Any Vintage vacuums passed down through the generations?

[jo]

I thought it would be interesting to see if anyone has a vintage vacuum that was purchased new by a family member or relative and handed down through the generations. I proudly own my Grandmother’s Electrolux Model XXX which she purchased new likely shortly after WWII and it stayed with the house after she died as my Aunt never married and lived in the house inheriting it. When my favorite Aunt (and Godmother) unfortunately unexpected passed away in 1984 I told my Father (I was 15 at the time) that I wanted the Electrolux. I still have it to this day and I am 50 currently. I don’t use it much because I have hardwoods in my house and worry the rails will scratch my floors but it works beautifully, looks great, and has all of the attachments it came with noted on the original label. In 1982 or 1983 my Aunt replaced the original hose with a genuine Electrolux Silverado era gray non electric woven hose due to the simple need for it as the original was badly leaking and I had brought my Electrolux turbotool over to shampoo her carpets and it would not get up to speed due to the leakage of the original hose. I didn’t use the Vacuum but rarely at all from about 1987 until about 10 years ago as it was carefully stored in an Electrolux box in my parents basement but I finally brought it on the plane with me to Dallas, TX from NJ one year. I would like to use it or display it as it is a beautiful vintage machine in excellent condition with nothing lost and I’ll likely do so when I my den and the closet where it is currently safely stored in an Electrolux diamond jubilee cardboard box I picked up from an Electrolux store’s trash pile one time when we went to get bags or parts for another Electrolux so I could neatly store the XXX in an appropriately sized box. For now, the XXX provided me with fun as a child and hopefully fun in years to come for my cleaning needs and hobby desires. I’ll post pictures soon, but many of you know what an XXX looks like and it’s attachments.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

JO,
Great story! I find it is great to have solid physical memories of our childhoods, and of our beloved relatives as well. I have not inherited my mom's Kirby D50 yet (that my dad bought new), only because she is still using it! She knows I want it when she leaves and I had completely restored it for her a couple years ago. I am NOT looking forward to getting it for the obvious reason, but will when that time comes. I will die owning that one for sure.

 

[fan-of-fans]

No

I wish I had kept my grandmother's Singer Silver Glide canister when she sold her house in 2007. It stayed with the house when it sold and sometimes I wonder what became of it. She never used it much, usually she used her Hoover Elite, but I used to get it out of the coat closet and play with it when I'd visit her. She knew a lot about vacuums and appliances, etc, and taught me a lot.

She passed almost 3 years ago, she would've been 100 this month. She comes to mind so often when I think about certain things like vacuums.

 

[hoover300]

I still have pieces of my great grandmother's 1954 Kirby 514. It was bojacked at some point in the late 90s but still had original wheels. They were then ruined due to abuse, a cross country move, and being played with outside. My mom HATED it and wanted to throw it out, but gave it to 6 year old me to play with on the concrete as I was not really into vacuums and it was filthy. The wheels, belt lifter, handle and armature were shot. I guess it kinda lives on through my 5?? as I installed the fan case(minus the tag), original fan, and headlight cap on it. It did kickstart my interest in vacuums though. I am told we had the complete attachment set with shipping crate, but it was thrown out when we moved (I was waaaay to young to know what it was).I wanted to restore it and make it an heirloom, but it would cost way to much and the vac would be only half original parts.
The XXX sounds nice!

 

[suckolux]

I have mom's Compact C4

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I have a few.

The most important is our Hoover model 67 Convertible. It was used and abused. My dad bought it 2 weeks before I was born. So, I'll keep it forever.
I clearly remember it being used here daily by my mother.. and everyone else.

 

[human]

The only semi-family machine I have is an Electrolux 1205 my dad rescued from the curb when I was in high school, circa 1981.

At one time, I had my maternal grandmother's orange Eureka Princess(?) canister with matching power nozzle that was in almost like new condition but my ex wife made me get rid of it. I've vented that resentment on here before, so I'll let it go at that.

I also had my parents' lime green and tan "Brady Bunch" Hoover Convertible for a few years but it was in a van load of stuff I took to Goodwill when I was moving a little over 20 years ago.

Looking back, I wish I could have grabbed my paternal grandparents' Electrolux LX, but I didn't have the opportunity. The (now ex-) wife forbade me from going to help clean out their house and I had not yet developed the vacuum cleaner obsession I have today. Oh well, that's in the past and I cannot dwell on it. I can only seek the serenity to accept those things I cannot change, buy all the vintage vacuum cleaners I can, and have the wisdom to know the difference...

 

[dandagreer]

I have one!

