vacuumalex
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 112
Best Decade for Vacuums
My first thought was the 80's too!
My first thought was the 80's too!
Best Decade for Vacuums
- Thread starter bagintheback
- Start date
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For Eurekas.....
I'd have to say that the most beautiful Eurekas were designed from 1965 to 1985....from the arrival of the Empress Canister to the arrival of the Express Canister. Even the uprights of these 2 decades were designed so beautifully - from the early Vanguards up to the Ultra and the Self-Propelled Precision. They are also some of the best performing Eurekas in their history.
I'd have to say that the most beautiful Eurekas were designed from 1965 to 1985....from the arrival of the Empress Canister to the arrival of the Express Canister. Even the uprights of these 2 decades were designed so beautifully - from the early Vanguards up to the Ultra and the Self-Propelled Precision. They are also some of the best performing Eurekas in their history.
sireluxomatic
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- Oct 4, 2007
- Messages
- 681
Re: Electrolux hoses
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">On rare occasions, I'll bust out an old, still somewhat usable woven hose, just to transport myself back to the 60's, but for practical, everyday cleaning, they're unsuitable, especially the electric ones. </span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Then there's the noise factor. If you put all the 80 series and Model Gs together and turned them on simultaneously, they'd probably still be more bearable to listen to than a newer Electrolux. </span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">On rare occasions, I'll bust out an old, still somewhat usable woven hose, just to transport myself back to the 60's, but for practical, everyday cleaning, they're unsuitable, especially the electric ones. </span>
<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Then there's the noise factor. If you put all the 80 series and Model Gs together and turned them on simultaneously, they'd probably still be more bearable to listen to than a newer Electrolux. </span>
Hoses...
If I had to display 'a collection'.....and one that was correct, I'd be inclined to get the right color hose for the correct LUX. But that's not happening for me at the moment, as I'm still very much into form AND function. I might have even thrown some old OE hoses away, come to think of it. Yeah I know...that was probably stupid, because when and if there is ever a fix that preserves the color/pattern and makes those original hoses like new again, I'll be up the creek.;-)
Kevin
If I had to display 'a collection'.....and one that was correct, I'd be inclined to get the right color hose for the correct LUX. But that's not happening for me at the moment, as I'm still very much into form AND function. I might have even thrown some old OE hoses away, come to think of it. Yeah I know...that was probably stupid, because when and if there is ever a fix that preserves the color/pattern and makes those original hoses like new again, I'll be up the creek.;-)
Kevin
Do you think that the period between 1974 and 1981 was the best period of time for Rainbow vacuums?
~Ben
~Ben
1966-2001
KirbyUltimateG
What happened the those two years? 2002 still had some great vacuums.
What happened the those two years? 2002 still had some great vacuums.
suckolux
Well-known member
Has anyone noticed, some of the older guys, me included like ones more the age when they were young and the younger ones same thing? it really only makes sense.
whirlsonicmore
New member
Ben,
As far as Rainbow, considering all attributes, only the D4's to pre-2005 E series are worth any time to me. The older metal 'Bows were tough machines and ran a long while, but motor rebuild time is a bear.
Suckolux,
I would agree with you on that.
As far as Rainbow, considering all attributes, only the D4's to pre-2005 E series are worth any time to me. The older metal 'Bows were tough machines and ran a long while, but motor rebuild time is a bear.
Suckolux,
I would agree with you on that.
But.....
I think for the most part, there were plenty of technological advances to let vacuums peak even well into 2000. But, manufacturers used technology to give big sound, poor construction & components the nod in their high dollar, top-end models.
If there's not enough profit in your bottom line, make your vacuums cheaper, but use graphics, color or advertised 'ergonomics' to convince folks that their products are better than ever. There's still that mentality out there; that if you go to Shopco (or wherever) and pay $300-500 for a vacuum, it HAS to be good.
And I agree about the generational thing. Whatever turned your crank as a boy vacuum-wise, will undoubtedly be you collector's passion as an adult. Look what Baby Boomers did to the motorcycle industry-although they had the very fortunate luxury to be blessed with better and better motorcycles. It's a sad story that new vacuums have declined so far from their roots.:-(
Kevin
I think for the most part, there were plenty of technological advances to let vacuums peak even well into 2000. But, manufacturers used technology to give big sound, poor construction & components the nod in their high dollar, top-end models.
If there's not enough profit in your bottom line, make your vacuums cheaper, but use graphics, color or advertised 'ergonomics' to convince folks that their products are better than ever. There's still that mentality out there; that if you go to Shopco (or wherever) and pay $300-500 for a vacuum, it HAS to be good.
And I agree about the generational thing. Whatever turned your crank as a boy vacuum-wise, will undoubtedly be you collector's passion as an adult. Look what Baby Boomers did to the motorcycle industry-although they had the very fortunate luxury to be blessed with better and better motorcycles. It's a sad story that new vacuums have declined so far from their roots.:-(
Kevin
mercuryman
Well-known member
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- Sep 7, 2010
- Messages
- 237
1960s and 1970s
I think the best decade for vacuums was the 1960s and the 1970s. Many machines made during those two decades were not only innovative, but also very attractive and sturdily built.
To quote Kevin: I think a lot of older LUX's were traded for newer, just over the leaking/frayed hose issue alone...I agree with this statement. Two of my Luxes I acquired because the hoses leaked and the previous owners said that the machines had "lousy suction"...which was definitely not the case!
I think the best decade for vacuums was the 1960s and the 1970s. Many machines made during those two decades were not only innovative, but also very attractive and sturdily built.
To quote Kevin: I think a lot of older LUX's were traded for newer, just over the leaking/frayed hose issue alone...I agree with this statement. Two of my Luxes I acquired because the hoses leaked and the previous owners said that the machines had "lousy suction"...which was definitely not the case!
red_october
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- Joined
- Oct 16, 2007
- Messages
- 71
My US$0.02 is for the 60s through the 80s. By the 60s most modern things we take for granted were widely available (powered brushrolls on canisters and uprights, paper bags, etc.) and innovation continued in force. Build quality probably peaked at that point, too. While a lot of older machines were very sturdy physically, the attachments were often crap or there were little things where the quality of plastics or rubber available at the time made the overall build quality of the whole package lower. By the 80s lots of designs had matured, and build quality was probably for the last time a high priority. There was a real shift in the 1990s away from well-built consumer goods towards cheaply made, low-priced goods. This happened in all fields, including appliances and consumer electronics. Sure there are great machines that came from the 90s or are even still made today, but they are things like Kirbys and Royals that are either an outright continuation of a much older design that continues to sell, or a basic concept that is the vacuums own selling point (Kirby's immense durability and long life are basically completely at odds with modern consumer goods design).
That's it in a nutshell really; any thing great in the 90's was a carryover from a previous time tested design. Deviate too far form a good design and the line was doomed. I can just hear the marketing execs telling their sales people, "Tell them it's completely new and better."
Kevin
Kevin
