Today was a busy day.
Hope to see some pics. Hope everyone is hVjng a great time!
Hope to see some pics. Hope everyone is hVjng a great time!
All the Way to Santa Fe, the 2023 VCCC Convention
- Thread starter swivelsean
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For reasons beyond my control,
I'm missing the convention..... first one since I joined in 2008. I hope the traditional nasty letters don't start. 2 people love to do that. A tradition, I suppose.
I'm missing the convention..... first one since I joined in 2008. I hope the traditional nasty letters don't start. 2 people love to do that. A tradition, I suppose.
caligula
Well-known member
Mr. Long.
I'm in shock!
You not being there, that's sacrilegious. I'm not there because I have an event in San Francisco next month, can't do both.
Still, it's mind boggling that what began with six people in May of 1985 has grown into this. Amazing.
I'm in shock!
You not being there, that's sacrilegious. I'm not there because I have an event in San Francisco next month, can't do both.
Still, it's mind boggling that what began with six people in May of 1985 has grown into this. Amazing.
caligula
Well-known member
Pictured above.
What most of you probably don't know is this was the original club logo. It dates back to March of 1983, and is the artwork of Elizabeth Krammes, daughter of Stacy Krammes, director of the Hoover Historical Center.
What most of you probably don't know is this was the original club logo. It dates back to March of 1983, and is the artwork of Elizabeth Krammes, daughter of Stacy Krammes, director of the Hoover Historical Center.
I'm as shocked as you!
For reasons ...... I just couldn't do it.and .. the other co founder, John Lucia is there. Missing hi., too. Just look at what you men did, so long ago. Thank you, on behalf of the entire V.C.C.C
For reasons ...... I just couldn't do it.and .. the other co founder, John Lucia is there. Missing hi., too. Just look at what you men did, so long ago. Thank you, on behalf of the entire V.C.C.C
caligula
Well-known member
John Lucia.
Hi, my friend, glad to hear you are there to represent us.
Can you believe it's 38 years? And it all started with the question "think we ought to form a club?" Also, if you recall, it was Mike Pupek who asked if there could be a gathering of the members. From that simple request huge changes. Fast forward to this weekend. From a handful of collectors to annual conventions. It blows me away.
Here are two pictures, the first is that meeting in Indiana May 4, 5, 6, 1985, and Naperville, Illinois the following year. Awesome memories.
Alex Taber.
Hi, my friend, glad to hear you are there to represent us.
Can you believe it's 38 years? And it all started with the question "think we ought to form a club?" Also, if you recall, it was Mike Pupek who asked if there could be a gathering of the members. From that simple request huge changes. Fast forward to this weekend. From a handful of collectors to annual conventions. It blows me away.
Here are two pictures, the first is that meeting in Indiana May 4, 5, 6, 1985, and Naperville, Illinois the following year. Awesome memories.
Alex Taber.
caligula
Well-known member
Original club logo.
Back in the earliest years the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club was an information center, designed to teach the history of the vacuum cleaner. We focused on really old stuff. The logo had to be something old and very interesting. It also had to be non-electric. What Liz Krammes found was 'The Baby Daisy,' 1890. It was perfect. Shown below is the actual Baby daisy which was at the Historical Center.
Back in the earliest years the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club was an information center, designed to teach the history of the vacuum cleaner. We focused on really old stuff. The logo had to be something old and very interesting. It also had to be non-electric. What Liz Krammes found was 'The Baby Daisy,' 1890. It was perfect. Shown below is the actual Baby daisy which was at the Historical Center.
EARLY VCCC HISTORY
John Lucia and Bob (Alex) Taber started corresponding with one another in 1981. They met in person in 1982 when, together, they made a pilgrimage to the Hoover Historical Center and factory. That was the first time they ever saw "The Vault" where Hoover kept the competitors' models and their own early machines.
After their meeting at Hoover in 1982, they decided to see if there were other people interested in vacuum cleaners. They officially founded the club in 1983.
Over the next five years or so, the Club grew to about 10 people through word of mouth: primarily via the Hoover Company. Eventually, however, John and Alex decided to let the club lapse. This was due mainly to inactivity, but also because of some embarrassing mishaps involving a couple of the more "colorful" club members.
When Charles Lester first met Stan Kann in 1991, Stan told him not only about George Bourhill (R.I.P.), but also Alex Taber, John Lucia, and Mike Pupek, all of whom he had known for several years.
