A wonderful day in St. Louis

[convertible68]

My friends Tom Gasko and Derreck Fricke had a WONDERFUL day in St. Louis today. They went to a vacuum shop that's been open for 40 years and were allowed to go through the basement. What treasures they found...there were THOUSANDS of vacuum cleaners in the basement <br
Tom told me that he got BOXES AND BOXES of hoses, attachments, etc., not for his collection but to give away to his friends for FREE. I personally have requested a Kirby C-series and a P/N-equipped Hoover Quik-Broom, which Tom tells me there are a number of. <br
An example of some of the hoses that Tom has to give away are a turquoise Air-Way Sanitizor Mark II hose, LIKE BRAND NEW, Hoover Constellation hoses, a BRAND NEW Hoover Portable hose, and Hoover Convertible 65 hose, also BRAND NEW, and many (again BRAND NEW) Electrolux hoses. <br
He tells me there are over 1000 Kirbys stacked on top of each other. Tom and Derreck got two truckloads of vacuum cleaners from there, most of which they intend to give away at the NEW Collectors' Club Convention that they are holding in June in St. Louis. If anybody has a request for an old vacuum cleaner, just let Tom know, and these machines are FREE FOR THE ASKING. Any friend of Tom or Derreck's need only write to them and tell them what they want. <br
Christmas certainly came early in St. Louis this year! They have pictures of the place, but since neither can post on the Vacuumland forum, I will be doing it for them. <br
--Austin

 

[swingette]

Austin Austin Austin... *shaking head

 

[hoover1060]

Just like herpes

it never goes away...

 

[hoovercelebrity]

Jeff Jeff Jeff... *shaking head*

 

[convertible68]

Thanks guys...I for one am VERY excited about going up there for the Vacuum Collectors Association (VCA) Convention in June and checking the place out! One of the things that I forgot to mention that I am also interested in is a 1970's Premier/GE swivel-top canister that is equipped with a power nozzle! One was tested in the September 1979 CR issue that I scanned (and is shown on the first page of the report), but I have never seen one yet. Tom told me that most of this great stuff was accumulated in the last 15 years, which says a lot about quality. There were also some vintage machines (including a few old "coffee can motor" Hoovers) that were brought from the original location next to the place before the building was condemned and torn down. I was also told that there is an ungodly amount of 1400-series Eureka uprights as well...WOOHOO! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there's a 70's reddish-orange machine (with the metal handle, not plastic like the later models) as well as a later navy-blue machine like what we used to have. <br
All in all, it sounds like an utterly fantastic place and I hope all of the good stuff gets saved, which I have no doubt that it will. Will be keeping you updated (with pictures as well) as time passes <br
--Austin

 

[convertible68]

Almost forgot...

The two truckloads that were brought home yesterday yielded to about 60 machines. According to what Tom said, that didn't even make a dent in it! Simply amazing!

 

[hoovcand]

WONDERFULL DAY ST LOUIS

HI WHEN CAN WE SEE THESE WOMDERFULL PHOTOS HOPE YOU HAD A NICE TIME

 

[charles~richard]

Well, since the distribution of these treasures (germ belchers and dirt blowers, aren't they?) will be limited to Tom's "friends" and the hand-picked members of the "new" (elite) Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Clique, er, Club, I really don't see the point in posting the news here -- save for a bit of gloating <br

 

[myhooverco]

Yeah...why would tg want a bunch of "filthy bag" cleaners? Worse yet why would he distribute these germ belching machines to his "friends"? Austin just remember there is no such thing as a free lunch. I do wish you the all of the best in this situation <br
By the way...Charlie well said <br
--Tom Anderso
Sunny...I mean Snowy North Canton Ohi <br
PS...Jeff...I am surprised...such language!!LOL!! Ow my ears!!! HA!

 

[vacuumkid3]

What is the point of bragging? Sounds like ya'll just want to make us feel bad! I just wish you wouldn't bring it up HERE. Who gave your "VCA" bragging rights <br
~~K~ <br
Tom and Charles: Way to go!!

 

[marukap]

We are ALL judged by the company we keep.

