Advance Carpetwin

[cam2s]

I thought I would get the beast out and clean it up a bit and take it for a spin. This thing takes build quality to the next level....it’s like vacuuming with a tank! The brush motor alone is bigger than the suction motor in most machines. The brush roll has quite an unusual pattern as well, but you can really feel is vibrating the carpet. Would be fun to use this thing down a large hallway or an open floor space where it belongs, it’s almost too big to use in my house. Anyways here’s a few pictures.

Cameron.

 

[broomvac]

Thanks for sharing! Coincidentally, I ran across one of those at one of the local thrift shops recently. I was tempted to get it, but I knew I wouldn't have enough real estate to truly appreciate it. You can spot a glimpse of the one I saw in the link below.

The brush roll in your Advace reminds me of the stiff-bristle Kirby brush roll 152505 used in the Ultimate G and later Kirbys.

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?35963_16

 

[broomvac]

*Advance

 

[air-waycharlie]

Great Vacuum!

I had a carpet cleaning business in the 1970's and used Advance machines. The CarpetTwin vacuum was a terrific machine. It used a cloth shake out bag or disposable paper bags. It had two brush roll sizes if I remember correctly--the 12" or 14" depending on your cleaning needs.

The, "matching", rug shampooer was also a twin motored cleaner. It operated on the dry foam method which as truly the best at that time frame. Steam was not yet being used and the only other option was the wet wash with high powered extraction to follow.

The Advance rug shampooer pumped air into a suds solution creating foam that was forced onto a large brush roll. (Advance had their own brand of shampoo made specially for their shampooers.) A separate motor turned the brush roll that had an alternating tufted soft bristle pattern. The foam was so dry that when you finished the job the carpet was ready to be vacuumed. The, "dry foam", lifted the dirt to the surface. It worked beautifully and left minimal residue.

Thanks for sharing those photos--it brings back memories. I had hoped to find one of those but have pretty much given up hope. They are on ebay occasionally but in pretty beat up condition. Yours is a beauty and a keeper!

Are paper bags still available?

 

[cam2s]

I did a quick google search and found some on amazon. I’m sure you can get them through vacuum stores and janitorial supply chains as well. Most users probably just used the cloth bag. I found that (gasp) Hoover type Y bag will fit in it just fine. It sits in the chamber a little crooked since the inlet tube runs up the side of the machine but for my purposes it’s just fine. Also for fun I compared the brush to the one in my Sentria, they do have a similar design. The brush in the Kirby is broken into smaller segments and also there is a consistent amount of brush contacting the floor at any given point. About every quarter turn there is no brush on the floor the. Almost the full segment of brush hits the floor with the advance.

Cameron.

 

[air-waycharlie]

The Advance upright also had, (I think), an attachment kit that went on the hose that separated from the base. The brush roll was a great design because it provided a, "no gap", sweeping motion.

I'm glad bags are still available. Maybe one day I'll find one of these.

The shampooer was called the Carpetron. Great pics!

 

[bvac6]

I've actually got two of those beasts, I wouldn't mind parting with one.

 

[cam2s]

If there was an attachment kit it was probably a rare beast. One might be able to rig up something out of a shop vac hose, it is a reasonably wide pipe. After taking it for a few spins around the house I think part of the purpose of the brush design is to help pull the machine along. These are designed to be used for single pass cleaning, on stiff commercial carpet it mostly pulls itself along, you only have to steer it.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Cameron,
I remember by looking at the above pic, there definitely was a hose you could slide onto the metal tube that extends from the bag housing. It was a good 6 feet. I can't remember anything about the wands but there was a floor brush and a crevice tool. Can't remember if there was any kind of upholstery tool or dusting brush.

Bvac6,
I may be contacting you to help take one of those off your hands if they are in reasonable good shape and working order! (And fits in the budget--you are quite a distance from me)

 

[kloveland]

I used one of those in elementary when I would help the janitor in the 5th grade. My mother's building had one of those when she was teaching 1st grade. They were probably pretty popular at one time. I remember wanting to use Olympia that was donated to our private school instead. I’m sure those cleaned pretty well.

 

[crazykirbydude]

Looks like a beast! Is there a switch that can turn off that GINORMOUS brush motor? Is the suction motor mounted to the bag door?

 

[cam2s]

The suction motor is indeed mounted on the swinging bag door, so it moves with the door. The massive brush motor, which is a General Electric motor if anybody was wondering, is controlled by a handle position switch. You can see it on the right side of the base in the first picture on the top post. This particular switch is sticking or has a bit of short in it, I’m going to have to take it apart and see what’s what with it.

Cameron.

 

[crazykirbydude]

Do you know what that port on the left side of the hood is for?

 

[tolivac]

Did this vacuum cleaner require a 20A outlet?

 

[cam2s]

@crazykirbydude, are you referring to the height adjuster, the knob is set into the body.

@tolivac, surprisingly it only draws 9 amps total according to the rating plate.

Cameron