My great-grandparents had a Kirby 562 that they well-cared for. My great-grandmother would always let me drag it out and play with it when I went to their house as a kid. She passed away, and my great-grandfather moved into a facility when I was 8 years old. When my grandpa and his siblings cleaned out the house, they knew who they would give the Kirby to! And I inherited that Kirby I so loved.

We used it as our family vacuum cleaner all the way up until I left for college, and it came to college with me. Vacuumed my dorm room (and many others, as everyone wanted to borrow it) all four years of college.

I've since rebuilt it, and its part of my collection now. It's my first Kirby and will always be my favorite!

 

[KirbyCollector01]

When I was 12

Back on Christmas Day 2013
My grandma gave me her aunt’s (my great great aunt’s) Rexair Model B from 1940. It has all the accessories with it.

 

[countryguy]

The first vacuum I owned was a Belltower (pic credit goes to Doug Smith). It had all the attachments as in the pic but also included the dusting brush, crevice tool and paint sprayer. My mother actually owned the vacuum when she first got married. She then bought a Filter Queen and gave the Belltower to her mother who did not own a vacuum. I remember my grandmother storing the vacuum and all the attachments in a large cloth bag under the bed when not in use as her tiny house had no closets. In the mid 60s when I was about 6 or 7 my mom gave her mom for Christmas a Hoover Constellation and a Hoover Quick Vac. The ony time the Belltower was used after that was when my grandfather would clean the wood stove pipes. After university when I moved out on my own, my grandmother gave me the Belltower. I used it for a few months in my apartment before purchasing a new Electrolux AP280. I then gave the Belltower back to my mom for use at the cottage so it went full circle. It was there for several years but then disappeared. I don't know what happened to it. I wish I had kept it.

Gary

 

[rodknock95]

My grandmas Olympia

Here is a pic of my grandmothers olympia

 

[happyjigg]

I have at least two vacs passed down to me. Both are from my grandmother. She would periodically replace her vacuum if something went wrong with it and give it to my family. I grew up with a Concept one and a Power Drive Supreme from her, along with two Electrolux model Gs that were unfortunaley thrown out before I statred collecting. I always had an intrest in these machines since I was little, once I got over my fear of them. I have since gotten a Model G to replace the other two, but one I have never been able to find is a Hoover Dimension 1000 at our grandmothers house. I watched it get dragged away from me when it was sold at a garage sale ten years ago. I wish I could find another, but I have never been able to.

 

[fantomfan]

I have a few....

They aren't that old though. Two Kenmore vacuums from both of my Grandmothers. The first one I got is a Kenmore upright from around 2002/2003. It was used sparingly in my dad's mom's apartment for a few years before she gave it to me (she had recently gotten a new kenmore progressive canister from Sears). That vacuum is now the vacuum used primarily at home by my parents and brothers. The other one is a Kenmore canister (like Progressive) that my mom's mom bought in 2004 at Sears. After she moved into advanced care, I took it and now keep it in my bedroom closet. Still have everything it came with but the box, even still have the receipt for it.

 

[kloveland]

So called experts

say to get a new vacuum every ten years. According to this article I’m pushing around 66 year old dirt with my 63.

https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/how-to-clean-vacuum

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Kenny, you filthy man!!!!!!!1

I just read that article!!!! Every 8-10 years.
IF anyone has serviced a , say Hoover Convertible, or had it serviced, replace the genuine bags, etc... you're not pushing around any dirt! They were made to last. And, they do. Well, mine do, as do all of Kenny's, I trust.

Like the average person is going to do anything listed in that article.
'There's a filter"?
um, ok.
Amusing reading.

 

[2011hoover700]

Try 110 years of dirt according to the article
I cleaned out at least 80 years just in lubricant.
I agree 100% with gottahaveahoover.

 

[jo]

Great stories so far! Since I mostly have and use Electrolux canisters I’ve found the bag system is excellent and very little dirt accumulates inside avoiding the need to disassemble and clean. And can you imagine if everyone did this how many people would totally forget how to put their machines back together? They’d be left at the end with a handful of parts and screws and toss them in the trash and go back to using a vacuum now that either doesn’t seal and suck properly or run across the floor properly, etc because they took it apart without a detailed manual. Personally I don’t care for nag less vacuums, too much dirty maintenance dumping out the bin then cleaning filters to restore suction. With the good bags of the Electrolux I just throw away the sealed in dirt, insert a fresh bag and the cleaning process is done. Yes there is the need to clean the power nozzle and floor tool brushes. I’m amazed at how many people don’t cut the hair off the rotating brush...I’ve seen some so full you can’t even see the brush bristles! Usually a household with a long haired woman present. Well this isn’t the place to discuss bag vs. bagless.