Collections.. help me understand

[lori_ann]

Wondering WHY each of you collects vacuums!

I understand collecting vacuums is a lot like some collect stamps, dolls, cars, etc...

But many of you have stated you enjoy one or three of your machines more than the others... why so many? I've heard some of you mention you have HUNDREDS! ?? And some of the posts surely shows an abundance of machines!
I
t sounds as though you have LOADS of storage space! LOL

That being said, some of the posts have me wanting to check the local thrift stores for some old machines to add to my Kirby! (not that any is needed of course!)....

 

[daknx1994]

Collecting

Lori I don't really know how to explain it other than most of us grew up with a fascination about vacuum cleaners. Some people have a fascination about stamps others its vacuums. I remember being very little and being afraid of the vacuum. Then I just remember loving to get the vacuum out and do all of the vacuuming.

 

[sptyks]

Lori

I am an engineer and I've always been fascinated by complex electrical machines. Back in the day I used to troubleshoot and repair computers that occupied a whole room and had large peripheral disk drives that I also would repair. These huge disk drives looked like and were the same size as washing machines but they were also very complex machines.


 


Because of my background I became very interested in Vacuum cleaners when I retired a few years ago. I wish I had the money and space to start a collection, but as it currently is I own and only have room for 4 of my favorite machines: 2 Kirbys, a Royal 2075  metal upright and a bagged Hoover Windtunnel self propelled.


 


But I am very knowledgeable of most contemporary makes and models as I have read almost every thread on this forum and have watched hundreds of  vacuum cleaner how-to and repair videos on youtube. 


 


By the way, I know of at least 2 people on this forum that have over 400 vacuums in their collections.


 


-Stan

[this post was last edited: 3/29/2014-18:01]

 

[beko1987]

I've grown up wondering how they work, and how they are put together. Now I have my own money and space etc I tend to get anything possible, strip it, clean it and re-assemble it so I can use it at its peak performance. I'll then normally sell the machine.

I collect Turbopower Juniors, I have no idea why! Good performance, outrivalling modern machines with grooming and grit removal and - im not too sure really

But ours is not to reason why, I know people with 20-30 cars in their collection. Nothing special, just cheap old cars!

I've (and others) have turned our knowledge into money too, I buy dysons from the dump and refurbish them to as new condition, and sell them at profit.

 

[turbo500]

Why collect?

Well why does anybody do anything? Why do people like 1 singer or movie and some don't? Why do some people like jeans and others prefer trackies?

Seriously, there's no way to answer this question. I tried for 20 years and got nowhere.

 

[turbo500]

Incidentally, the biggest collection I know of is over 300.

 

[sebo_fan]

its like collecting model cars ( I also have quite a few ) - different shapes, different models, different brands, lots of different designs through the ages. No wonder so many collect vacuums or anything with wheels.

Those who collect ornaments run the risk of expensive insurance premiums although the pay off is you can have limited edition items in terms of ornaments and probably yield a bigger profit when it comes the time to part with them.

 

[hi-loswitch98]

Ummmmm...it allows you to use a different vacuum cleaner everyday?

 

[fantomfan]

I think daknx1994 sums it up well.

People collect stamps, coins, cars, rocks, records, the usual...
Vacuum collecting may not sound "ordinary" to others, but in reality, it is just the same as collecting something else. My german teacher collects irons, my grandmother collects coins. All in all, it is ok to have a passion for something, as long as it doesn't consume your life.

What probably "sparked" my interest was the fantom infomercial tapes I was sent when I was 2. I watched those constantly. I still have 3/4 of them. I started collecting fantoms in late 2009, and have been at it ever since. I wanted a fantom thunder, and that want for that thunder, and the pleasure of getting it, is probably why I didn't stop. I didn't have interest in other machines until I got my first kirby, a heritage 2, in summer 2010. After that, I wasn't only into fantoms. I would say though that I didn't start REALLY collecting until late 2011. At that time, I had 10 vacuums. A year later, I had 50 vacuums, and last fall, I had almost 130. I am cutting down though, with 100 vacuums currently, with several for sale (about 14).

 

[fantomfan]

I like many different kinds.

I like vacuum cleaners that are well built, and clean well. Bagless machines don't appeal to me, I like fantoms mainly for sentimental reasons. My favorite bagless upright is my fantom thunder. My favorite bagless canister is my rainbow d4.
My favorite bagged upright (tough choice) would probably be my hoover concept one, although many others come close.(my tacony made hoover comes to mind) My favorite bagged canisters are a tie between my kenmore whispertone, my hoover celebrity, my hoover dimension 1000, and my electrolux diamond jubilee.

 

[rainbowguy326]

Collecting vacuums...

Hi Lori!
In response to your question, here is how I started collecting vacuum cleaners.
When I was really little, oh probably one or two years old, I was actually afraid of my Mom's vacuum. I would actually go to my Grandmum's house whenever she had to clean! She had a really loud, green Dirt Devil, and I was terrified by the noise. But, whenever my Grandmum would vacuum, I would become mesmerized by it!

