Antique Central Vacuum

[kellyn]

Hello everyone,
I am interested in getting suggestions for what I should do with my antique central vacuum system. I don't know too much about it...I live in Providence, RI and my house was built in 1905. The vacuum was in our basement when we moved in. We are about to begin work refinishing our basement and the vacuum is quite large and in the way. I don't know whether I should try to sell it, give it away, or throw it away. I can take photos later today if anyone needs photos to give me suggestions.
Thanks so much!
Kellyn

 

[kenkart]

Whatever you do

Don't throw it away....Someone on here will want it!If I were closer I would!

 

[kellyn]

Any suggestions for letting those people know about it? We need to get it out of the way fairly soon.

 

[blknblu]

try contacting centralvacs1928 (Owen Perkins), he is very knowledgeable about centracl vacs

operkinsatgmaildotcom

 

[kellyn]

A few photos I took tonight.

 

[caligula]

This is an Arco-Wand.

Hi Kellyn:

What you have is indeed rare and needs to go to people who can restore it. I agree, Owen Perkins is the person to contact.

If you want the history on vintage built-in vacuum cleaners there are two threads devoted to a company called Spencer, and though not the Arco-Wand, I think that's mentioned somewhere in these threads. Simply go to 'Forum archives' in vintage and click on the year 2008, then scroll down to thread 5115 December 28. Here you'll find the first of two sites on all things built-in. The other can be found in 2009, thread 5157 January 4.

Both threads are very long and can't be read in one sitting, but will give you all the data you need to sell these.

As to yours, I can't read the actual patent dates, but the patent holder would be David T. Kenny who was famous for designing non electric and early electric machines from 1900 - 1920. All this is explained in detail on these two threads.

Good luck.
Alex Taber.
[this post was last edited: 12/8/2016-21:38]

 

[blknblu]

Owen mentions the Arco-Wand on his blog website:
http://jcvacs.blogspot.com/search?q=Arco-Wand

an excerpt:
"
My good friend Tom Gasko is the curator of the Vintage Vacuum Cleaner Museum in St. James, Missouri. Three years ago when the museum opened, I drove down to see it (not every day do you see 400-some vintage vacuum cleaners, all beautifully restored, arranged by decades in period-furnished rooms), and to install the museum’s central vacuum system. Tom has always known about my passion for all things central vacuum, and in the past has given me some very early (1910s) literature about central vacuum systems.

Well, last year Tom called me and said that an “Arco Wand” central vacuum had been donated to the Museum. The Arco Wand is one of the very earliest residential central vacuums, made from about 1910 into the 1920s. Never having seen one in person, I made plans to go down and pay Tom a visit as soon as possible. "

 

[kellyn]

Great! Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[kellyn]

I contacted Owen Perkins and he was able to give me some interesting information on the vacuum.

At this point we aren't even trying to sell it. We will give it to anyone who is able to come and pick it up. I would love to give it to someone here who would appreciate it for what it is rather than giving it to a random person off Craigslist. If anyone knows someone who would be interested please let them know it is available! We would love to get it picked up this weekend.

Thanks!

 

[kellyn]

Bumping one last time before this vacuum gets tossed. I'd love to give it to someone who appreciates it! We would feel bad about throwing it out. But if even the Vacuumland people aren't interested, I'm not too optimistic (and definitely don't have time to wait) for someone else to want it.

 

[marks_here]

Just chuck it & get it over with so you can move along with the refurbishment of your basement. If someone wanted it by now they would have contacted you already wanting it.

 

[fordguy]

Arco wand

Please dont toss the arco wand. If u still have the arco wand vacuum and haven't found a home for it I'd really enjoy taking it off your hands.

 

[chris_f]

Arco Wand

If you still have the vacuum, I would absolutely love to take it! I live not too far from you in Narragansett, RI in a house built in 1910. My house has the antique piping for a central vacuum system that was originally here. Unfortunately, the system must have been removed sometime before I bought the house a couple years ago. Thanks for posting about this, I was surprised to find something so local.

 

[filterqueen1]

Chris,
If you are interested in getting a central vacuum put into you house, please let me know. Those old Arco Wand central vacuums were severely underpowered and weren't very effective. There are ways that you can put a system in it place and still use the original piping and inlets. I saw pictures of a converted system in a house in Chicago. Please let me know if you are interested in getting a working system back into your house. My Name is Greg and would love to help you out with this project.