kirbyotronic
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And to finish it all off, the complete ensemble. Looks like something Dave would find?
Compact Electra C6
- Thread starter kirbyotronic
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kirbyotronic
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Oh yeah, I forgot to add that this Compact Electra was purchased on April 28, 1966 (4-28-66).
rugmaster37
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Does anybody know what these two little clips are for?
Hi Alex,
Those little clips were "clipped" onto the metal rug shoe, you can see the indentions where they were to fit. This allowed the Interstate RugCleaner to work on long napped rugs, and shags, which were just barely beginning to become in vogue at the time.
And it was also meant I've heard for 100 % cotton carpets, to prevent pilling, and bunching of the carpet tufts. Aparantly those were in vogue too in the 1960's.
You have a wonderful machine there. This machine was the same one my mother found for me at an estate sale a year ago or so. Mine has everything except the PolishAire, and the trunk. It still has the styrafoam thing to hold the attachments however.
My hose was kind of stiff too. I ran a hair dryer on warm, thru the hose; and it softened the innards enough so it did not feel as stiff as it was before. I do not reccommend anyone to really immediately copy what i've tried (of course...lol), but it did in this instance work when my brain started figuring out how to accomplish a de-stiffening of a hose... Experiment, and ask around before you go to something wholesale. Like I said...I'm just glad it did not ruin the hose in my case... Still "thunk test' tight!!!
Great find.....
Chad
Ann Arbor Michigan
Hi Alex,
Those little clips were "clipped" onto the metal rug shoe, you can see the indentions where they were to fit. This allowed the Interstate RugCleaner to work on long napped rugs, and shags, which were just barely beginning to become in vogue at the time.
And it was also meant I've heard for 100 % cotton carpets, to prevent pilling, and bunching of the carpet tufts. Aparantly those were in vogue too in the 1960's.
You have a wonderful machine there. This machine was the same one my mother found for me at an estate sale a year ago or so. Mine has everything except the PolishAire, and the trunk. It still has the styrafoam thing to hold the attachments however.
My hose was kind of stiff too. I ran a hair dryer on warm, thru the hose; and it softened the innards enough so it did not feel as stiff as it was before. I do not reccommend anyone to really immediately copy what i've tried (of course...lol), but it did in this instance work when my brain started figuring out how to accomplish a de-stiffening of a hose... Experiment, and ask around before you go to something wholesale. Like I said...I'm just glad it did not ruin the hose in my case... Still "thunk test' tight!!!
Great find.....
Chad
Ann Arbor Michigan
kirbyotronic
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Chad,
I actually read the owners manual last night, and saw a picture of the little clips attached to the rug nozzle.
I did the "thunk" test too, and it's nice and air tight!
~Alex
I actually read the owners manual last night, and saw a picture of the little clips attached to the rug nozzle.
I did the "thunk" test too, and it's nice and air tight!
~Alex
kirbyotronic
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I can scan the manual and put it in the "manuals" section.
danemodsandy
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Neat Find:
Compacts usually get "loved" to death. Unusual to find one that nice!
Compacts usually get "loved" to death. Unusual to find one that nice!
danemodsandy
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P.S.: Price Tag
That $19.95 price tag is probably from some point in your C-6's life when it was resold. Compacts went for much more than that new; I think our C-2 (bought in '55 as a leftover '54 model) was something like $149.95 - plus interest, since it was purchased on time payments.
About your tools; try dusting the inside of the tube that fits over the wands with talcum powder. Many times, talcum has just enough "slip" to ease putting a vacuum tool onto its wand. On my TriStar CXL (which has the late, clear/glitter tools), I have to use talcum on the dusting brush after it's washed; if the tool is clean inside, it's a booger to get off the wand - something about that rubbery vinyl grabbing the chrome wand a little too well. If talcum doesn't work, don't despair; you can also try a little silicone spray (available at hardware and auto parts stores); silicone does the trick most of the time. Do not use WD-40, sewing machine oil, 3-In-1 Oil, or anything similar; oils make plastics degrade, especially vintage plastics.
That $19.95 price tag is probably from some point in your C-6's life when it was resold. Compacts went for much more than that new; I think our C-2 (bought in '55 as a leftover '54 model) was something like $149.95 - plus interest, since it was purchased on time payments.
