A Step Back: 'Stroll' Through This Vacuum Museum

[akabent]

<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you are seriously passionate about the historical and industrial progression of the vacuum cleaner, you will surely enjoy this vacuum museum, and their passion and welcoming atmosphere is evident!</span>


 


<span style="font-size: 12pt;">RB</span>



http://www.oregonlive.com/multimedi...rks_vacuum_museum_gives_a_g.html#incart_river

 

[kirbyloverdan]

I prefer the Tacony in St.James Missouri

Vacuum museum you are allowed to touch and use all the rare machines and Tom Gasko the curator has all the machines displayed beautifully in period rooms . Plus you can tour an actual vacuum cleaner factory which in of itself is awesome .

The Tacony museum is very organized and looks beautiful it is the "premier" vacuum museum featured on various TV programs and is going in or is in the Guinness book of world records .

This place just doesn't look organized and the machines don't look brand new as they do at the Tacony Vacuum museum .

It is good they are trying to show the history of vacuum cleaners I just wish they would take better care of those rare machines .

Tacony museum actually restores and refurbishes machines to make sure they are preserved for future generations to enjoy .

Dan

 

[rugsucker]

Vacuum Museums

First, I do agree with the above that the Tacony museum is Number ONE for the above reasons and more.But Starks has done a great job with the space available and has saved vacs that other stores would scrap.I can only think of 2 others that should be at the top of a list(Hoover & D Aslett).
As with private collections all will have items others may not.Of the above vacs I am most curious of--The Rexair plastic/metal water pan and what is brown rectangular box at end under older Eureka atts?
Many VCCC members were lucky enough to tour Starks at a convention years ago.

 

[human]

Interesting collection. In the YouTube video, the guy actually admits there's "no rhyme or reason" to the way the pieces are displayed. In the museum world, that's called "visible storage."

 

[danielsand]

I haven't visited either one (maybe some day when I'm in the area), but I agree that this one is "visible storage". From the pictures of Tacony museum, I can clearly see which one qualifies to be called a "museum".

Machines need to be restored, displayed and grouped in periods, and some period pieces (pictures, posters, advertising, furniture, and possibly rugs) displayed with the cleaners. This type of displaying (as in Tacony) gives more complete glimpse into the past, and the fact that visitors can actually use some of the machines, is priceless.

Is there a "video tour" of the Tacony museum available on the web? And if not,....why not? Maybe we could all chip in with some donations, and pay for the production of the professionally produced video (good narration, no shaky camera work, no obnoxious background music), and stick it on the web for the world to see.

 

[vinvac]

Rick,

Thanks for sharing this! Starks is an awesome place. The year we attended Portland was probably one of my most favorite Conventions. Dave Olsen did a bang up job.

Stark's employee's went above and beyond being leaders in the industry. As people would pull up to the door members of the team would be right out the door to carry in a vacuum for repairs...all vacuums were carried out of the store by an employee.

Their museum being the first of it's kind was simply stunning. So many vacuums that most of us had never seen before. What I appreciated most was the ability for us to play with them and use them. Most were in very original condition and were more than likely taken in on trade over the years. They were planning a huge remodel after we left and would love to go back and see the store again. Dave may have visitors, Portland is a fabulous city and I want to return to see more.

Customer service is something that has died and many shop owners today could take lessons from the fine folks at Starks.

They must be doing something right...to carry the inventory they carry and be so knowledgeable about all of their products.

I will miss everyone this year as I can't attend the convention due to another conflict that I feel is more important. I know Barb and Chad have a lot planned!

 

[akabent]

Vacuum Museums

<span style="font-size: 14pt;">What is especially great in all of the various vacuum museums that exist around the U.S. and no-doubt beyond, is that these vacuums are being saved and preserved for us AND future generations!  What is especially unique about the Hoover Museum in particular, and making it undeniably the Gold Standard of Vacuum Museums, </span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">is the maintenance of both historical and technical records covering all their machines, allowing greater understanding of the industrial progression and evolution of their cleaners.  One also learns how, in Henry Ford-like fashion, Hoover made the vacuum cleaner available to the average household, constantly refining their manufacturing techniques and thereby netting the two-fold advantage of cost reduction and improved cleaner performance.  The concept of a payment plan was also implemented by Hoover.  It is a wonderful, historical and industrial journey to embark on!  </span>


