Canister. vs. Canister

[singingrainbow]

What do you think is the best vintage canister vacuum? It can be from the low end category or any other as long as it is vintage ( from 1920's to 1980's) and you can name brands or particular machines. As far as I know there has been no other threads about this topic and knowing the varying favorite vac brands I think we will see some interesting results. Mine has to be anything that is singer, regina, whirlpool, shetland, and sunbeam. So what is yours?
-Scott

 

[compactelectra]

Electrolux - No Question

No if ands or buts. Electrolux is the best canister, bar none. Long lived, good filtration, etc. etc.

 

[kirbyotronic]

Tough choice...

There were a lot of good canisters back then. I'd say Electrolux's and Compact's were the more powerful machines.

 

[vinvac]

I am with you Fred. Electrolux all the way....Air-Way comes in close.

Morgan

 

[joe22]

Electrolux, Compact, Royal and Filterqueen

 

[westingman123]

well,

I gotta say Filter Queen. I'm not a PN person, and you can't beat them for straight suction.

 

[singingrainbow]

ops

I forgot rainbow, the ones above are my favorite, rainbow is the best...... period no questions but alot of those are good to its just I cant find a good priced powerheaded fq or compact

 

[electrolux-dude]

I agree with all the above posts regarding Electrolux's--You can't Beat 'Em! Tri-Stars also are great vacs as well. Changing the bags in an Electrolux has to be the most simple and easiest of all the vacuums.

 

[kirbyotronic]

We all must keep in mind, just because they might be our favorite, doesn't mean they are the best

There are a lot of good suggestions in this thread, I'm sure there are plenty more that will get posted later.

 

[luxg]

My vote goes to Electrolux as well. At least the older ones. They were made from quality materials and did just what they were designed to do!! Clean!!

Terry

 

[dualsanitronic]

I'd say Airways. Noone else had a 14 layer cellulose bag. Luxes are wonderful, but they don't filter as well. You can take an Airway apart after 20 or more years of use,and the motor and fan will still be sparkling with no visible dust on them if genuine Airway bags were used all along. And the evacuator assembly creates a TRUE cyclonic air sweep thru the bag, holding most of the suction until the bag is full, and it really does! However, Luxes are close if you use the new blue bags in them which are four times better than the old 4 ply bag. But you will change them more than Airways to keep the suction!

 

[jfalberti]

My vote is ...

Filter Queen. I have a Princess II with PN that I got for less than $100 and it can't be beat.

 

[tolivac]

I would have to go with Meile,TriStar-Compact,Sebo and older Lux,and OLDER Filter Queen-not the new PLASTIC Filter Queens.I don't like the new 'Lux vacuums.I don't really use powernozzlesexcept to try-use my Kirby instead for the carpet vacuuming.Use the canisters for the other vacuum jobs.I don't hardly use the hose attachment on my Kirbys-like canisters better.

 

[kenkart]

Apex and Sunbeam

For just plain old out and out suction,they are in a league all there own,yes Electrolux is good,as is Airway and Compact,but comparing them to either the Apex or Sunbeam Dual Deluxe is like comparing a Falcon to a 60 Chrysler 300-F!,There are a lot fewer 300s, but they will blow all the other cars of 1960 off the road! The suction of either is comparable to a new Miele, the airflow is better than anything new!!

 

[suckolux]

Interesting thread! Tough one to comment on as I haven't seen many of those models. Compact, Miele, Lux, FQ, have owned those, good candidates.Airway always sounds very interesting.

 

[electrolux~137]

I agree with Hans ... as much as I am crazy for Electrolux, none of them can hold a candle to some of the models he mentioned; in fact, even the Compacts have more power and air flow.

Furthermore, Electrolux bags -- too small in the first place -- clog up very quickly and you're obliged to change them when they're not even 1/3 full if you want to maintain good suction. If you're "buying retail," that gets really expensive. A 24-pack of Electrolux-branded bags is 40 bucks now. (Thank God for eBAy, a great source for cheap bags!)

Where Electrolux DOES have an advantage over most other tank and canister machines is in the two combination cleaning tools. Their simplicity but great efficiency are a marvel to behold.

 

[scvacuumguy]

Filter Queen Pink Model with power nozzle. I have two pinks that I bought with this store under the work bench that have been there since this store opened 38 years ago.

 

[kenmore81]

Kenore of course lol.

I love the Whirpool made square canisters from the 60's through the 80's, also the Hoover Celebrity is a favorite of mine. Not that the Luxes arn't great vacuums but Ive always been a Kenmore kid for some reason.

 

[eurekaprince]

The best power nozzle canister is definitely.....

the Eureka Roto-Matic Power Team (1200 series) from the early 1970's. The first Eureka power teams were great cleaners, even though the boxy canister itself was not as streamlined as the earlier air-only Empress Ones and Twos!

I love those "curvey e" Eurekas! (but of course, I am biased...heheh)