Alex Braun's visit to the Vacuum Museum

[dysonman1]

It was so nice to have Alex visit the Vacuum Museum today. Even though the museum is closed on Sundays, I opened it up for my friend and fellow vacuum collector. Alex was keen on seeing the new additions to the museum. Here is Alex with the 1910 Hoover senior. At 65 pounds, this behemoth is a real beast.

 

[dysonman1]

Alex was thrilled to run the 1935 singer model R – 1. This was the first singer vacuum cleaner with a motor-driven revolving brush, it was made by Gen. electric specifically for singer. It has a backwards rotating brush and a two speed motor. The backward rotation of the brush meant that the brush roll would not seize the fringe of an area rug

 

[dysonman1]

Here is Alex with the 1958 Eureka Mobile-Aire vacuum cleaner with a brand-new feature. The vibra– beat nozzle. It makes an unbelievable racket, but it does beat the sand and grit out of the carpet.

 

[dysonman1]

Alex and Donnie taking a peek into the 1958 General Electric mobile maid dishwasher with bowtie impeller. Donnie was able to find vintage dishware to make the dishwasher accurate for the time. He is such a good boyfriend.

 

[dysonman1]

Alex studying the "Kenmo" collection of the 1960's. Far better than the plastic junk they made after 1980. These are real Kenmore's.

 

[dysonman1]

Alex found one of the newest pieces from the 1960s Singer collection. It is the singer turbine powered brush that went with the singer roll a magic canister sitting slightly behind him.

 

[electrolux137]

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Looks like y'all had lots of fun!

 

[eurekastar]

I look forward to visiting some day!

 

[pr-21]

You have to love your job....

Tom,

It is obvious how much you love your job. I enjoying seeing the photos of the museum and the people actually using the vintage machines. What is also great is your being part of the Tacony Company and see all the new cutting edge vacuums and having input on them.


Sincerely,

Bud Mattingly

 

[DesertTortoise]

Oooh, in the "Kenmo" collection down in the bottom right of the photo I see just a corner of the Avocado Bomber's twin brother. Those were steel bodies with plastic lids, and heavy.

Underneath the black shelf on the left of the image you can see a couple of interesting green canisters. I wonder what those are?

 

[marks_here]

Those are compact electra

 

[DesertTortoise]

Oooh, excuse my lack of knowledge at this point. A "compact electra" is a Kenmore or something else? Sounds like it's time to Google.

 

[marks_here]

That's an excellent idea..Google away!!

 

[DesertTortoise]

The Compact Electra is an interesting vacuum/polisher/scrubber. Never saw anything like it, but then I have yet to encounter any of the vacs along that line (Compact/Tristar/Patriot etc.), except here at Vacuumland.

 

[dysonman1]

Mid line 1960's Kenmo

 

[dysonman1]

Sears Best power mate canister and polisher.

 

[dysonman1]

Kenmore whisper tones. Arguably the very best canister vacuum Sears ever made.

 

[dysonman1]

Compact model C – six Electra in turquoise and model C – six standard in salmon. The standard was sold in retail stores and the Electra was sold by door to door salesman

 

[dysonman1]

The beautiful Air-Way model 88 and the economy model "Priscilla" in stunning turquoise. Extremely 1960s color.

 

[Gr8DaneDad]

That Sear's Best Powermate is the vacuum I grew up with. Nice machine except for the power switch, my mom was always catching it on something and broke it off several times. That was the first vacuum I ever worked on.

 

[DesertTortoise]

Oh man, seeing that minty green Sear Best 2.7 with Powermate in pristine condition makes me misty eyed. The Avocado Bomber will never, ever, look that good. Man, is that a sight to see. Ditto the blue one below it. And it confirms what Powermate belongs with that vac (my folks tossed the original when it broke and condemned the A-B to garage duty).

I remember old Plymouths and Chevys painted that same turquoise as the Air-Way Priscilla. It very much is a period color.

I am not a fan of Texas but I have to visit this museum.

 

[poconovacman]

The museum is in Missouri, not Texas.

 

[DesertTortoise]

Ok, why did I think it was Texas? Whew! Missouri has some very good motorcycle riding. It's actually kind of a motorcycle destination, and it isn't Texas.

 

[hydralique]

Compact and Electra . . .

The “Electra” name was added to the Compact logo sometime in the early ‘60s shortly after the introduction of the C-6. I am not an authority on this but to my knowledge Compacts weren’t sold in stores under the Compact name until the early ‘80s right before the name change to Tri-Star, in the ‘50s and ‘60s they used the Revelation name for store sales.