Contemporary vac that doesn't look it?
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stricklybojack
Well-known member
lots out there..
What carpets? do you prefer canisters or uprights? bare floor option? what's is the budget? Used okay? etc..welcome to vl btw..
What carpets? do you prefer canisters or uprights? bare floor option? what's is the budget? Used okay? etc..welcome to vl btw..
cb123
Well-known member
I hate contemporary designs also! Today, navigating the wasteland of modern vacuums is like trying to avoid flak over Berlin, in a crippled B-17, no less! Whatever you do, be careful not to buy someone else's turd! If your really interested in buying a new vacuum, maybe you should consider a KIRBY. This video will demonstrate only some of the perils you will face...or you can simply avoid it all together, and just buy a fabulous KIRBY!!!
vintagevaclover
Well-known member
A kirby or a Sanitaire would be a good choice. They're both still made with metal.
turbo500
Well-known member
*Sigh*, remember the days when vacuums looked like vacuums and not like multi-coloured UFO's from some 70's Sci-Fi B-movie? I miss those days!
Fortunately, the bagged machines tend to stay fairly traditional. Sanitaire and Kirby being the most "vintage" in terms of styling. Sebo are still very much sticking with their design from the first 1977 Sebo. The Miele S5's have a certain classic look about them also, much more so than the S8.
Fortunately, the bagged machines tend to stay fairly traditional. Sanitaire and Kirby being the most "vintage" in terms of styling. Sebo are still very much sticking with their design from the first 1977 Sebo. The Miele S5's have a certain classic look about them also, much more so than the S8.
jade_angel
Well-known member
Royal would be another one, also Filter Queen and Silver King, though I really can't justify the cost of the latter. If it's an upright you want, Royal, Kirby and Sanitaire are darned hard to beat, too. I think of them, Kirby has the best bags, Sanitaire the fewest things to go wrong and Royal the best durability.
Sanitaires have no attachments to speak of, though (but kits for Eureka uprights do work AFAIK, just not extremely well). Royal attachments are clunky; Kirby attachments are clunky in a different way.
Aerus canisters do have plastic shells, but use a very classic styling and are durable. I haven't used a modern one, though, so I don't know about performance, and the plastic wands feel flimsy to me. I'll level the same objection at TriStar.
With all that said, I'll go back to my top suggestion: Royal. There's nothing like a Royal for carpets, and they're cheaper than a Kirby and at least as sturdy.
Sanitaires have no attachments to speak of, though (but kits for Eureka uprights do work AFAIK, just not extremely well). Royal attachments are clunky; Kirby attachments are clunky in a different way.
Aerus canisters do have plastic shells, but use a very classic styling and are durable. I haven't used a modern one, though, so I don't know about performance, and the plastic wands feel flimsy to me. I'll level the same objection at TriStar.
With all that said, I'll go back to my top suggestion: Royal. There's nothing like a Royal for carpets, and they're cheaper than a Kirby and at least as sturdy.
sptyks
Well-known member
I think you will find this video quite informative when it comes to Royal all metal uprights:
sptyks
Well-known member
Kirby
Here is a Kirby Sentria II home demonstration video in case you're not familiar with Kirby:
Here is a Kirby Sentria II home demonstration video in case you're not familiar with Kirby:
Excellent vid: professionally done and well-explained. It illustrates an ethical and effective way to sell floor cleaning equipment instead of only touting a brand name or "digging dirt" by going over a carpet multiple times and leaving piles all over the place (or other such partial, noncomparative demonstrations). Those tactics would produce similar results from many classic-style vacuum cleaners. Thanks for posting.
I'd like to see such a test performed using the three Aerus tanks now on the market. One reason I prefer a tank over an upright is the efficiency and ease of switching between nozzle and attachment use; so the few specs of sand and walnut chips that the Royal left behind right next to the wall could have been quickly retrieved with a crevice tool on the end of the tank's hose.
I'd like to see such a test performed using the three Aerus tanks now on the market. One reason I prefer a tank over an upright is the efficiency and ease of switching between nozzle and attachment use; so the few specs of sand and walnut chips that the Royal left behind right next to the wall could have been quickly retrieved with a crevice tool on the end of the tank's hose.
It's hard to find vacs that aren't plastic, especially new. I'll second that most of Aerus's products look retro.
Their upright vacs haven't really changed since the late 1980s models. IMHO, they almost look too plain.
Aerus's canisters, though, look retro in a cool way. The current Legacy and Classic canisters date back to the Electrolux 1992 Epic and the 1984 Hi-Tech 2100, both of which were "face-lifts" of the late '70s Canadian AP series body, which was Canada's version of the US Electrolux 1205 from 1968. So essentially, buying a new Aerus Legacy or Classic canister is like buying an Electrolux styled in 1968. Kind of. I think they're wicked cool looking, and I hope Aerus never discontinues them. But you're looking for an upright, and I'm not as crazy about the looks of their uprights.