About your tools; try dusting the inside of the tube that fits over the wands with talcum powder. Many times, talcum has just enough "slip" to ease putting a vacuum tool onto its wand. On my TriStar CXL (which has the late, clear/glitter tools), I have to use talcum on the dusting brush after it's washed; if the tool is clean inside, it's a booger to get off the wand - something about that rubbery vinyl grabbing the chrome wand a little too well. If talcum doesn't work, don't despair; you can also try a little silicone spray (available at hardware and auto parts stores); silicone does the trick most of the time. Do not use WD-40, sewing machine oil, 3-In-1 Oil, or anything similar; oils make plastics degrade, especially vintage plastics.
danemodsandy
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P.P.S.:
Do yourself and your Electra a favour and treat it to a new motor filter; begin using paper bags with it as well. While Interstate always said the use of the paper bag was optional, it makes a huge difference in how much dust gets into the fan, motor and housing, and it increases filtration to the point that you don't get that nasty dust smell when you vacuum. The paper bags are supposed to be used inside the cloth one, not by themselves. Your Electra's motor will last a very long time with a new filter every six months and use of the paper bags; you probably couldn't wear the machine out in your lifetime. Our C-2 lasted my mom (known as the Appliance Killer, because she's so rough on things) thirty years with no maintenance whatever.
Bags and the motor filter are readily available on eBay; search on "tristar bags" and "tristar filter." Both are very cheap; I found the filter for $3.95 and a year's supply of bags for $9.95.
Do yourself and your Electra a favour and treat it to a new motor filter; begin using paper bags with it as well. While Interstate always said the use of the paper bag was optional, it makes a huge difference in how much dust gets into the fan, motor and housing, and it increases filtration to the point that you don't get that nasty dust smell when you vacuum. The paper bags are supposed to be used inside the cloth one, not by themselves. Your Electra's motor will last a very long time with a new filter every six months and use of the paper bags; you probably couldn't wear the machine out in your lifetime. Our C-2 lasted my mom (known as the Appliance Killer, because she's so rough on things) thirty years with no maintenance whatever.
Bags and the motor filter are readily available on eBay; search on "tristar bags" and "tristar filter." Both are very cheap; I found the filter for $3.95 and a year's supply of bags for $9.95.
kirbyotronic
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I've always used paper bags in it, with the cloth bag too. It looks like the original owners did the same.
I already bought a new filter on the night I posted this.
~Alex
I already bought a new filter on the night I posted this.
~Alex
kirbyotronic
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And I know about the sticker, it's from the thrift shop that I got it from.
~Alex
~Alex
normvac
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New Compact. from the 60's
I remember our friends and neighbors across the street when I was growing up Traded a 517 (basicly new) Kirby in on that same Compact. She had an electrolux before and never liked the Kirby. So when buying one in those days, Kirby and Compact had you recomend friends, in writing that would see the demo and possibly buy one. Then you would get credit toward your payments. Don't remember how much money. So my Mom had the demo and I was completely sold. NO way after making payments on our Air Way 66 ( $75.00), she would pay $149.00 for a "new" vacuum !!
Norm
I remember our friends and neighbors across the street when I was growing up Traded a 517 (basicly new) Kirby in on that same Compact. She had an electrolux before and never liked the Kirby. So when buying one in those days, Kirby and Compact had you recomend friends, in writing that would see the demo and possibly buy one. Then you would get credit toward your payments. Don't remember how much money. So my Mom had the demo and I was completely sold. NO way after making payments on our Air Way 66 ( $75.00), she would pay $149.00 for a "new" vacuum !!
Norm
methodistbill
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Model Name
Would anyone happen to know the history behind the model name "Electra"?
Would anyone happen to know the history behind the model name "Electra"?
compactelectra
Well-known member
I Always Thought
That the Electra name came from the first power nozzle outlet. I don't see one on this machine.
That the Electra name came from the first power nozzle outlet. I don't see one on this machine.
compactelectra
Well-known member
I Guess Not
Here is the ad piece for the Compact Electra with no power nozzle. Does anyone know the story of that model?
Here is the ad piece for the Compact Electra with no power nozzle. Does anyone know the story of that model?
aeoliandave
Well-known member
I love this picture. Her vacuuming style is sooo laid back and casual. If she had a few more wands she wouldn't even have to shift in her shift. Those polished floor tools have a blue tint added for this manual. My buddy Al in Winnipeg has those same floor nozzles in a matching crinkletone turquoise for his Compact - his Dad bought it for his Mom down in North Dakota years ago.
methodistbill
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Is it me or does the model look just a little mad or even "liquored up" in that ad? LOL! That's a great ad BTW!
crevicetool
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Fred....
Tell the story about the "lady" posing with the Compact!
I Love it!
Rick
Tell the story about the "lady" posing with the Compact!
I Love it!
Rick
compactelectra
Well-known member
The Story Goes
That they had this photo shot all set up and ready to go and the model they had scheduled didn't show. The advertising folks went out onto Santa Monica Blvd. and picked up this one. It turns out she is man (or so the story goes!)
That they had this photo shot all set up and ready to go and the model they had scheduled didn't show. The advertising folks went out onto Santa Monica Blvd. and picked up this one. It turns out she is man (or so the story goes!)
electroluxxxx
New member
WOW!!!!! you cannot even tell that she is a man
