eureka1998
Well-known member
Vacuum cleaner aisles at the big box retailers looked like this and it wasn't just Sharks and Dysons or brands mimicking Sharks and Dysons? Good times.
Ahhh. remember when......
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evolutionclean1
Well-known member
Ohhh I hope I don't get banned for this
But this is as good as porn
I miss Sears and Kmart back in the day. I've been lucky enough to own some of the pictures machines and seeing these old photos makes me kick myself for selling them off. Maybe we'll come full circle one of these days and manufacturers will realize what they used to make was actually good
But this is as good as porn
I miss Sears and Kmart back in the day. I've been lucky enough to own some of the pictures machines and seeing these old photos makes me kick myself for selling them off. Maybe we'll come full circle one of these days and manufacturers will realize what they used to make was actually good
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Some vacuums back in the day I thought were worth buying like that Hoover Windtunnel Plus, some I wouldn't care as much like the rest of those vacs in the pictures. My favorite as a kid was going over to my old local vacuum store where they had a full line of Panasonics, Sanitaires, and MD central vacs that I used to play with or see demos of. I couldn't have done that at the department stores.
evolutionclean1
Well-known member
That reminds me
I remember when Costco employees would demo machines, I think I was maybe 3 or 4 years old, and I was curious about a Eureka of some sort. I think it may have been a Whirlwind or Victory or some variation of The Boss... She asked if I was ready for her to turn it on, I said no, and she said okay! Started it up and I SCREAMED
my mom was so mad at this poor lady and quickly scooped me up. Ah, memories. I still don't care for super noisy machines but definitely don't have the same reaction as I used to
I remember when Costco employees would demo machines, I think I was maybe 3 or 4 years old, and I was curious about a Eureka of some sort. I think it may have been a Whirlwind or Victory or some variation of The Boss... She asked if I was ready for her to turn it on, I said no, and she said okay! Started it up and I SCREAMED
my mom was so mad at this poor lady and quickly scooped me up. Ah, memories. I still don't care for super noisy machines but definitely don't have the same reaction as I used to
eureka1998
Well-known member
When I was little
we had a local store chain called "National Wholesale Liquidators" that unfortunately went bankrupt in like 2007-08. They would have stuff new in box that was discontinued a few years earlier, like the 7 amp version of the Hoover Widepath, before they switched to 12 amps. One night I remember going there and they had a lineup of like 4 green Hoovers in a row, the Fold Away, Twin Chamber, Widepath, and a nice translucent Windtunnel Plus. Kmart I have a fond memory of because a few years before that, I went with my dad to Kmart to pick out the then newly introduced Fold Away (that same teal/green color), the big advertised vacuum at the time. Target had great lineups too and I loved Sears allowing people to test them out before purchase. Hits different now, just not the same at all, no true diversity of choices anymore.
we had a local store chain called "National Wholesale Liquidators" that unfortunately went bankrupt in like 2007-08. They would have stuff new in box that was discontinued a few years earlier, like the 7 amp version of the Hoover Widepath, before they switched to 12 amps. One night I remember going there and they had a lineup of like 4 green Hoovers in a row, the Fold Away, Twin Chamber, Widepath, and a nice translucent Windtunnel Plus. Kmart I have a fond memory of because a few years before that, I went with my dad to Kmart to pick out the then newly introduced Fold Away (that same teal/green color), the big advertised vacuum at the time. Target had great lineups too and I loved Sears allowing people to test them out before purchase. Hits different now, just not the same at all, no true diversity of choices anymore.
eurekaprince
Well-known member
And I remember the days when Canada had three large nation-wide department stores with full floor care departments: Eaton’s, The Bay and Sears. Once you arrived on the correct floor using the elevator, all you had to do was scan the layout and look for the tops of a group of uprights standing proud on a display shelf and make a bee-line for that area of the store! I remember a time when one of the stores had the vacuums right there at the top of the escalator!
eurekaprince
Well-known member
correction: *using the escalator
Yes, but I'd rather go back further in time.
thevacomaticiec
Well-known member
Aaaaah memorie lane .....
reminds me of Sears store in my town , i used to go there alot just to look at there Kenmore line up and read the brochure i must of read em all and try a few vacs if i could .
Now the icing on the cake was the 2 second hand store i could vacuum to my hearths content and fix em or try em out good old day's ... now its all cordless sadly il keep my tristar for as long as i can .
reminds me of Sears store in my town , i used to go there alot just to look at there Kenmore line up and read the brochure i must of read em all and try a few vacs if i could .
Now the icing on the cake was the 2 second hand store i could vacuum to my hearths content and fix em or try em out good old day's ... now its all cordless sadly il keep my tristar for as long as i can .
That's what I was going to say too.
Yes, it's nice to see those vacuums; especially the bagged models. But, there's still a lot of bagless plastic.
But, if I was going to time travel, I'd personally like to go in a store and see Hoover Convertibles, Eureka F&Gs, a nice variety of bagged canister vacuums, etc.
That's just me. It seems like we all have our time period, when "things were better/simpler/happier", and we connect with the products that we saw around us at that time. Depending on our age, that time varies greatly.