I do not doubt that the members of the elite VCA are far too busy with the nuts and bolts of building their new empire to afford the extra burden of posting to this website, reports and photographs of their goings-on. I would like them to appreciate that I, for one, will somehow be able to find continued fulfillment in vacuum collecting and life in general without the benefits of their thoughtful updates and communiquées. I would not be in the least surprised to find that these same sentiments are shared among the majority of the members of the VCCC. To those who see fit to pack up their marbles and go play in Tom Gasko's back yard I proffer my very best wishes and to take care that the door doesn't smack you in the backside on your way out <br
Martin Kaplan

 

[hoover1060]

This is all just a big joke...

First I am not a member of the VCCC.
I have nothing to gain or lose by posting this. This is just my take on whats happening. I post on this website at the request of the President and VP of the VCCC. <br
First of all, this golden "stash" of old vacuums probably does not exist, its just one person who desperately wants attention, so he uses whomever and whatever he can to get it.
That ego is as huge as Texas, and as fragile as a house of cards.
This big vacuum find is little more than dangling a carrot in front of a horse.
I've also been reading TG's posts for years. The words initial post in this thread are his, but posted by his little puppet Austin. I;ve heard rumor of a new club, but I could care less. I left the old one too. I don't need any club to collect vacuums. Its that simple.
You can find anything you want if you persevere and are patient. There is nothing TG can do for you that you can't do for yourself.
Out of 200+ vacuums in my collection only one(a pink model 589 Convertible) is from TG The rest I either found or were given by friends.
Now if I know TG, all this thread was started for was to cause trouble, stir the pot and create ill feelings. Some people are just not happy unless they can make others more miserable than they are themselves.
So there are two ways we can go here. We can throw S**T back at the parties that started this(thats what they want us to do) or we can just let this die and get back to discussing vacuums.
Unlike the above mentioned herpes if we do IGNORE this blather, it will go away. <br
Austin I feel very sorry for you. You are burning bridges big time
One more thing, while we will be at the same event in AZ next month, please do me a favor and DON'T introduce yourself to me or bother me. From what I have seen and read from you I have no desire to meet or get to know you in any way shape or form. <br
Just my 2 cents friends. Ignore these people and let life go on, they got nothing. <br
Jeff

 

[myhooverco]

Marty and Jeff....BRAVO! WELL SAID!! Eventually the TRUTH does come out. I hope that tg remembers what goes around comes around.
Austin, I do hope that you read these posts with care and take the advice to heart. You have burnt many bridges so far. Try not to burn them all. This is just some friendly advice from someone who is a little older and wiser. Best of luck to the new and the "improved" vca. I can say with truth that the folks in the VCCC are good people with good intentions. You would be foolish to not include these good folks in your circle. Because eventually, you will need them to bail you out. Best of luck <br
--Tom Anderso
IBAISAIC

 

[vacjwt]

wow not

if he has so much good stuff that is so rare than why dose he not sell it and make a profit think of the cash you whold make and I have seen nice 1 or 2 nice stashs 1000s of nos vacuums and parts come on!!! and if this is thare why dont thay tell us whare this is so we can give the vacuums a good home??? I whold be afraid that thay whold go in trash but I am not are you ???

 

[rexaircollector]

Jeff, good to see you back! You and Marty summed everything up quite well. Snaps to you both <br
Robb

 

[74simon]

Thousands of vacuums?

That must be a bloody big basement! Is there a disused underground railway in St. louis?

 

[compactelectra]

I Think You Are Right Jeff

TG has a very unique style of writing on these forums. Sentences with words in ALL CAPS (he likes to shout at people.) Very distinctive. It is definitely his words posted by someone else.

 

[vacuumkid3]

Jeff!

..Nail on the head! Way to go! *High Five!!* Now I am going to drop it. (I don't want to start something we can't stop)
~~K~~

 

[akabent]

AGENDA

I AM PROBABLY WRONG, BUT I GOT A SENSE THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHT AGENDA INTENDED IN THE ORIGINAL POSTING "ST LOUIS FINDS" NO, THERE WOULD BE NO POINT IN THAT.

RBinOC