Their upright vacs haven't really changed since the late 1980s models. IMHO, they almost look too plain.
Aerus's canisters, though, look retro in a cool way. The current Legacy and Classic canisters date back to the Electrolux 1992 Epic and the 1984 Hi-Tech 2100, both of which were "face-lifts" of the late '70s Canadian AP series body, which was Canada's version of the US Electrolux 1205 from 1968. So essentially, buying a new Aerus Legacy or Classic canister is like buying an Electrolux styled in 1968. Kind of. I think they're wicked cool looking, and I hope Aerus never discontinues them. But you're looking for an upright, and I'm not as crazy about the looks of their uprights.
scooby214
Active member
Sanitaire Blue Line
I also wanted a classic styled vacuum, and ended up buying a blue Sanitaire S675. It's well built and performs admirably on carpet. I've owned a couple of Kirby vacuums that also did quite well, though I like how the Sanitaire's brushroll grooms the carpet better.
If you could only have one vacuum, there could be a shortcoming to the S675. It doesn't come with attachments, and I've heard that it doesn't perform very well with attachments. My solution is to use a small canister vacuum for above-the-floor cleaning and use the S675 for carpet. For me, a Eureka Mighty Mite complements the Sanitaire nicely. Who wants to have just one vacuum, anyway?
I do have attachments for my Kirby vacs, but find the Mighty Mite to be less cumbersome than using a Kirby with attachments.
I also wanted a classic styled vacuum, and ended up buying a blue Sanitaire S675. It's well built and performs admirably on carpet. I've owned a couple of Kirby vacuums that also did quite well, though I like how the Sanitaire's brushroll grooms the carpet better.
If you could only have one vacuum, there could be a shortcoming to the S675. It doesn't come with attachments, and I've heard that it doesn't perform very well with attachments. My solution is to use a small canister vacuum for above-the-floor cleaning and use the S675 for carpet. For me, a Eureka Mighty Mite complements the Sanitaire nicely. Who wants to have just one vacuum, anyway?
I do have attachments for my Kirby vacs, but find the Mighty Mite to be less cumbersome than using a Kirby with attachments.
fan-of-fans
Well-known member
If you like the Sanitaires, a cheaper alternative to the Sanitaires might be a Eureka The Boss 1934B. It is plastic, but a basic old-fashioned design, and the nozzle plate is metal. They are low cost and lightweight, and not high pitched loud like most modern vacuums. Like most of the vacuums mentioned, they have no on board attachments, and hose suction wouldn't be the strongest with a converter.
scooby214
Active member
Eureka 1934B
The Eureka "The Boss" 1934B is one of the best vacuum cleaner values out there! It's available at Amazon for $99 with prime shipping. I've considered buying one, just because it's such a good vacuum for the money. I'd probably put in an ST dirt tube, as I really like the Eureka ST bags.
The Eureka "The Boss" 1934B is one of the best vacuum cleaner values out there! It's available at Amazon for $99 with prime shipping. I've considered buying one, just because it's such a good vacuum for the money. I'd probably put in an ST dirt tube, as I really like the Eureka ST bags.
vintagevaclover
Well-known member
If you were interested in finding a similar one, the Eureka RetroVac would a good one to consider for a vintage feel. Its basically a chrome Sanitaire with an aqua bumper and a houndstooth bag. I think its a very attractive machine. The only problem is that its no longer produced, it was a short lived promotional item and is sort of rare now.
scooby214
Active member
Price Drop on Eureka 1934B to $89.88
I noticed that Amazon's price for the Eureka 1934B dropped today from $99.99 to $89.88. I've seen Amazon do this before on other items. The price drop may only last a day or two.
I wish I already had my tax refund. I really don't need another vacuum, anyway...
I noticed that Amazon's price for the Eureka 1934B dropped today from $99.99 to $89.88. I've seen Amazon do this before on other items. The price drop may only last a day or two.
I wish I already had my tax refund. I really don't need another vacuum, anyway...
human
Well-known member
Kirby fan here also
I had never used a Kirby until i rescued my G6 off the dumpster a little over two years ago, but I was an instant convert. I now own three. They combine the best of today's technology with traditional metal construction. The best part is they're designed to be serviced, maintained, and rebuilt in a way that most modern plastic vacs aren't. When you buy one of these machines, you can reasonably expect it to last a lifetime.There's really nothing else on the market like it.
I had never used a Kirby until i rescued my G6 off the dumpster a little over two years ago, but I was an instant convert. I now own three. They combine the best of today's technology with traditional metal construction. The best part is they're designed to be serviced, maintained, and rebuilt in a way that most modern plastic vacs aren't. When you buy one of these machines, you can reasonably expect it to last a lifetime.There's really nothing else on the market like it.
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