Finally got an Electrikbroom

[justjunque]

Hey,
I've been keeping my eyes open for some incarnation of the Regina Electrikbroom for many years, and they just never seem to show up. Today, it finally happened. I don't know how old it is. I haven't even plugged it in to see how it sounds, or if it works at all. The store put a sticker on it that said "Tested Works!" That's all I have to go on at this point.
When I got it, I couldn't even find a tag with a model number or anything. After watching a couple of videos, I believe I need to remove the dust cup to find the tag. I'll do that tomorrow. What I can tell you is that it's turquoise, it's a two-speed, and to my eye, it looks like maybe 1960s. It does have the "Pile Dial".
For the $3 that they were asking for it, I took a chance.
I know they're not great performers. There's essentially no filtration. Etc etc.
But, they are a piece of vacuum history. And, for whatever reason, I've always liked them.
I'd still like to find a 1970s era version, in like a gold, or rust color; something typical '70s.
But, I'm glad I finally added one to the hoard.
I'll attach the one obligatory sideways picture, for your viewing pleasure. LOL

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Nice color

My grandmother had a dark green one. I was given one of this model.   Best of luck with it.

 

[justjunque]

Well, I still haven't plugged it in. I'd actually like to give it a little cleaning before I do so. But, I did remove the dust cup, and got a picture of the info.
It would be wonderful if that picture would post right side up, but...we'll see.
Like most of the vacuums I've found lately, I was expecting the dust cup to be overflowing, and probably the whole bag to be stuffed full of schmutz. But, it was surprisingly clean! All I saw in the dust cup, besides a thin layer of dust, was a rubber band, and what appeared to be one piece of tinsel.
The two speed switch feels a little wonky. But, I won't know for sure until I run it. I believe the middle position is "Off", up is "Low", and down is "High".
But it doesn't feel like it clicks solidly into any of those positions.
If anyone can tell me anything about it, based on the tag, that would be great!

Edit:
And, of course, the picture posted upside down.

 

[justjunque]

One more picture, showing the switch and cord strain relief.
The upper cord hook is a quick release. I don't know if it's accurate, but I read somewhere that that feature was introduced in 1965. So, that would mean this example is no older than that.

 

[ct77]

That's pretty cool! I really like the color too. I also like that toggle switch - which actually simplifies things because if it turns out that the switch is bad, it should be pretty easy to replace. It looks like it's just a simple SPDT toggle switch, which even hardware stores like Home Depot have. I hope you have a chance to test it soon and it works!
- Chris

 

[ct77]

I knew it looked familiar!

...I was looking at your pictures again, and somewhere deep in my mind that vacuum seemed strangely familiar. And the name "Regina" clicked. I just looked in an old photo album and I found a picture that my mom apparently took of ME when I was a little kid, and we had a very similar vacuum!

I'm not sure of the exact date, but I'm thinking this could be around 1985-1986.

I know the picture is not too good (I just took a picture of it with my cell phone because I'm just too lazy right now to scan it, ha). But can you tell what year/model the vacuum might be? It really does look like a Regina ElectrikBroom like yours, but maybe a later one. It looks very similar, but just different colors. Sometime I really want to get the exact same model we had when I was little, just out of nostalgia.

 

[justjunque]

What a great picture!
If you can get a clearer scan, that would be cool.
I'm the farthest thing from an expert, but it looks like a Regina to me! Might even have the "Rug Pile Dial".
I'm going to shoot for plugging mine in and testing it for motor function later today. We'll see. I also have my poor Panasonic pulled apart for cleaning, way more than I ever intended. So, that's sort of a priority right now. I'm hoping I can figure out how to put it back together when the time comes.

 

[justjunque]

Well, it was a quick test, but I did it.
I plugged it in, and ran it on low for a few seconds. Then, off. Then, ran it on high for a few seconds.
"Off", "LO" and "HI" all worked fine, and no crazy noises or anything.
There may have been a little growling on the wind-down, but I don't really know what one of these is supposed to sound like. This is my first experience with one.
I think my maternal grandmother had one when I was very young, but I don't remember anything about it. And, I don't think I ever got to use it. It may have been a different brand, or a Regina, branded for someone else. Or, it may have been a Regina. I don't even remember what color it was.
But, I'm calling this a successful test! I love it!
And, I just now noticed that what I thought was just a sort of filigree diamond pattern on the bag, is actually made up of the word "Electrikbroom" in cursive writing, like a million times! (Slight exaggeration)

 

[ct77]

That's awesome! Great news that it's working. I looks to be in pretty good condition in your pictures. I hope you will have luck with your Panasonic vacuum too!