That interest progressed to going to Walmart with my Mom and begging to go down the vacuum isle! My Dad came home from work when I was about four with a video that went with one of his co-workers Fantom Lightning vacuums. I would watch that over and over, to the extent that I could say exactly what they were saying, right along with the commercial! It went even further when my Aunt gave me the video that went with her Kirby GSix. I watched that tape until a hole actually burned through it!

As I got older, the more I got interested in them. I would ask for vacuums for Christmas and my Birthday, and then I would give demonstrations to people about them! I went to flea markets to get them, my Aunt and Uncle actually would go to different flea markets and yard sales and buy vacuums for me and hold onto them until I would go to their house!

I worked for Rainbow for a short time, but had to quit training because the times my boss was setting for the demonstrations were way too late and interfering with my school work. I still have an interest in them, though not to the extent that I used too. I have gone to just liking to vacuum to just enjoying the act of cleaning in general.

Well, that is a bit of my history! I hope this helps!

~Josh

 

[daknx1994]

Another thing that comes to mind is some people do like to clean. It only comes naturally that when you clean you vacuum. I myself like to keep things clean and find myself vacuuming everyday. Like others have said it also gives you the opportunity to use several different vacuums. How I got onto liking vacuums is when I was young I suffered from having earaches all of the time. Being up late I would watch the David Oreck infomercials for the Oreck vacuum. My mom also worked at a hotel and they used Oreck's, so every time the infomercial came on I would be like "Mommy there is your vacuum!", my parents got a kick out of that. I would also spend time at the hotel with my mom and it was either sit in the office all day or go out and help clean. Well you could pretty much put the puzzle together on that one.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I own over 450 HOOVER products!!

I ONLY collect HOOVER! I really am a collector of artifacts,items, etc made by THe HOOVER COMPANY! Not just floorcare.
I have a genuine interest in the entire company. I've been welcomed into EVERY single building, I've met tons of employees, past and present. I'm VERY welcome in the towns of both North Canton AND Glenwillow! (TTI).Thankfully, I'm past the "so, you collect "sweepers"!!It really is no different from stamps, coins, etc....

 

[super-sweeper]

he may only collect HOOVER,

but those 'Blue Things' (KIRBYS!) Still lurk in his basement!

   


 


I've had an interest in vacuums since I was young,I was pushing around our old Fantom Thunder by the time I was 2! Vacuum was my favorite word,I would follow my Dad around the house as he vacuumed!


 


People collect all sorts of things, stamps, cars, washing machines, HOOVERS, dolls, etc. People also have hobbies, such as gardening, ham radios, dressing your cats, etc. Vacuum collecting is both a collection and a hobby.bringing them home and fixing them up, giving one's old, Dusty Scmutz box a new lease on life. It keeps you busy, as like all hobbies.


 


 


 

 

[kenkart]

I am another...

Who was interested in vacuums from the time I could walk!, I collect all sorts of appliances though, everything from mixers to stoves...I have about 175 vacuums, and off hand I would say 200 mixers....along with waffle irons, toasters etc...if it plugs in and makes noise or gets hot, I collect it, most of my stuff is between 45 and 70 years old, I concentrate on 1950s and 60s stuff mostly....as you can see, old advertising as well!

 

[suckolux]

I very much enjoy cleaning and taking things apart or I did! And also, trying different machines to find that " perfect" one, which does not seem to exist, all have their pros and cons in some way.I have a few in constant rotation due to their strong points or how much I enjoy using/hearing them.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Alex, may I call you Alex>>>>

Yes, those 'blue things' (and 1 'red one') are deep in the bowels of the house. There are 4 cellars here. They are down literally where the dead bodies are/were. Fear not! They will find homes, and they will be brought out into the sunlight...and directly into someone else's homes. Until then, they hang out with a red Compact, an Electrolux polisher, ad an Oreck! Deep below the house, where no one can see or hear them. No one else would DARE go down there!

 

[super-sweeper]

John,

You may, as long as I can call you John!

 


 


Those poor cellar dwellers! Throw a deck of cards or a nice HOOVER manual to memorize at them, it'll give them something to do other than chat about upholstery nozzles and previous owners all day! Hopefully someday they work live in the lamp of luxury, like your HOOVERS! How does a Hoover guy even come into possession of a non-Hoover?

 

[gottahaveahoove]

People thought they were being KIND..........

and delivered them here. Wasn't THAT kind of them!!!??? That Oreck was a "gift" to me from a friend She has a heart condition, and I helped her empty her dead aunt's home in Scranton....all Summer. She "wanted me to have it".... along with a Lenox vase. The Lenox vacs is proudly displayed on the first floor of thye house, far way from that Oreck. Actually, there are 2 Orecks!!. I'd forgotten about the car vac.
You'll all see them ALL when I start to attack the cellar(s).