Charles first met John and Alex in 1991 by telephone. Stan had given him their names and phone numbers along with George Bourhill's and Mike Pupek's info.
Charles heard the very thrilling news from John that there was a Vacuum Cleaner Collectors' Club. Then he heard the very disappointing news that the Club was "in limbo" as Alex Taber put it.
Well, of course, Charles suggested getting the Club going again! However, John and Alex both were rather lukewarm about the idea. (Well, that is, John was "rather lukewarm" but Alex was "vehemently opposed" to the idea!) However, after much prodding and urging by Charles, they finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to do so.
So, the three them were the first members of the "NEW Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Club," with Charles serving as newsletter editor and publisher. They also invited Stan Kann to join, of course, which he did. George Bourhill joined soon thereafter.
Then, other collectors came out of the woodwork in 1992 and 1993. Folks who joined included Clay Floyd (R.I.P.), Tom Gasko, Billy Lipman, Don O'Connor (R.I.P.), Roger Proehl (R.I.P.), Mike Pupek (also an original member from the 1970s), and David Watters (R.I.P.).
John Lucia and Bob (Alex) Taber started corresponding with one another in 1981. They met in person in 1982 when, together, they made a pilgrimage to the Hoover Historical Center and factory. That was the first time they ever saw "The Vault" where Hoover kept the competitors' models and their own early machines.
After their meeting at Hoover in 1982, they decided to see if there were other people interested in vacuum cleaners. They officially founded the club in 1983.
Over the next five years or so, the Club grew to about 10 people through word of mouth: primarily via the Hoover Company. Eventually, however, John and Alex decided to let the club lapse. This was due mainly to inactivity, but also because of some embarrassing mishaps involving a couple of the more "colorful" club members.
When Charles Lester first met Stan Kann in 1991, Stan told him not only about George Bourhill (R.I.P.), but also Alex Taber, John Lucia, and Mike Pupek, all of whom he had known for several years.
Charles first met John and Alex in 1991 by telephone. Stan had given him their names and phone numbers along with George Bourhill's and Mike Pupek's info.
Charles heard the very thrilling news from John that there was a Vacuum Cleaner Collectors' Club. Then he heard the very disappointing news that the Club was "in limbo" as Alex Taber put it.
Well, of course, Charles suggested getting the Club going again! However, John and Alex both were rather lukewarm about the idea. (Well, that is, John was "rather lukewarm" but Alex was "vehemently opposed" to the idea!) However, after much prodding and urging by Charles, they finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to do so.
So, the three them were the first members of the "NEW Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Club," with Charles serving as newsletter editor and publisher. They also invited Stan Kann to join, of course, which he did. George Bourhill joined soon thereafter.
Then, other collectors came out of the woodwork in 1992 and 1993. Folks who joined included Clay Floyd (R.I.P.), Tom Gasko, Billy Lipman, Don O'Connor (R.I.P.), Roger Proehl (R.I.P.), Mike Pupek (also an original member from the 1970s), and David Watters (R.I.P.).
caligula
Well-known member
Thank you Charles Richard.
Many people, not only in clubs like ours but who were not around yet in the days before the internet, or Wikipedia have no idea how hard it was to get information on a given topic, not only vacuum cleaners. While, Air-Way, Electrolux, Kirby, and many others fascinated us, with the exception of Hoover, these companies wanted nothing to do with us. As Charlie McKee (Electrolux) told me personally "We're interested in today's sales, not our history." And this was why John, and I started the club. As there were a handful of us interested in the various brands, or models, John Hoover 150, and 700, me early Electrolux we knew others were too. The idea was to take what we both thought was useless knowledge from our childhoods and share it. Useless no more.
I have always had an interest in writing, so history came easy. I was also close to the Chicago public library and had amassed copies of hundreds of patents from the research department. Result was the 'Newsletter." Back then our only way to provide information. Add to this were phone calls, sometimes 3-4 hours. Again, stories were shared in the newsletter.
Then in November of 1984, a member named Mike Pupek came to see me and asked if we could get the members together. I seriously doubted people would travel across the country to see old vacuum cleaners. "Put the question in the newsletter" Mike said. I did, and the response was "when do we meet, and where?" With luck my mom, then living in Chesterton, Indiana offered to host the club. This was also club headquarters, and where we produced the newsletter.
That was a breakthrough weekend as we established the first bylaws and set in place things that are now standard. And as John and I were both research junkies (his term) our information was well known. And yes, companies like Kirby took notice.
