Commercial Filtex

[centralvacs1928]

I was in a house the other day putting new motors into this thing. It's a Filtex from the seventies, the largest one they made. <br
7.5" motors! Four carbon brushes in each one <br
I figured a couple people here would get a kick out of it I saved the old motors and put in new carbon brushes, now I have to figure out what I'm gonna do with 'em.

 

[hoover_elite_20]

Why

Just put an old motor in a sanitaire or something! That would be fun yet scary!

 

[compactelectra]

That Puppy

Draws 19 amps!

 

[centralvacs1928]

Thanks Fred!

That's a really cool brochure. Oddly the specs are a little less than the TC600 (which I've run into a few times before, THAT thing has some suction!), yet it cost more. The homeowner was the original owner from when the place was built in the seventies, and he said it was a $75 upgrade to go from the TC-600 to the CTS-500. Guess he got his money's worth <br
The hose was original too and had developed an awful screeching noise when in use. Something about those wire-reinforced hoses made them do that after a while.

 

[andy]

That things a beast! Which inlets did they have Owen?

 

[centralvacs1928]

The Filtex "Automatic" inlets, in regular boring ivory. Those are EVERYWHERE around here. I think this house had fifteen or so of them. And the hose was a good 40 plus feet long <br
I've only run into one or two jobs that had the brass or chrome automatic inlets, and a couple more that used the "pushbutton and light" inlets. Those are so cool! One lady whose house I put a new power unit and inlets into was sort of disappointed that the new inlets didn't have a light on them <br

 

[compactelectra]

Hey guys!

My first Filtex in Chicago had the automatic inlets. I switched the relay on the unit to take the push button and light inlets. The very end of those. When I moved to California and had the second Filtex put in, you couldn't get them anymore. Talk about drama! The only problem was that you had to remember to push the button. I came home in Chicago one time while Geneva was vacuuming away. She forgot to press the button, so was beating the rug, but wasn't vacuuming!

 

[centralvacs1928]

Fred <br
Which Filtex unit did you have? <br
Around here, most of the Filtex units I see were put in by Central Vacuum, owned by the former Filtex sales manager (Nick Stanitz). You'd think with all the central vacuums he put in, he could have afforded an office in a nicer area than Division & Central! <br
The same firm later put in private labeled Modern Day units, and also a few Central Vac International units in the early seventies (presumably before he got onboard with Filtex). Those are pretty cool, but not so much now that they use regular old attachments and inlets like everyone else.

 

[luxflairguy]

Commercial Filtex

Fred <br
Could/would you please scan this brochure--it looks like it's got a front and back cover, and emali it to me? Or perhaps add it to the manuals section. I have 3 of the models from this brochure in the 20 something group of central units I have and this would give more info that I've ever had on the units. I also am lucky enough to have 5 sets of the all metal attachments and I really miss the old inlets, too
Thanks, Grreg Bushman aka luxflairguy--Seattl <br
Greg Bushma
[email protected]

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I just got a nutone central vac for free it just needs a new motor. The model is 535 something (I forget what it is) it's not very old and the motor will cost me about 140.00 from star for parts. The workers that are working on my house saw it sitting there and offered to install it for me I just have to get the pipes. What power nozzel kit would you all advise me to get with it. I no nothing about central vacs

 

[compactelectra]

Sorry Owen

I didn't answer your question. I had the SB 300 unit. It worked well in a 3 story townhouse, but when I moved to LA I installed one there, but it just wasn't powerful enough for a large ranch with overhead runs, so I replaced it with an MD unit. Have had one of those to this day.

 

[compactelectra]

PS Owen

That office on Division was exactly where I bought the Chicago unit. Check out the back page of the brochure. And you are right - it wasn't impressive, but the Filtex units certainly were. I loved that unit.

 

[collector2]

Hi - just thought I'd add a 1970's brochure for reference <br
Page 1

 

[collector2]

page 2

 

[collector2]

Page 3

 

[collector2]

Last page

 

[briankirbyclass]

Thanks so much for posting those pics! How did the inlets with the lights work? Did the suction come on when the door was opened, or did you have to push a button or?
Exactly what were the lights for? Thanks again!

 

[compactelectra]

How Did the Inlets Work?

The button and light inlets were designed to be installed in multiple unit dwellings or commercial installation where multiple access to the vacuum unit was possible that shared a single vacuum unit. It carried over to single family homes as well. The automatic inlets started when you opened the door. The push button and light inlets started when you pressed the button. While on, each inlet would light up indicating that the unit was in operation. Another push of the button turned it off. We love buttons and lights - very dramatic. For the light and button inlets, you needed a special relay on the machine, hence unless you have the right relay, you can't use the old button and light inlets.

 

[compactelectra]

Thanks For The Scan Doug!

I had this brochure. I bought the first unit with this. I lost it somewhere along the way (and have always regreted it!) I immediately copied this into the digital archives. Thanks again. This will make me get out the Filtex hose and tools and use them this weekend. The only reason I don't use the Filtex hose too often is that the new Nutone hoses have the switch on the work end of the hose which makes it very handy to use.

http://www.nutone.com/product-detail.asp?ProductID=10276