compactelectra
Well-known member
Stationary cleaner. Here is a picture. Just received an email and it looks interesting. Looks like an old central vac. Andy Weter - have you seen one of these?
Does Anyone Know About A 1912 Tuec -
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andy
Well-known member
Hi Fred
Definitely an old central vac. These were manufactured by The United Electric company who also made the Ohio Tuec portable units.
The used one fan, and the model number (in this case 190) denoted the CFM the unit pulled.
The user had to use a special tool to unscrew the inlet cap. Heres a picture of an inlet from a Tuec system still in place in the Pittock mansion in Oregon
Definitely an old central vac. These were manufactured by The United Electric company who also made the Ohio Tuec portable units.
The used one fan, and the model number (in this case 190) denoted the CFM the unit pulled.
The user had to use a special tool to unscrew the inlet cap. Heres a picture of an inlet from a Tuec system still in place in the Pittock mansion in Oregon
compactelectra
Well-known member
Wow Andy!!
Thanks - that picture of the inlet and switch is fabulous. I am sure the owner will appreciate it.
Thanks - that picture of the inlet and switch is fabulous. I am sure the owner will appreciate it.
Andy,
I'm impressed with your depth and breadth of knowledge. Have you been to the Pittock Mansion? It's fabulous; though, I never noticed the central vac system.
http://pittockmansion.org/
I'm impressed with your depth and breadth of knowledge. Have you been to the Pittock Mansion? It's fabulous; though, I never noticed the central vac system.
http://pittockmansion.org/
andy
Well-known member
Actually the company is still in business! I think they quit making built in's in the 30's but I'm not sure.
Now they manufacture hoses and attachments for commercial and central vacuum systems.
http://www.tuec.com
Now they manufacture hoses and attachments for commercial and central vacuum systems.
http://www.tuec.com
brandon_w_t
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- Feb 14, 2009
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- 2,519
OOOO!!!!
Way cool! I would love to use one of those! That thing is sweet looking! BIG!
I want to go to that house as a cleaner, and use the Tuec! I have never heard of this brand until now!
Way cool! I would love to use one of those! That thing is sweet looking! BIG!
I want to go to that house as a cleaner, and use the Tuec! I have never heard of this brand until now!
collector2
Well-known member
Hi Andy:
Hope you dont mind a slight correction. The "key" tool wasnt to unscrew the outlet cover. They were just friction fit. They did fit flush, however, so the tool was needed to give you something to hold to pull out the plug. This was especially necessary in large applications (like hotels) where the machine did not have switches by the outlets. It was merely turned on in the morning and a dozen outlets or more were in use at any time. You had to have the tool to be able to pull out the plug against the suction (and they did have incredible suction even by todays standards)
Doug
Hope you dont mind a slight correction. The "key" tool wasnt to unscrew the outlet cover. They were just friction fit. They did fit flush, however, so the tool was needed to give you something to hold to pull out the plug. This was especially necessary in large applications (like hotels) where the machine did not have switches by the outlets. It was merely turned on in the morning and a dozen outlets or more were in use at any time. You had to have the tool to be able to pull out the plug against the suction (and they did have incredible suction even by todays standards)
Doug
andy
Well-known member
Doug, I don't mind the correction at all! I'm glad to learn that those covers just popped out; I always thought it must have been a huge PITA to unscrew the cover every time you wanted to vacuum. Now that I think of it, I don't even know why I thought they unscrewed. I guess they just look that way in pictures. Do you know of any specific buildings that had TUEC systems?
Mike B.
To answer your question, I've never been in the Pittock mansion. It looks amazing though. According to urban legend, the system was so powerful that it would implode the windows. I don't know if that's true or not, but here's the link that talks about it...second paragraph.
http://www.ghostsandcritters.com/oregonghosts.html
Mike B.