I think of the 1970s with fond memories, and see it with rose colored glasses. My siblings, who are almost a generation older than myself, saw the lousy economy, fuel crisis, etc.
To them, and older generations yet, the 1970s kind of sucked.
Yes, it's nice to see those vacuums; especially the bagged models. But, there's still a lot of bagless plastic.
But, if I was going to time travel, I'd personally like to go in a store and see Hoover Convertibles, Eureka F&Gs, a nice variety of bagged canister vacuums, etc.
That's just me. It seems like we all have our time period, when "things were better/simpler/happier", and we connect with the products that we saw around us at that time. Depending on our age, that time varies greatly.
I think of the 1970s with fond memories, and see it with rose colored glasses. My siblings, who are almost a generation older than myself, saw the lousy economy, fuel crisis, etc.
To them, and older generations yet, the 1970s kind of sucked.
eureka1998
Well-known member
JustJunque
And that's what makes this site so great. We share our passion for vacuums even when we come from different eras in vacuum cleaner history! It's awesome when you think about it. And I don't want to speak for others but I think some of us can agree, whether we reminisce over seeing Covertibles and Dial A Naps, or Elites and Bravos in stores, the magic with the new cyclones and sticks is just not there. It's bland now. Like a Modernized McDonalds or Burger King. Used to be so lively, now bland, blocky and all the same. Guess it's just the times
And that's what makes this site so great. We share our passion for vacuums even when we come from different eras in vacuum cleaner history! It's awesome when you think about it. And I don't want to speak for others but I think some of us can agree, whether we reminisce over seeing Covertibles and Dial A Naps, or Elites and Bravos in stores, the magic with the new cyclones and sticks is just not there. It's bland now. Like a Modernized McDonalds or Burger King. Used to be so lively, now bland, blocky and all the same. Guess it's just the times
It WAS wonderful
Going to The Boston Store, The Globe Store, Sears, Pomeroys, The Bon Ton, etc and seeing all of those shiny new vacuums lined up. The Pittston Electric Store featured Dial A Matics in the windows. There would be Connies, Slimlines, Convertibles, etc, in addition to other brands. We'd see the Eurekas, etc displayed there too.
Of course, In Wilkes-Barre, there was Gnall Jones, "Hoover Sales and Service", along with Betty Fritz and her Hoover store. It was a fun time.
Going to The Boston Store, The Globe Store, Sears, Pomeroys, The Bon Ton, etc and seeing all of those shiny new vacuums lined up. The Pittston Electric Store featured Dial A Matics in the windows. There would be Connies, Slimlines, Convertibles, etc, in addition to other brands. We'd see the Eurekas, etc displayed there too.
Of course, In Wilkes-Barre, there was Gnall Jones, "Hoover Sales and Service", along with Betty Fritz and her Hoover store. It was a fun time.
fan-of-fans
Well-known member
I miss seeing the vacuum display at Sears and actually being able to look at and try the machines.
Even when I bought a canister there in 2012, the salesperson was knowledgeable about the machine, the controls, showed me where each of the attachments were on the machine, and asked if I needed spare bags.
Can’t get that at Walmart. I saw a couple a year or two ago looking at vacuums at Walmart and the only help the associate could offer was “you always want a bagless vacuum, never a vacuum that uses bags.”
Talk about clueless and ignorant.
On a more pleasant note, here’s a shot from a Sears vacuum dept in 1979. This is before my time, but I can picture the salesperson demoing those canisters on that carpet as people walk by.
Even when I bought a canister there in 2012, the salesperson was knowledgeable about the machine, the controls, showed me where each of the attachments were on the machine, and asked if I needed spare bags.
Can’t get that at Walmart. I saw a couple a year or two ago looking at vacuums at Walmart and the only help the associate could offer was “you always want a bagless vacuum, never a vacuum that uses bags.”
Talk about clueless and ignorant.
On a more pleasant note, here’s a shot from a Sears vacuum dept in 1979. This is before my time, but I can picture the salesperson demoing those canisters on that carpet as people walk by.
Love that picture, Cole!
Those Kenmore washers and dryers too!
And, I believe I spy with my little eye, some Electrkbrooms! Actually, probably labeled for Sears as Kenmore Kwik Sweep.
Those Kenmore washers and dryers too!
And, I believe I spy with my little eye, some Electrkbrooms! Actually, probably labeled for Sears as Kenmore Kwik Sweep.
fan-of-fans
Well-known member
Yes definitely Electrikbrooms branded Sears Kwik Sweep. I can also make out the vacuum bags displayed to the left of them with the green and blue package. And in the background, the sewing machine department. Although that was easier to see in the original picture.
I loved when department stores
were like this. All those displays......
were like this. All those displays......
huskyvacs
Well-known member
It's just the way the world is with everything is now. As society dumbs-down and can't do anything without a phone in their hand, megacorporations slowly take over and absorb everything until there's only one sole product left - theirs - and you either buy their product or own nothing. And this is solely an American problem. You go to other countries, there's tens of dozens of different brands and products of the same thing on offer. Here? Just two if you're lucky.
huskyvacs
Well-known member
Vacuums in Home Depot, July 2006
Vacuums in Sears, July 2007
Vacuums in Sears, July 2007
