To one of my oldest and best vacuum cleaner buddies. Mike Hays. those of you who were not around in the VCCC early days. cant imagine what a revelation it was to find others like us. remember. there was no internet in those days. or at least not for the masses. we called each other on the phone. our conventions were very much like what Tom Gasko does today,,,he was there then. along with a small group of others. we may not see each other very often. or talk to each other that often. but those friendships were forged of iron and we are all still friends after all these years.But getting back to Mike Hays. Mike has given me permission to tell just what my big project has been for the last 4 months. I have been traveling back and forth to his home in Ohio and the collection I told everyone about was his. he literally gave me his entire legacy. I can never repay him for what he gave me. but I can let everyone know just what a great friend he is. and what great friends all that old group were and still are. Many thanks again to a fine person who will never be forgotten.
A big Thank You!
- Thread starter kenkart
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dysonman1
Well-known member
Hans, I have known both you and Mike for more than two decades. We were some of the very first members of the old VCCC. People have no idea what those conventions were actually like, and it's truly a shame. Mike is an awesome guy. I've had the pleasure of being at his home and eating his cooking in the past. Donnie and I can't wait to come visit you and Donald and see Mike's Machines in their new home. Congratulations. They couldn't have gone to a better guy. You're correct about friendships being forged in iron.
I think
You just had to be there in the beginning to understand how truly magical it was. you have to remember. there was no social media. no tablets. no hand held devices. the rich folks had a few cell phones that looked like bricks. and we all thought we were the only ones who collected vacuums. most people thought we were idiots or worse. so when I read in the VDTA news of a guy who collected vacuums. I was overjoyed!! it was 1994 and Craig Long had placed a ad. I called him and he put me in touch with Alex Tabor and John Lucia. who signed me up. they were amazed that I had even heard of their club. then I think we had maybe 15 or 20 members. I soon met Charli Lester. Billy Lipman and Roger Proehl. Mike Rogers. as well as Tom Gasko and Clay Floyd and Mike Hays.I sdoon had to start paying the phone bill as some months it ran over 200.00. which my Mother wouldn't pay..LOL.the first convention I went to was Allentown Pa which Mike Pletcher and Bob Kautzman hosted. in 96 we went to StLouis which was fantastic.everyone was there. Tania came and we all got to know and love her as well as David Watters and John Young. we stayed in moderately priced motels and didn't have fancy parties. we just were a bunch of laid back folks enjoying our hobby that most outsiders thought odd at best. I wish we could go back to those days. we collected VINTAGE vacs. then we considered anything made after the 60s new!!These guys have remained great friends. but best of all we had no power struggles and very little drama then. just FUN!
You just had to be there in the beginning to understand how truly magical it was. you have to remember. there was no social media. no tablets. no hand held devices. the rich folks had a few cell phones that looked like bricks. and we all thought we were the only ones who collected vacuums. most people thought we were idiots or worse. so when I read in the VDTA news of a guy who collected vacuums. I was overjoyed!! it was 1994 and Craig Long had placed a ad. I called him and he put me in touch with Alex Tabor and John Lucia. who signed me up. they were amazed that I had even heard of their club. then I think we had maybe 15 or 20 members. I soon met Charli Lester. Billy Lipman and Roger Proehl. Mike Rogers. as well as Tom Gasko and Clay Floyd and Mike Hays.I sdoon had to start paying the phone bill as some months it ran over 200.00. which my Mother wouldn't pay..LOL.the first convention I went to was Allentown Pa which Mike Pletcher and Bob Kautzman hosted. in 96 we went to StLouis which was fantastic.everyone was there. Tania came and we all got to know and love her as well as David Watters and John Young. we stayed in moderately priced motels and didn't have fancy parties. we just were a bunch of laid back folks enjoying our hobby that most outsiders thought odd at best. I wish we could go back to those days. we collected VINTAGE vacs. then we considered anything made after the 60s new!!These guys have remained great friends. but best of all we had no power struggles and very little drama then. just FUN!
hygiene903
Well-known member
Congratulations Hans!
I agree with Tom, Mike's collection couldn't have found a better home! I also had the pleasure of meeting and visiting Mike in his home about 10 or 11 years ago. Norm Brown took my son and I to meet him. Truly a great guy, great cook, and an awesome host! And his collection was the largest I've ever seen! Think he had over 600 vacs at the time, and about 300 kitchen appliances. He served sloppy joes, coleslaw, chips & dip, for lunch with brownies for dessert, and I remember we had to move vacuums out of the way so we could sit down at the table. All homemade (except the chips of course) and all delicious. He also had an extensive and well organized paper collection. Manuals and brochures were in sleeves in binders, and he also showed us several old Consumer Reports (I think from the 40's) he had. Truly a memorable day spent with a great guy and his awesome collection!
Jeff
I agree with Tom, Mike's collection couldn't have found a better home! I also had the pleasure of meeting and visiting Mike in his home about 10 or 11 years ago. Norm Brown took my son and I to meet him. Truly a great guy, great cook, and an awesome host! And his collection was the largest I've ever seen! Think he had over 600 vacs at the time, and about 300 kitchen appliances. He served sloppy joes, coleslaw, chips & dip, for lunch with brownies for dessert, and I remember we had to move vacuums out of the way so we could sit down at the table. All homemade (except the chips of course) and all delicious. He also had an extensive and well organized paper collection. Manuals and brochures were in sleeves in binders, and he also showed us several old Consumer Reports (I think from the 40's) he had. Truly a memorable day spent with a great guy and his awesome collection!
Jeff
I remember that Allentown convention well, Hans. It was my favorite of all of them. I made great friends there 21 years ago and enjoyed seeing all the collections through the years. I had the pleasure of visiting the Michael Hays museum many times and I'm glad you now are caring for the machines.
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