To answer your question, I've never been in the Pittock mansion. It looks amazing though. According to urban legend, the system was so powerful that it would implode the windows. I don't know if that's true or not, but here's the link that talks about it...second paragraph.
http://www.ghostsandcritters.com/oregonghosts.html
collector2
Well-known member
Hey Andy:
I know of three houses here in Moose Jaw that had a Tuec central vac (or at least from the description thats what it was). Unfortunately only the outlets remain in two of them and a modern central vac has been hooked to the old piping in the third. I have got a lead on where one of the machines may be so I'm trying to track it down. LOL - it may take a half dozen guys to move it though, from the look of it, even if I do find it.
Doug
I know of three houses here in Moose Jaw that had a Tuec central vac (or at least from the description thats what it was). Unfortunately only the outlets remain in two of them and a modern central vac has been hooked to the old piping in the third. I have got a lead on where one of the machines may be so I'm trying to track it down. LOL - it may take a half dozen guys to move it though, from the look of it, even if I do find it.
Doug
Quite an amazing story. Like I say, Ohio was definitely ahead of their time, and their uprights have very strong suction, so I don't doubt the legend. Andy, while you were at the Pittock Mansion, were you able to photograph the central vac unit itself? Was it still there?
You know I'm wondering. Do you think the idea for the central vac came from the pneumatic tube thingamajigs they used to use in department stores or vice versa. For those of us old enough to remember them.
BTW there is a small dept store near in London Ont. that still uses its original pneumo tube system since the store opening in the 1800's. You pay the salesclerk, they put your money and receipt in the tube, it flies off upstairs to the offices, they make change etc and it zooms back down to the counter your at. Also has it's original elevator with an operator.. heres a link
http://kingsmills.ca/aboutus/
BTW there is a small dept store near in London Ont. that still uses its original pneumo tube system since the store opening in the 1800's. You pay the salesclerk, they put your money and receipt in the tube, it flies off upstairs to the offices, they make change etc and it zooms back down to the counter your at. Also has it's original elevator with an operator.. heres a link
http://kingsmills.ca/aboutus/
shag
Well-known member
Budd's department store in Kitchener was still using their tubes the last time I was in there. That was 8 years ago.
I know they didn't take debit cards, not sure if they took credit cards or not.
I know they didn't take debit cards, not sure if they took credit cards or not.
collector2
Well-known member
Home Depo uses pneumatic tubes for the cashiers to "get rid of extra cash" in the new stores.
aeoliandave
Well-known member
I was in Portland for a few memorable days visiting with Bra
I was on my 6 week 50th Birthday Grand Tour roadtrip out to the West Coast and back. Searching for things to do I was looking through the Motel City Guide and saw the advert for the Pittock Mansion. So next day in the misty rain off I went up the mountain for the full tour. I went through all the pictures but found only one showing a Tuec baseboard outlet.
I was on my 6 week 50th Birthday Grand Tour roadtrip out to the West Coast and back. Searching for things to do I was looking through the Motel City Guide and saw the advert for the Pittock Mansion. So next day in the misty rain off I went up the mountain for the full tour. I went through all the pictures but found only one showing a Tuec baseboard outlet.
aeoliandave
Well-known member
An Intercom Station
These are frequent thoughout the entire hose, the ones on the main floor usually concealed within wall panels.
These are frequent thoughout the entire hose, the ones on the main floor usually concealed within wall panels.
aeoliandave
Well-known member
The House is perched on the very peak of the hill/mountain. A long drive snakes up the hill through a forest of Aspens and Fir trees to arrive at either the lower level marble grand staircase or to a side Port Cochere. The drive continues around the back of the home to a front lawn which runs about 200 feet to the sheer cliff edge overlooking Portland far below and Mount Hood in the distance.
This is a view of the house looking west from this cliff edge.
This is a view of the house looking west from this cliff edge.
aeoliandave
Well-known member
I got an artsy-fartsy silhouette shot of this nice tree. What I call the front lawn could very well be the more private back to the Family but while the rest of the forested estate is pretty much in a manicured natural state, the top of the mountain here is leveled and landscaped to afford a magnificent view - one can imagine the glorious Sunrises.
clarkecombi
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- Jan 13, 2008
- Messages
- 460
ant someone got a pic of the central vac out of that house
