether it's a coffee can Hoover, a vintage Kenmore, a Rexair Series A, or a Kirbeast or Filthy Queen, they will be for sale.

It's amazing the turn out every year, gets bigger and bigger. Convention attendees tell me that by NOT having to PAY a FEE to attend the convention, the free banquet every year, as well as the lack of snobs and 'cliques' (which reminds people of high school), the convention is awesome. People are free to actually 'touch' the vacuums with no 'do not touch' signs anywhere.

This year's surprise is that all the folks attending this years convention get an invitation to my wedding reception, held on Saturday, June 11th. Hawaii themed, so bring a Hawaiian shirt. Blue rubber gloves available to no one will actually have to 'touch' a hoover.

The convention is so much fun every year - lots of pictures will be posted for those who cannot attend.

 

[KirbyCollector01]

Dyson man

Somethings telling me you don't like kirbys and filter queens

 

[dysonman1]

I actually like all vacuums. My friends and I always have jokingly called them Electrosux, Rainblow, Filty Queen, KirBEAST, DieSoon, Rice Car, Comepact, etc. IF I didn't like them, I wouldn't have one of almost every model. My favorite vacuum of all time is the Vacuflo commercial central vacuum (since I can't have a 5 horsepower Spencer).

 

[fantomfan]

When is it?

We get out of school late because we're in New York.
If not, I DO plan to visit the museum before I'm off to college in mid- August.

 

[Miss Mercy]

I'll be there in my grass skirt Tom!

 

[brando_husky]

Wow I'd love more info on the con. It's only a 6 hour drive from me. Might have to take a little road trip!

 

[KirbyCollector01]

Dyson man

Ok

 

[vintagefox]

That sounds like a great deal of fun!
Sadly I'm unable to attend, but will be looking forward to all the photos!

 

[westyfan]

Hey, something local (to me)

I will have to mark my calendar and remember the date. I would love to go to a museum, especially during a convention. It's only 3 hours from me since I live in cape girardeau. Count me in! I know you said that nothing needs to be brought but if help is needed I would do what I can to lend a hand.

 

[singerman]

When is this

When is this going to happening

 

[singerman]

Wait

Sorry,
but can not make it. I start my part time job and work and train all of those days

 

[dysonman1]

The Vacuum Collectors Convention is every year, in June, at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum. This year, the convention begins on June 9 at 9 in the morning. We tour the factory and see the vacuums being made, as well as see the testing labs, where competitive machines are tested for cleaning ability.

Lunch is usually at a diner, and dinner as a group is usually at Coltons.

Friday, June 10, we gather at the Museum at 9. This is when we go through the store room and mezzanine section - hunting old cleaners or old parts. This year, everything is for sale with the exception of the vas on display on the Museum floor. Parts, attachments, etc. will be for sale as well. Disposable bags galore.

We also have a swap meet, where folks can exchange cleaners. While no one has to bring anything with them, if they want to, they are encouraged to bring things for the swap meet.

In the afternoon on Friday, those folks who want to go visiting can go to local St.Louis vacuum collector's homes to see their collections. For those who have already been during past conventions, or for those who wish, we have a cleaning competition for the vintage cleaners, on the vintage rugs they were made to clean. This is at the Museum in the afternoon on Friday.

Saturday morning is spent at the local antique and thrift stores. There's a HUGE store about fifteen minutes west of the Museum, and another wonderful antique mall about ten minutes east. This one always has vacuums in it.

Saturday afternoon, convention guests are invited to my home for a Hawaiian themed reception. Donnie and I got married on May 4, and are having a reception at our home on Saturday, June 11. Hawaiian shirts are requested to be worn.

The only cost to the convention goers is your travel, meals (with the exception of the lunch at my home on Saturday afternoon), and lodging. The motels are not expensive and are very close. The Super 8 in Rolla, MO (ten minutes from Museum) is where most people will stay.

 

[n0oxy]

getting to the convention

Hey everyone, the convention sounds awesome. I'm wondering if anyone is coming from St. Louis or traveling through St. Louis that I might be able to get a ride with. I'm a blind person so cannot drive, well, I guess I could but that would be dangerous. I am more than willing to contribute part of the gas money. Wonder if there are any bagged canisters for sale, that's my favorite kind of vacuum, think I'm going to bring a digital recorder so I can record the sounds of some of the vacuums. I should have done that last August when me and my girl friend visited the museum and I got my Prima. She's not interested in vacuums like I am so has no interest in the convention. I should have 29 vacuums by the time the convention gets here, just got the Metro Vac full sized canister today and have the Windsor and Sandia backpack vacs on the way. Tom, I would love to get a recording of that sunbeam vacuum you showed me, it literally takes that motor more than 10 seconds to wind down when you turn it off. Anyway, if someone could help with transportation, it would be much appreciated.

 

[smow69]

dysonman1

First of all congrats on your up coming wedding''''''On the stuff you have for sale do you have this machine green eureka princess 1st pic the the bag on the green eureka upright in second pic and the bag in the third pic. the two bags will make to vacs original and I have wanted a green princess like this for years we had one when I was young kid growing up.Thank You These are not my pics.

 

[singerman]

Tom

If you can I sent you a email through the vacuum cleaner museum form about a machine from a collection I am interested in. I can't make it out to the meet as I have important things to dothose days.

 

[dysonman1]

Everything must go.

