Delco Upright

[bvac6]

I've heard of Delco fans and radios but I've never seen a vacuum! Any info on this odd duck?

 

[fcs3]

Is this a new acquisition?

Hey Bvac6, I recently saw one of these rare birds on
craigslist. There's 2 versions, I believe. A straight
rugsucker such as the one pictured, and a belt-driven
brushroll model (perhaps a newer innovation?).

There's several interesting past posts about Delcos
Frank

 

[bvac6]

Yep, a new acquisition from CL.

 

[kenkart]

They WERE a GM product and

They were pretty good, Stann Kann had one I used, pretty good suction.

 

[oreck_xl]

There was also a 32 volt version of this cleaner I've been told. It ran on DC farm current. Energy generated by windmills would be stored in batteries and at one time 32 volt appliances were available. I'd love to know where you find such interesting early cleaners? They're few and far between on eBay nowadays, and when they do come up they usually end up way out of my budget. That Eclipse you polished up is STUNNING.

 

[bvac6]

Thanks for the info and the compliments! I found the Eclipse at an antique mall that I just happened to have time to stop into. The Delco I had seen on Craigslist for a long time but the guy wanted over 100 for it. It finally came to down to a much more reasonable price. Whats weird is someone had cobbled together a paper bag setup for it. They had ran a hose into the fan outlet, glued it in, then looped it over a piece of wire hooked into the top collar of the cloth bag. The other end had a threaded pvc collar glued on and tucked into a Kenmore canister bag. A-Plus for effort but I like to keep my machines as original as possible so I promptly removed it. I can't imagine it did any favors for the air flow.

 

[human]

So is this related to the parts division of General Motors?

 

[kenkart]

I never heard of the windmill

But Delco Light plants were all over the South, a gasoline driven generator charged the batteries, there were many 32 volt appliances available, Rexairs were also available in 32 volt.

 

[suckolux]

Dayton Electrical Company, bought early on by GM.

 

[human]

Thanks David.

 

[suckolux]

Anytime. It's stretching my memory here, but it was at the time of all the acquisitions , many, too many companies, tight money, Chevy not in the fold yet, president of GM ousted. I think " Boss " Ket Kettering from Delco and later?? ran National Cash register, where he came up with idea of a small motor, high torque to use as a starter motor for Cadillac . Or pretty close to that.He referred to that company as" The Cash"