Antique Store Finds: Singer R-1, G-E AVT-811, Hoover U4005 & 719, Penncrest 1200, Electrolux B-8

[paul]

I found the following cleaners in the basement of an antique store:

▻Singer R-1 upright
▻G-E AVT-811 tank
▻Hoover Convertible 719
▻Hoover Convertible U4005
▻Penncrest 1200 (Hoover Swingette)
▻Electrolux B-8 (brown)

They were unmarked, so I asked the owner what the prices were, and he said that he checks online to see how much they go for and sets the prices accordingly. None are really up my alley, but I may go back and get the Penncrest. The only attachments I saw were the hose on the G-E and the Hoover 719 hose.

Here are some photos of the G-E, Singer & Penncrest. The Hoovers & Electrolux were kind of buried, so I left them alone.

 

[electrolux137]

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Unless he wants a king's ransom for it, you really should get the Singer. It's among the most beautiful of all the Streamline Era appliances, and is as rare as hens' teeth.

 

[TheSpiritOf76]

Also....

that Pencrest Hoover is VERY RARE indeed!!! You could easily find a dark seal greige hose and attachments for it. I have only seen one other (mine) even that one is different. It would be differently worth getting.

 

[paul]

Thanks for the feedback—which is exactly what I'd hoped to get.

Charles, your Singer is beautiful; and, Jae, your Penncrest is awesome.

I'll see what he wants for them and go from there.

Thanks again.

 

[oreck_xl]

I second Charles Richard's opinion GRAB THAT SINGER R1! I would even say try and get that G.E. tank cleaner, as it's one of the last (if not the last) model before the Swivel Tops came out. That surface rust should clean off without much effort.

 

[paul]

Thanks for the reply, Hershel. Sorry I didn't see it till now as I left the G-E behind; not knowing much about it. From what I could find online the AVT-813 was the last G-E tank. There was also a model AVT-813A, but I'm not sure if it was sold concurrently with the 813 or afterward. I think the 811 was sold in 1950 and the 813 in '51 or '52.

Anyway, I did get the Singer & the Penncrest.

Regarding the Penncrest, I'm in search of a hose and attachments for it. Do the couplings on the ends of Hoover hoses just unscrew, or are they secured with something?

 

[madman]

"he said that he checks online to see how much they go for and sets the prices accordingly."

So you mean he over-prices things? Gotcha.

 

[paul]

Not necessarily. He knows/cares very little about antique vacuum cleaners, so when he looked on eBay to see find what the going rate for a Singer or Penncrest was he came up short. I got the two for a pretty good combined price considering their rarity.

 

[crazykirbydude]

I have hand no luck with vacuums at my local thrift stores. Most of the time they have bagless vacs or no vacs at all.

 

[huskyvacs]

"when he looked on eBay to see find what the going rate for a Singer or Penncrest was he came up short."

Does he look at the COMPLETED AUCTIONS or just looks at what people are trying to sell them for, thinking that is the value? Either way, a person that is using eBay and is looking to get the maximum profit for something that's rusting away in a basement is bad news. It's the uneducated selling to the uneducated.

My rules for my stuff is sell it for a good deal and be rid of it. Horders have that problem a lot, they think their stuff is worth millions and don't know that the terrible condition of their stuff affects the value.

Also those vacs will need new cords and a motor lubrication, so try and talk that into the deal. They look like they've been sitting for decades.

It's a shame really, looks like he has a lot of nice stuff, but I know you could revisit the store 20 years later and all that stuff will still be there.

 

[madman]

It's an antique store, they're almost always overpriced. Mostly because their target demographic is people with too much disposable income. Paul got lucky that the proprietor was lacking information.

 

[huskyvacs]

Yeah I know how antique stores work, that's why I never set foot in one. But I just misunderstood, I thought he said the guy charged him what he saw on eBay or something.

 

[paul]

I don't remember if he looked at the active or completed listings. I think he was just using eBay as a guide.

There was also a well-used Hoover Convertible 719 with its hose and a tan Model G with an early Model F hose (without the suction control), which I didn't inquire about, so I can't be sure if he would try to get the highest prices or not. I did use some of huskyvac's refurb & usefulness remarks while negotiating on the Singer & Penncrest which helped.

In case you're curious, here's the 719:

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Nice finds all around !

Yes, that very popular 719 saw a good time. They made thousands upon thousands of them. Great vac. With some care, that'll purr again.
Regarding the Swingette/Penncrest: the hose will go in and 'twist' to secure. You'll see a little tab on the coupling. Not hard at all.
Enjoy your treasures!

 

[paul]

Thanks for the reply, John.

So, are you saying that I could use another Hoover hose such as one for a Portable and switch out the coupling?

Someone is selling the Swingette/Penncrest 1200 couplings on eBay.

 

[paul]

Btw, I'm guessing that 'AVT' in the G-E tank's model stands for 'Appliance Vacuum Tank'. Is that correct?