<span style="font-size: 14pt;">NOTE: Sadly, the Hoover book  <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Fabulous Dustpan</span> has numerous errors that are commonly promulgated by those having only a cursory understanding of Hoover history, but can be dispelled during such a visit!  </span>


<span style="font-size: 14pt;">RB</span>


<span style="font-size: 14pt;">  </span>

 

[dysonman1]

Rexair Water Pan

Hey Jimmy: That water pan you see in Stark's picture doesn't belong on a black model B. It's the commercial 2 gallon pan for the model C Rexair. Rexair put out a brochure of optional items for the model C including the plastic wand set, 2 gallon pan, squeegee, dolly for regular pan, etc.

The 4 quart pan for the model C came with wheels standard, since it was a metal pan. As you know, during the run of the model C, the pan changed to plastic, but not a clear plastic. The clear pan had been used for demonstrations since the model B (post war). They spin welded the upper portion of the plastic (clear) pan onto a metal lower portion with attached wheels.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Rick is absolutely right.

I've not been posting much as my aunt passed away last Friday night. The funeral was Wed a.m. Thanks to everyone for all of the kind emails, etc.
We all had a great time at Stark's museum. Of course, I'm very partial to The Hoover Museum, commonly know as the HistOrical Center. As most know, the tour begins at The Tannery.... where every cleaner is a non-HOOVER... beginning the history of vacuums.
Inside the main house, guests find a famed 'Model O", the Spangler,the Coffee Cans, the 150, the Citation, the Convertible, the Dial A Matic, right up to TTI's brand new line.Also, in certain "period" vignettes, one can read and learn about everything in between.
From the pictures and the "tour" Tacony seems quite large, and the period settings look quite correct and adequate. I've never been to Tacony, athough friends have and told me all about it.
The bottom line is" there ARE more than one "vacuum cleaner museum" To each his/her own.
Rick is also correct about "Fabulous Dustpan". There are things in there that aren't quite correct. It's a shame that a sequal wasn't written, talking about Convertible, etc.... Hoover was just starting to SOAR. Of course, people HAVE since written articles about HOOVER, again loaded with untruths/half truths, lies, etc. After proper corrections, they still refused to print the correct data. ONE of the nice things about the museum in Ohio is that all of the TRUTH is found in that building. ALL of the "Museum Studies" majors, (I've met a few) learn the TRUE history. All of the photos and documents are preserved in acid-free paper in a climate controlled atmosphere. I've spent numerous hours down in the newly built basement on which the original building sits. Checking w/ friends who studied and worked at the famed "Winterthur Museum" in Delaware concur that museum data such as this is SUPPOSED to/ required to be treated that way. It is far more extensive than just being able to look at, and/or play with machines.
Hopefull, that will ensure the legacy/history will be preserved accurately. I truly hope this clears up any misconceptions.
John.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Stark's was also great.

There were SO many different vacuums there, properly labeled, etc. No fancy displays, though. They allowed us to have the run of the place. Anyone who has ever been there can tell you how HUGE the place is...............being that it used to be a car showroom. You could land a plane in there.
Some people talk about vac shops, museums, etc as though they have actually been there, when in reality, they have never set foot in them. I've been IN Stark's, AND The HOOVER Historical Center", so, I know of which I speak. I'm very clear and careful of what I say about anywhere where I've NEVER been. I can only form an opinion based on what I've seen in photos, read, or have been told.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Massive

place

 

[gottahaveahoove]

An area

for everything

 

[hooverboy81]

How cool!

I really hope to visit Stark's and the Hoover Historical Center soon. The folks at Stark's have been beyond helpful when looking for old parts for restorations via phone. Can't wait to see it in person!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

It really is a "must see".

It will give you a very different perspective about it all. After you've actually been through the place, you, too, can give all the opinions you want. You'll be very glad you visited.
During HOOVER'S birthday, The VCCC donated a signed vacuum to them. yes, it was abit silly, perhaps even corny, but it was a kind gesture. I see it every time I go there.

 

[hooverboy81]

How cool is that?! I'm really looking forward to my visit! It'll be so cool to see the true history of The Hoover Company. I love your photos by the way!