A question im often asked about old vacuums!

[kenkart]

"Why on earth would you use one", I have a good answer for them, Quality and performance, I look with amusement at what is on the market today and im totally amazed that people still buy it!! and more amazed at the money they shell out.As most of you who have known me for a while know, I do not own a new or even newer vacuum, no new mixers waffle irons cookware etc, I did buy a new range but sold it after about a year and went back to vintage,I recently looked at a new Rainbow,yes it probably does clean well, but its all plastic, and if what you buy isnt plastic its Chinese made!! I swap around with my daily driver vacs, but usually a Filter Queen stays in the house, along with an Electrolux or two, right now my two newest vacuums are in the house, A Silverado from 1984 and a 1984 Filter Queen, but ALWAYS handy is my 58 801 Royal,which is my favorite upright of all time, and of course there is always a Kenmore and a Apex in the house!!.Things I despise most on new vacuums,1- Electronic controls, 2-plastic wands and big clunky pistol grip hoses, 3- pitiful dusting brushes and other tools, plastic in general..Ok guys who do we have that hates new stuff as much as me!!??

 

[kirbykid]

i also hate newer vacs and new apliances. just a couple days ago, my dishwasher broke. its only a year old

 

[nycwriter]

I have ...

... FIVE rotary-dial phones (connected and working!) throughout my apartment.

A 1965 Hoover percolator.

A 1958 chrome Sunbeam Mixmaster.

A 1970 Commodore electric calculator (desk console that plugs into the wall).

Just to name a few.

 

[xraytech]

I too hate modern consumer goods Hans.

my current daily driver vacs are a late 60s Hoover swingette and an early 80s Hoover Concept. I have no issue rotating my 1956 Citation and early Convertibles into use as well.

In my kitchen I have a Corning electromatic percolator, a 1966 Osterizer Classic VIII and a 1957 Sunbeam Mixmaster, I eat off of vintage Corelle daily, and vintage china and Rogers silver for company. I use vintage Tupperware, corningware, and I cook in vintage Guardian Service and club Aluminum. nI have a 1962 Frigidaire Flair and a 1966 GE 40" range with P*7 that I much prefer over my newer Kenmore smooth top

I use two rotary dial phones(one desk one wall) but keep an older touch tone trimline around, I have a late 70s Litton-Monroe electric calculator, I use vintage furniture: a 1936 waterfall bedroom suite, 40s dining room suite, custom made 1958 living room tables and 60s porcelain stiffel lamps. I use a CRT tv( late 80s Zenith)

I overall much prefer the quality, ease of use and style of vintage stuff.

 

[electromatik]

I love vintage equipment!

I also love certain trends in modern appliances. I really think stainless steel is very goodlooking. Love a stainless steel kitchen. We like to romanticize the past, but generally speaking things last LONGER than they used to. My Mom has a stove with electronic controls that has worked with no problems for 14 years. I can remember when cable set-top boxes would give trouble in about 2 years. Now they last for 10 sometimes. Automobiles are the worst example. Older cars LOOKED better perhaps, but they didn't LAST very long. The 1970's era Chevy Vega rusted through in 2 years and nearly ruined GM. The famous '57 Chevy was a rust bucket-families were known to throw a suitcase in the trunk and have it fall through. I don't think plastic is always ugly and I don't think metal was always beautiful. The "cheapening" of appliances has a benefit often ignored. It's enabling even the poor to attain a level of living they never used to have. Even the poorest of families might can afford a $50 Dirt Devil to make thier homes somewhat cleaner than thier great-grandma could with nothing. There's gotta be a happy medium somewhere!

 

[dysondestijl]

I love vintage, but I use modern (dyson DC25) as my daily driver, however my 80's Electrolux slimlines get used quite a bit too

 

[paul]

Pros to both Vintage and Modern

In general I like the ambiance of my 1966 rambler, its original stove and range hood, white with gold-fleck countertops, original Kohler faucets with blades ("crows feet"), the furniture I purchased from my house's original owners (some of which was purchased in the early '60s), 1959 Rheem-Richmond shelf-back wall lavatory (the faucet assembly is in the basin which allows for sink top shelf space for toiletries), and my Model R and Model G Electrolux vacuum cleaners--also purchased from the original owners of my house.