Have had over 70 people now confirmed they are coming to this year's Vacuum Collector's Convention (second weekend in June, Thurs, Fri, Sat).

Here are some of the machine for SALE at the convention:

Vintage uprights - all models and makes
Vintage canisters - all models and makes
Vintage attachments and hoses - all models and makes

 

[dysonman1]

More:

For sale: cheap. All must go. Must be in attendance to purchase.

 

[westyfan]

Wow...

There are so many good looking models in those piles. So much want!

 

[singerman]

Tom

Can you save me that Kirby in the second picture that's what i emailed you about. I can't go those days as I am very Busy. I will come down this summer so please save me that vacuum.

 

[dysonman1]

more vintage machines for sale

This is going to be the best convention ever. Considering my first Vacuum Collector's Convention was in 1994, and I've either gone to them, or held them ever since, this is my 22nd one. I remember the first one, at the Hoover factory, where Mike Hays got us into the Hoover Vaults. I still have lots of pictures of the Vaults.

Here are even more cleaners going up for sale at the Vacuum Cleaner Convention in June.

All Hoovers must go!!!

Hoses galore.

Attachments, bags, and power nozzles.

 

[dysonman1]

Kirby's galore

Some of them new, like the Heritage 1 with cloth shake-out bag.

 

[dysonman1]

KenKarts and Fantoms, oh my. All must GO!!!!

 

[KirbyCollector01]

Oh my god!!!

I really want to get some of those!
I wish I could

 

[dysonman1]

The mezzanine section, above the factory floor, has HUNDREDS of vintage cleaners. All are for sale. From Rexair model A to Electrolux model 11 and 12's, to Westinghouse tank and uprights, GE and Premier, even Dyson (British as well as American models).

Most of these cleaners are duplicates to what is already on display in the Vacuum Cleaner Museum, however, some are just different models. For example, I have all the models of Filter Queen, but only 7 are on display in the Museum. There's no reason to have them ALL.

 

[electrolux137]

"There's no reason to have them ALL."

~
~


When I was a little boy going into First Grade (six years old), my family moved to rural Virginia where the church had built a brand-new parsonage. (My dad was a minister.) It was a large house with four bedrooms. Each of the bedrooms had an enormous walk-in closet about 5 ft. deep and as wide as the length of the room. I shared one of the bedrooms with my little brother, but I claimed the closet as my "inner sanctum" where I put an old school desk and my activity stuff -- play-doh, crayons, paper, etc.


 


Even at that tiny age I was somehow aware of the concept of collecting stuff, in particular vacuum cleaners. I used to sit in there and daydream, "I wish I had one of every Electrolux ever made, and I would keep them in here." Many years later I did end up with one of every Electrolux model (and then some) but no longer have a huge closet in which to store them!"


 


I have always liked the idea of having a complete set of a particular manufacturer's vacuum cleaners, although Electrolux is the only one I ever managed to accumulate. I have, and have had, a lot of Kirbys -- and have come close to having all of them except the really oldest and rarest machines. I'd just keel over dead if I ever walked into a thrift store and saw an Aer-Rotor sitting in there!!

 

[marks_here]

I wood go but I don't have anyone that's interested in seeing a vacuum museum for hours. Plus 2 of my cars just had major service done & it's not like I don't have solid transportation oh well

 

[durango159]

So excited!!

I'll be there, just not sure if I will be able to arrive on Thursday or Friday or Saturday?? My semester is supposed to end on Thursday, I know I have classes to show up for on Wednesday. I don't know what day final projects will be due.

Anyway, as soon as I can get down there I will!! Will be a decent drive but with good music, coffee and occasional stops it shall be done.

 

[n0oxy]

I should be there

Even though I can't drive, I think I can get there using Uber. Tom, mentioning the super 8 in Rolla was helpful. Don't think I can carry any vacuums but I will bring a few attachments. I think I will bring my two favorite hard floor nozzles, the Wessel Werk rd 285 brushless nozzle, and the Wessel Werk turn and clean floor brush. Think I will also bring the rug rat turbine brush, it would be interesting to see how fast some of those older canisters could spin it. As far as purchasing vacuums, I'm mainly interested in canisters that you can still get bags for, probably Electrolux and Kenmore. I can't remember if the museum has any hard floors, but it would be interesting to compare the cleaning ability of some hard floor nozzles.

 

[dysonman1]

The Vacuum Cleaner Museum has LOTS of hard wood floors, from the 1910's room, through the 1930's. Plus the Factory Outlet Store portion has blond as well as dark hardwood floors.

Lots of folks are staying at the Super 8 in Rolla. Four friends are sharing a king size room in St. James at the Greenstay.

This convention is turning out to be our largest yet. People from as far away as New York state as well as California and Arizona and Utah are coming. This is a major convention you won't want to miss.

I will have a lot of fun preparing the food for the final day of Convention. Pulled Pork sliders, fruit salad, ham with cloves and pineapple, potato as well as macaroni salads, and a little beverage we call "Hippie Juice". The party on the last day of Convention is going to be GREAT. Be sure to bring a Hawaiian shirt, there's tiki torches and everything. Hawaiian themed end to the convention.

It all starts one week from Today - Thursday June 9, at the Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James, Missouri.

There's a VERY special 'raffle item' again this year. Can anyone say "purple rain, purple rain"?