From 85 to 93 I hosted the annual meetings in my home and had the official club museum. Then in 94 we returned to our birthplace, Hoover. We were welcomed with open arms, and at long last the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club was on it's way to reaching hundreds of collectors.
So, as I said we've gone from a mere six people to all of you who are reading this. Yes, the club has a very rich and colorful history.
Back in 93, Mike Pupek asked me "where will the club be in ten years?" Well, we all know the answer to that.
Many people, not only in clubs like ours but who were not around yet in the days before the internet, or Wikipedia have no idea how hard it was to get information on a given topic, not only vacuum cleaners. While, Air-Way, Electrolux, Kirby, and many others fascinated us, with the exception of Hoover, these companies wanted nothing to do with us. As Charlie McKee (Electrolux) told me personally "We're interested in today's sales, not our history." And this was why John, and I started the club. As there were a handful of us interested in the various brands, or models, John Hoover 150, and 700, me early Electrolux we knew others were too. The idea was to take what we both thought was useless knowledge from our childhoods and share it. Useless no more.
I have always had an interest in writing, so history came easy. I was also close to the Chicago public library and had amassed copies of hundreds of patents from the research department. Result was the 'Newsletter." Back then our only way to provide information. Add to this were phone calls, sometimes 3-4 hours. Again, stories were shared in the newsletter.
Then in November of 1984, a member named Mike Pupek came to see me and asked if we could get the members together. I seriously doubted people would travel across the country to see old vacuum cleaners. "Put the question in the newsletter" Mike said. I did, and the response was "when do we meet, and where?" With luck my mom, then living in Chesterton, Indiana offered to host the club. This was also club headquarters, and where we produced the newsletter.
That was a breakthrough weekend as we established the first bylaws and set in place things that are now standard. And as John and I were both research junkies (his term) our information was well known. And yes, companies like Kirby took notice.
From 85 to 93 I hosted the annual meetings in my home and had the official club museum. Then in 94 we returned to our birthplace, Hoover. We were welcomed with open arms, and at long last the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club was on it's way to reaching hundreds of collectors.
So, as I said we've gone from a mere six people to all of you who are reading this. Yes, the club has a very rich and colorful history.
Back in 93, Mike Pupek asked me "where will the club be in ten years?" Well, we all know the answer to that.
And,to quote the great Carol burnett
"Seems we just get started and before you know. ..comes the time we have to say SO LONG". Another successful convention is in t h e books. CNt wait to heR the stories .ND see the pics!, shafe travels home, everyone!
"Seems we just get started and before you know. ..comes the time we have to say SO LONG". Another successful convention is in t h e books. CNt wait to heR the stories .ND see the pics!, shafe travels home, everyone!
canisterman
Active member
Charles..
Unless Don O Conner has died within the last few months, he is still very much alive, My friend Chris went to see him and bought some parts.
Unless Don O Conner has died within the last few months, he is still very much alive, My friend Chris went to see him and bought some parts.
canisterman
Active member
I really enjoyed the earlier days.
I read a ad in a spring 1994 issue of the VDTA news that a man named Craig Long published , he said he was a serious collector of vintage vacuums and was looking for a long list of machines, I called him and talked for 3 hours! He told me of the club, so I called John Lucia, and Alex then Bob Taber, they immediately invited me to come to North Canton to the meeting that year ,but i couldnt make that happen, but I went in 1995 to Allentown Pa, meanwhile I made friends with Tom Gasko, Clay Floyd, Billy Lipman,Mike Hays,Roger Proehl, Charlie Lester and more, I went to every convention within driving distance for years, Some things that I didnt like went on and I left in the mid 2000s , but im still friends with many people from those early days, before the internet, back when we talked on the phone and really everyone got along so well, In those early days, we never argued politics, or anything else for that matter.
I read a ad in a spring 1994 issue of the VDTA news that a man named Craig Long published , he said he was a serious collector of vintage vacuums and was looking for a long list of machines, I called him and talked for 3 hours! He told me of the club, so I called John Lucia, and Alex then Bob Taber, they immediately invited me to come to North Canton to the meeting that year ,but i couldnt make that happen, but I went in 1995 to Allentown Pa, meanwhile I made friends with Tom Gasko, Clay Floyd, Billy Lipman,Mike Hays,Roger Proehl, Charlie Lester and more, I went to every convention within driving distance for years, Some things that I didnt like went on and I left in the mid 2000s , but im still friends with many people from those early days, before the internet, back when we talked on the phone and really everyone got along so well, In those early days, we never argued politics, or anything else for that matter.
