Black & Decker "The Collector" AC8000 Handheld Vac

[niclonnic]

I'd like to know more about this handheld vacuum cleaner. It's a direct-air corded machine with a rotating brush roll and reusable cloth bag, along with a hose and crevice tool.

My parents bought this vacuum from a yard sale around 1999/2000. It was complete in the box with the manual and an extra belt. The vacuum was very LOUD; thus, it scared the crap out of me. My parents used it as a car vacuum in my old apartment.

Upon moving into my current house in 2001, we brought this vacuum along. But we put it in the garage and hardly touched it again. I had the manual in my room, and my sister wrote all over it.

Sometime in 2010, I rediscovered this vacuum and decided to give it a whirl. It was still just as loud as I remember it; in addition, the suction was weak. The vacuum didn't pick up well; it left clumps of hair on a chair I was cleaning.

In early 2011, I decided it was time for this vacuum to go, so we donated it to Goodwill. Now I'm starting to kind of miss it.

I would greatly appreciate it if anybody could tell me more about this vacuum. According to the manual, it was from 1993.

Here is a pic. I do not own it; it's from a listing on eBay.

 

[ctvacman]

I have one that I got New a couple years ago. I remember wanting one as a kid back in the 90’s, I don’t think it’s that loud. The suction isn’t the greatest but it does pick up ok for what I’ve used it on. It’s pretty cool that when you remove the hose the brush roll stops. It has a lever that just moves the belt to kind of like a idler pulley on the side of the brushroll. Hopefully you come across one, they are kinda neat.

 

[niclonnic]

Okay

I'm not sure if I want to get another one of these vacuums. I mean, they're neat and all, but I don't have a use for them currently.

 

[honestjoe68]

@niclonnic

Man I wish I still had mine too! I’d totally forgotten about it.

What I do remember, mine was a dark green color, it used disposable paper bags, the built in crevice tool was handy, the brushroll was wider than the red Dirt Devils that were similar.

I don’t remember it being overly loud but suction was just ok. I really Loved this vacuum and sadly it got lost in a move and I never found one to replace it.

Black and Decker have got to be the WORST at keeping records, parts and in general a way to track older vacuums. But I do love the company since my first vacuum as a child was a cream color Dust Buster with the beige/brown charging base... such fun as a kid.

So sorry I couldn’t find more info or be of better help.

 

[oreck_xl]

How very true - sad that B&D is so ambivalent about older products. I remember years ago having a Black & Decker Floorbuster that I wish I still had. IIRC a neighbor threw it out, and the batteries were already getting weak when I got it.

 

[panasonicvac]

I have bags for that still. They were bought mistakenly for the DirtVac a long time ago but the DirtVac only uses a shake out bag.

 

[vacuumkid47]

Saw one at a Savers I didn't get it because they wanted $20 for it. Instead I bought a Regina Dirt Magnet for $10. That thing is in better condition than the b&d

 

[geldridge]

@niclonnic

I completely agree with you. These vacuums are too loud. In the past they had advantages but now I prefer other vacuums.

 

[fantomlightning]

Just in case...

If anyone wants one again, I found this guy while doing some browsing on eBay.

http://https//www.ebay.com/itm/BLAC...367043?hash=item33e6507e83:g:xb4AAOSwNFVawZqY

 

[wstonehockertv]

The fact that the DirtVac has a shakeout bag gives me serious DD/Royal handvac vibes. Oh, who remembers the bagged Bissell PowerPartner handvacs?

 

[panasonicvac]

I don't personally mind the dump out bag on my DirtVac, but it doesn't have as many layers as the Dirt Devil 103 and it doesn't have a proper seal.