Accordingly, I have relatives who still use their original Kelvinator refrigerator from when they were married in 1949 (for auxiliary use in the basement); and whose house--built in 1961--is still heated by the original Lennox furnace (inspected and maintained annually).

That being said, I appreciate newer houses and household items and appliances that are more energy-efficient in addition to the rounded "spaceship" look of current models along with cars. Moreover, I used my sister's new upright Shark vacuum cleaner and became fond of its workability and usability (including the ability to disconnect the power nozzle when vacuuming stairs and having a small electric brush for cleaning smaller areas or items).

I also am glad that persons of modest incomes are able to purchase the more economical plastic home products that allow them to live more comfortably.

The way I see it, we have the best of both eras.

 

[collector2]

I agree with you Hans. The quality in the new stuff is severly lacking. As is the style.

 

[petek]

I like both but I have a lot more fun using my older vintage stuff. I mean there's nothing easier than pulling out a Model G or 88 and vacuuming. Everything fits together so well, they're sturdy and quiet and they work. Compared to using my newer Miele there's no comparison even though it's a good vacuum and quiet it's a little more fiddly I think.

I love my vintage small appliances. They work well, they look cool. Whenever someone comes over and see's one it's almost always a conversation starter. Better than most of the plastic stuff imo. although I do have some of that as well.

 

[mister299]

Gotta love vintage!

Currently have:
1949 Electrolux XXX
1970 Hoover DAM
1976 Shop Vac
1981Kirby Tradition
1995 Filter Queen Majestic - Daily Driver

Also use 1977 Oster Kitchen Center and 1976 Kitchen Aid mixer

 

[motojoejo]

I prefer vintage as well. So much easier to repair and maintain but sadly the parts to repair are becoming harder to find and most people are too lazy or clueless for maintaining. I also agree with style- some of these new machines have the tackiest colors and shapes as well as being too loud and too strong for some types of cleaning. I have three large silk oriental rugs and I easily use my grandmas old Hoover Convertible vs my roommates Dyson.

The trade off is for the modern- the style of high end machines like Rainbow, Aerus or Miele have a nice style, less noise and many features to make ease of use. I hope to get a Miele some day but until then I'll keep using my Hoover Convertible and Electrolux Ambassador.

 

[squarehandle]

Hate electronics!

I am a computer operator by trade. The last thing I want to do when I get home is fiddle with a bunch of electronic junk. I run Lionel trains in my basement and I have been known to take a brand new engine and rip out the electronics and replace the guts with 50s style "electrics" - relays and magnetically operated switches just to hear the buzzing and popping of the real thing. If I could I would build a time machine just to go back to the 30s but it would probably need a lot of stupid electronics! Not enjoying 21st century technology at all.

 

[hooverboy81]

Aside from "tech items", everything I own is vintage. I too have many vintage Western Electric phones, kitchen appliances, linens, cookware, the list goes on and on. My home was built in '49!

As for vintage vacuums, I personally (in my humble opinion) feel they clean my rugs much better than anything on the market today. My current daily driver is a 1938 Hoover 150. It does an amazing job on my rugs, and adds a bit of style to housekeeping! It is 75 years old and runs like the day it rolled off the line in North Canton! I find the older cleaners were well made, easy to service, and with a little care they will clean for another 75 years! I rarely use my central vacuum system. Just my opinion. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

 

[floor-a-matic]

I also own a few Federal Signal xT22 sirens; & hope to own a Thunderbolt or SD-10. The bad part is, they take up too much space.

Those 2T22s & 3T22s were the best ever.

I wish that the xT22s were still in use in every town/city.

Pic of a 2T22

 

[tolivac]

Siren collecting--sounds very fascinating-couple questions---I suppose these units require 208,220,480V 3 ph to operate.Next becuase of their noise and siren alarm--would it be legal to sound the sirens in a private collection?Think a siren going off without warning your neighbors would scare them out of their wits and they would call all of the authorites!Have read on some of the siren sites-indeed fascinating peices of equipment-and their blower system would be of interest to vacuum cleaner lovers.There is a siren on a pole near my neighborhood-last time I heard it go off was almost 20yrs ago-still there-the box at the base of the siren pole has been gutted of its equipment-but the siren unit intself is still up on the pole-sort of yellow in color and one horn.