My apologies to Don O'Connor. "Reports of his death were greatly exaggerated."
caligula
Well-known member
Canisterman.
About Craig Long, by the way no relation to John 'Gottahaveahoove' Long. He was one of the six I mentioned as the earliest members. He was from Buffalo, New York, and was the only one who did not write back when getting the introductory letter. He jumped the gun, called me with a huge "yes, please start the club." Anybody who met Craig was in for a treat. He was a living encyclopedia. Name any brand, he knew it, name a given machine and he could quote the instruction book, and give you correct dates of release.
Sadly, he missed the first meeting in 85 but was at the first one in Naperville in 86 and was the only member who stayed in my house. And he made a killer lasagna for all of us.
When I met him at Ohare airport in Chicago, he was carrying a 1950 Air-Way, sat with it in his lap, refusing to put it in the overhead compartment.
Craig passed away many years ago, and while we didn't talk often, when we did it was three hours or more.
Here's a picture of Craig in my living room. Second picture, the coveted Air-Way he gave me. Hand delivered. And I treasure it.
About Craig Long, by the way no relation to John 'Gottahaveahoove' Long. He was one of the six I mentioned as the earliest members. He was from Buffalo, New York, and was the only one who did not write back when getting the introductory letter. He jumped the gun, called me with a huge "yes, please start the club." Anybody who met Craig was in for a treat. He was a living encyclopedia. Name any brand, he knew it, name a given machine and he could quote the instruction book, and give you correct dates of release.
Sadly, he missed the first meeting in 85 but was at the first one in Naperville in 86 and was the only member who stayed in my house. And he made a killer lasagna for all of us.
When I met him at Ohare airport in Chicago, he was carrying a 1950 Air-Way, sat with it in his lap, refusing to put it in the overhead compartment.
Craig passed away many years ago, and while we didn't talk often, when we did it was three hours or more.
Here's a picture of Craig in my living room. Second picture, the coveted Air-Way he gave me. Hand delivered. And I treasure it.
dysonman1
Well-known member
Decades ago, we had one of the first VCCC conventions in St. Louis, and in my home. Craig Long, along with many others, who are still my friends, was there. Michael Pletcher got my lewyt Electronic to work again, and sure enough Craig Long wanted to try it. And, of course, he got zapped. His hair stood straight out from his skull. We were trying to cut it off when someone pulled the cord out of the wall. Craig said “wow, what a rush“.
Welcome home, everyone!
Lots of changes, I heard.
Let me be the first one to publicly congratulate Scott, Ken, and Barb.
And, Sean, I heard it was a super event. Sorry I could help you like you helped me last year.
Lots of changes, I heard.
Let me be the first one to publicly congratulate Scott, Ken, and Barb.
And, Sean, I heard it was a super event. Sorry I could help you like you helped me last year.
And, Alex, it's true.
Craig and I are not related at all. I never even met him. I did include his name in the "In Memoriam" book. I hear wild stories.
Craig and I are not related at all. I never even met him. I did include his name in the "In Memoriam" book. I hear wild stories.
Convention Pictures
I uploaded pictures to our club's site.
http://www.vacuumcleanercollectorsclub.org/annual-convention/
I uploaded pictures to our club's site.
http://www.vacuumcleanercollectorsclub.org/annual-convention/
akabent
Well-known member
Another Convention for the books and the records
Yep, another Outstanding Convention, both in terms of fun and planned activities. The seamless transitions from one event to the next was a testament to all the hard work clearly invested...again. It was a treat to reconnect with so many great people. Even the weather was flawless, Sean....Good Job!!!
Until next year....Happy Hoovering, with or without America's most Iconic brand.
RBinOC
Yep, another Outstanding Convention, both in terms of fun and planned activities. The seamless transitions from one event to the next was a testament to all the hard work clearly invested...again. It was a treat to reconnect with so many great people. Even the weather was flawless, Sean....Good Job!!!
Until next year....Happy Hoovering, with or without America's most Iconic brand.
RBinOC
durango159
Well-known member
Photos look great! Glad you all had such a great time. Kudos to the collector with a marvelous array of GE/ Premier vacuums as they are great vacuums. I have never tried their power nozzle canisters but I have tried two uprights and enjoyed them.
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