 

[justjunque]

Thanks, Chris!
Yeah. The Regina is in really nice cosmetic condition. I think it will clean up great!
I definitely want to try my hand at removing the bag and hand washing it.
I've now successfully washed the outer bags of a Kirby G4, a 1990s Royal metal upright, a Broom Vac, and two Oreck XLs.
But, I still get so nervous that the next one is going to get ruined. Like, all the writing and design will come off the Electrikbroom bag if I wash it.
One of the members here, who has probably hundreds of these, has washed the bags many times. I remember an old post where I think he said he used Castile soap. I know that's very gentle.
Unfortunately, I don't have any. All my other bags, I've hand washed in laundry detergent.
I wish someone really familiar with these would chime in and let me know if that should be safe to use on this one too. That particular member I'm referring to, whose user name I can't remember, doesn't seem to post any more.

 

[ct77]

If you are ever able to disassemble the vacuum and remove the bag, please post an update. I'm pretty sure now that I want to get one of these Reginas sometime in the future, and it would be really helpful to know how to remove and clean the bag.

And yeah, hopefully someone with a little more experience can give you advice. If you ever go on Facebook, there are a bunch of vintage vacuum groups. So maybe you can also trying asking there. But if you do decide to go for it yourself, let me know how it goes! I think that little vacuum will be awesome when you have it all cleaned up and restored!

 

[justjunque]

Yeah. I'm one of the few who don't have a Facebook account.
I know, somewhere in the archives here, removing these bags has been discussed. I remember seeing it. And I'll have to see if I can find it again myself before I attempt it.
I hope you do find one like your family used to own. Especially, since you have that picture of yourself using it! When you find one, you could recreate that picture as an adult!
I don't know about your area, but they don't show up too often around here. I almost didn't believe my eyes when I saw this one, laying on the floor in the thrift store. It looked like it needed to be rescued.
And they were so popular when they were new. I guess most of them probably got thrown away when people got bigger or newer vacuums. If it were me, I would have kept it around for quick clean-ups.
I have seen a couple on Craigslist, but on this side of the country. But you'd have to be willing to pay a little more. And, of course, wait for one to show up closer to you.

 

[vinvac]

That is a great looking Regina. Almost everyone I knew owned one at one point in time.

As far as them not be a great cleaner, I would disagree. They did an excellent job at what they were intended for. Remember, most kitchens in that time frame may have had kitchen carpet. They were awesome for cleaning up those spaces. The early models that had the bare floor brush setting did a good job on tile and hard wood as well.

Later in the 80's when they change over to more plastic, they offered a machine with a powerhead. They also cleaned very well. I used to help care for the Senior Housing Unit in town. Of course the apartments were all carpeted except kitchen and bath. The carpet was a high grade flat industrial carpet. I would recommend to the folks moving in that complained about their old heavy vacuum ( mostly Electrolux canisters with out powerhead and Eureka uprights - Hoover was not popular in our area) that they consider the Regina Electric Broom with power head. The loved them. I would on occasion service them by cleaning the bag with another vacuum and changing the belts.

Great memories.

 

[justjunque]

Thanks, Morgan!
I guess I should have phrased that better. Honestly, I have zero personal experience with the Electrikbroom. I just meant that I don't expect it to clean like a Kirby or something.
And, with just the cloth bag for filtration, I don't imagine it's exactly HEPA.
I have to finish my Panasonic clean-up and re-assembly first. But, I'm definitely looking forward to cleaning up the little Regina and trying it out. My biggest concern is washing the bag without damaging the print. And, that's if I can get the bag off.
I'm very happy to have finally found one. And, in such nice condition, for so little money!

 

[eurekaprince]

The great thing about the Electrikbroom is that like the early Air Way stick vac and the early Vorwerk stick vac, the suction fan is very close to the carpet / floor nozzle - so it does not require a lot of power to suck up the dirt off the surface. The “empties like an ashtray” dust cup made this vac the very first bagless dirt cassette stick vac from way back in the 1940’s.

In Canada, Regina made Electrikbrooms for Eaton’s labelled Viking, and the Bay labelled Baycrest. Every home in our Montreal suburb had an Electrikbroom hanging in their broom closet near the kitchen, or in the laundry room in the basement.

 

[paul]

Nice score, Barry!

Here's a link to a thread with some interesting info. Reply #23 provides the Electrikbroom's timeline:

https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?5653

Regina products (including rebrands) were given 3-digit production codes beginning circa 1966. Yours is marked '818', which indicates August 1968 (unsure what the '1' denotes).

 

[justjunque]

Thanks, Paul!
That's a lot of information! It's great to know what year mine was made!
"Electrikbroomgu", (Joel) is obviously the member I was hoping would chime in on this thread.
I'll have to go back and see if that earlier thread is where he mentioned removing/washing the cloth bag.

 

[eurekaprince]

I forgot: Regina also made Electrikbrooms for Sears. I think they were called Kwik Brooms.

Also: I remember seeing lots of Electrikbrooms on maid carts at American motels in the 1960’s whenever our family took summer vacations at Lake George or Wildwood NJ or other US family beach resorts.

 

[eurekaprince]

Sorry, the Sears versions were called Kwik Sweep.