Dirt Devil Swivel Glides

[kloveland]

I am 34 years old and the 1990s and early 2000s was really my heyday for vacuum cleaners. My grandfather bought a Dirt Devil Swivel Glide for their downstairs and they kept their Kirby Classic III upstairs. I recently acquired two Swivel Glides last weekend a Vision and a standard bagged version. They push easily, have good suction and some of them had a hide-a-hose option. The Swivel Glides also groom the carpet nicely and the Vision comes with more on-board tools. I don’t think all the 1990s department store vacs were awful. I think it greatly depended on how the owner treated them as with all vacs. I’ll post pictures of my two finds later. I also acquired a Hoover Concept and PowerMax upright which also have been abused but work great! I may start another thread on those.

 

[kloveland]

This probably should have gone in the contemporary section. Technically, the Vision was made around 1997 or 1998 making it over 21 years old.

 

[kloveland]

My Dirt Devil Family

I think the first Deluxe was really innovative along with the Regina Housekeeper, which I may do a thread on next. I also have the can vac with the power nozzle. I will get a picture of that later.

 

[lesinutah]

Canvac

I'd like one of the power nozzle ones. I have the 11 amp red one about 5 feet from me. It really packs a punch. I have a versa dirt devil and it's pretty sweet too. The canvac I'm guessing is blue and is premier edition.
Les

 

[turbo360]

I have one too

I found my grandmothers Dirt devil swivel glider vision in a barn it was very dirty it was covered in dust I need a new cord because a rat and chewed it I put a new cord on it just to realize that the motor burnt out I took it apart and everything is going to be cleaned and the motor is going to be replaced. I hate to just get rid of it because it was my grandmothers.

 

[suckolux]

I had the purple one in the first photo years back, gave it away

 

[kloveland]

I'd keep it going! Here is the CanVac and the carpet sweeper. [this post was last edited: 11/22/2019-09:35]

 

[kloveland]

Interesting fact.

In 2014 the VCCC (Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club) held our annual convention in Cleveland, Ohio to tour the Kirby factory. Several of us visited Dick Pike's home. I remember Dick's wife telling me that Hoover had plans to buy out Dirt Devil. Well, we all know how that turned out. Before Hoover could acquire Dirt Devil they were bought out.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Kenny!!!!

Imagine how different life might be now!

 

[fan-of-fans]

My church had one of those green DD Visions.

The Deluxe has nice attachments - full bristle dusting brush and upholstery nozzle, you don't see that on many uprights these days.

Those Can Vacs with the power nozzle are super cool!

I like the 90s DDs. My favorites were probably the MVP models, they even had one with cord retract and variable speed plus a drawer for extra belts and headlight bulbs.

 

[kirbyklekter]

I think for the price

the early 90's DD"s were a decent value. I still have a red and a black deluxe. I've got a swivel glide from mid-00's that's basically 3 days old. The owners threw it out after the plastic pin that holds it upright snapped. Saw it, got it home, put it away until I could get the part, but waited too long and can't get the part now, my bad.I may try to duplicate it using a plastic resin and shaping a mold from the old one. They were very top heavy, the swivel glides, you wouldn't want the handle to collapse back on to your glass coffee table or similar. Toast!

 

[hoover300]

I had a blue BOL Swivel Glide and matching Vision MVP Silver (pictured above) that I got from a recycling center for $1 a piece. The Vision ran fine but needed a few things(filter door,cord hook) and the SG had a bad motor and handle lock. I ended up putting the date sticker,handle,and blue parts on a later trash find tan one with a broken handle. I ended up selling the two to another collector. I also have a Vision FeatherLite, probably one of the best vacs Dirt Devil made. It is light, easy to push, and quiet. Plus I love the headlight.
~K

 

[kloveland]

I've seen those and watched some youtube videos on them. On some of the Vision Light models the brush roll is different and looks like more of the brush roll on some of the Turbo Cats from what I remember. I hear those are nice

 

[kirbyklekter]

It was fun to watch

as the Dirt Devil evolved in a matter of just a few years. The first were 7amp and were bagged, great suction at the hose and the SRP was 149.95 32ft.cord,headlight,four heights and 6pc. attachments. In this 90-91yr. catalog these were in the middle of the price range offered. A BOL Singer sold for 59.94 and an Electrolux Heavy Duty Commercial Upright listed at 449.95srp but sold at 349.94. When the castor-wheeled swivel came out a few yrs. later, most of the contenders in that price catagory were up to 12 amps and offered a bagless version or just came that way. It seems that after the great amperage war of the time leveled off at 12amps,(U.S.) to keep sales stimulated that's when Hepa filtration really got the push, especially on the bagless models.Then came all the high tech we see today. I wonder what vacuum cleaners would have been like built in the 60's, here in U.S. but with the technology we have today or better yet, today's tech but with yesteryears build quality. Hmmm.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

Canvac
I have the 11 amp canvac the red version. It has a power nozzle connection. I hooked a power nozzle up to it and it's super loud but that small thing works.
It said use with power nozzle 13 or 313.
I was wondering if anyone has a spare power nozzle.
If not i'm bojacking a Kenmore power nozzle I just bought.
Les

 

[kloveland]

CanVac

I like it because it's easy to carry around. It has a shoulder strap which gets it out of the way. Probably not the best. But fun for a light clean

 

[kirbyklekter]

How do you like

the power nozzle to the Canvac, I've never used one made for that vac? I remember seeing the Canvac for sale without the p/n, just hose and attachments at around 89.00. It had really strong suction. Great for cleaning couch and cushions, the book case,, cobwebs up on high, bed spreads where the cats basked in the sunlight, and handy for vacuuming out the car! With the shoulder strap they are great for vacuuming drapes too!

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I don't have the power nozzle but im not sure the question was directed at me.
The canvac is loud. It has a smaller motor and seems to be hot. I have a generic bag for an upright that has opening the same size on the bag as the dirt devil so I've been using them.
It doesn't fully power the power nozzle. I used bare floor tool and it gets everything a power nozzle would. It's quite powerful but extremely loud.
I use it for small spills it's quite handy similar I imagine to a mighty mite. I can tell the tool bracket is covering the exhaust and i wonder if the exhaust blower could be utilized.
Les

 

[rainbowd4c]

Two of my favorites were the original Dirt Devil Broom Vac with attachments and Power Pak. I would like those two if the fates ever allow.