Does it bother someone else at your house?

sfcoronet · Aug 16, 2011

I just (very) recently became interested in vintage vacuums - I'm 40 years old and do have other interests as well. In the last two weeks, I found an old Electrolux at a garage sale and then bought a Kirby at a flea market and have spent some time at home cleaning the vacuums up, admiring them, and vacuuming. One would think that my wife would appreciate that I'm "cleaning", but she does not. She's told me she wants them put away in the garage even after I've tried to explain why I think they're so interesting and oddly beautiful. I guess some things just don't translate. Surely, I'm not the only one with a problem like this? I'm not going to get another wife, but I'm keeping my eyes open for another vacuum!

Here's the Kirby after some polishing with my dremel:

Real1 · Aug 16, 2011

Show....

your LUX!! I don't know what to tell you, because I'm a bachelor. But.....my two sons and most of my friends think my old vacuum cleaner interest is 'weird/bizarre'. I'm sorry for them that they didn't find pleasure in running vacuums as boys.

I couldn't believe when I found this forum of so many 'likes' in one place....pretty fabulous!

Kevin

electrolux~137 · Aug 16, 2011

"You are not alone."

My housemate's favorite phrase used to be, "Those F@#$%&G vacuum cleaners! One of these days I'm gonna get a dumpster and get rid of every single one of them." 

But after I began meeting other collectors, many of whom have even more vacuum cleaners than I do, he softened a bit. But I still have to watch how many of them I allow to stray out into the living room...

vac_whisperer · Aug 16, 2011

You are not alone indeed.... My whole family supports my hobby, yet hates it when I drag another piece of "crap" into the house.

kirbylover · Aug 16, 2011

I'm 28, and I've known my wife for 10 years. I've owned an old Kirby Tradition the whole time and got a Heritage II parts machine at some point as well as a Classic Omega at a yard sale- but they just sat in my parents basement, i never really did anything with them. Just this year my collection has exploded, I've acquired a G5 (my intention was to just get this as a good machine to clean our new house) but it planted the vacuum collector syndrome and I bought a broken G3 the same day. Shortly after I got a Heritage 84, and spend $100(!) on a beautiful 510. My wife wants me to keep it down to 5 vacuums, and keep them out of the way (lol) luckily she has not really counted. She thought the 510 was cool because it is so old and it has all the attachments and owners manual, but she has asked me a couple times why I like to collect Kirby vacuums. I explain to her why, I guess most people just don't get it.

twocvbloke · Aug 16, 2011

The easy way to get out of being interrogated about such collections is to turn the questioning onto the person(s) asking, after all, everyone has a collection of something, so you just say to them that it's like their collection of whatever they collect (be it cars, stamps, pets, plants, ex's under the patio, etc.), I usually follow it up with it being to do with my interest in electromechanical devices, given how there are plenty Armstrongs (who I'm descended from) who have been pioneers of engineering and suchlike and thus I just inherited that interest by genetics...

Or of course, you just say "It makes me happy"...

gottahaveahoove · Aug 16, 2011

Bachelor here, too.

The cats don't mind at all. Oddly, my aunt (like an Auntie Mame) thinks it's my "interest". She claims responsibility for the whole thing, beginning as a child.

GRAHAM!!!!!!!! My GOD! Helen Keller could see her face in that machine!!

tolivac · Aug 17, 2011

No problem for me--I am the only one in my house!!The collection of vacuums and stuff is growing,though-will it drive me out of my house?

electroluxkirby · Aug 17, 2011

The DS80 looks beautiful all polished up!

goadie12 · Aug 17, 2011

Yes that vacuum is beautiful but in my family there isn't really this problem they support it and I am allowed to do what ever I want when it comes to vacs as long as I keep it to the one LARGE room I was given to store all 78 vacs and counting my parents only have a problem if I let them spill out into the house. Zach

clothbag · Aug 17, 2011

I have the same problem here. When Armand and I broke up after 20 years together, not because of my collection, I moved back to W. Spfld., Ma. not knowing that in the next couple years I would move back to live with my ailing mother and my oldest sister. When our mother past away my sister wanted all my stuff that was in the cellar placed in storage. I could only keep the things that I truly needed. So all, but 2 Kirbys, went into 2 storage units along with my model railroad stuff, books, videos, Christmas decorations, clothes that wouldn't fit in my small closet, and things aquired when I had a place of my own, minus my furniture as that was sold years earlier.

suckolux · Aug 17, 2011

Just me and Max the cat here, but mom visits weekly. Her only recent comment, is that another one?

gottahaveahoove · Aug 17, 2011

My family will say,

"Another one?' also. Then, "Where do you PUT all of them"? Have you SEEN the pics? Luckily,(sometimes), I live alone, too. The cats see a new one, sniff, and usually jump over it, like:"Another blue one, don't we already have that"?

jodan3399 · Aug 17, 2011

My husband just kind of shakes his head and walks away. My son gets confused when he goes to someone else's house and find out that they only have ONE vacuum.

I have to laugh though, a few years back when my son was 10 both him & his friend came home dragging a Fantom Thunder they found in a ditch after trash day. They must have dragged it 3 blocks to set it in all it's muddy glory on the porch to surprise me. Best present ever. LOL

craig_1982 · Aug 17, 2011

Well I'm 29 my Fiancée doesn't mind at all me collecting Kirby's even if I have got five machines stored in our bedroom three being under the bed, I think the rest of the family think I'm a bit strange though but I don't care what anyone else thinks, when my mother makes a comment I just turn it around and blame her as it was her that use to sit me in a push chair as a young child put the Kirby running at the side of me and for some strange reason the noise used to send me to sleep.

twocvbloke · Aug 17, 2011

Apparently the sound of a vacuum used to send me to sleep too, which is a strange thought.... :&#92

richardlxixxx · Aug 17, 2011

Another Bachelor Here!!!

I also live alone!! Enjoy having people over for cocktails and dinner, but prefer the single life. With my insane professional life, I really do not have much time to myself and precious little for anyone else. I need to find a companion that lives in their own house and just wants to get together occasionaly for fun, travel, and adventure.

 

My vintage vacuum collection consists of 5 Electrolux vacuums, XXX (1948 and 1952), LX (my beauty), Automatic E, and Model G. They are neatly displayed on top of my bookcases in the front bedroom, which I have converted to a TV room and library. People see them, shake their heads and say "Only Richard would be interested in old vacuums." I guess my interest was instilled by my Mother. Mom was and is a "Cleaning Fanatic." She would wear out an Electrolux every 5-8 years. She has had a XXX, Automatic F, Model G, 1205, Olympia, and an Ultralux Classic. Now she uses Miele.

 

By the way, my home is neat, clean, organized, always vacuumed, and shines like a freshly polished silver. It must be genetic.

 

A great evening to all,

 

Richard

gottahaveahoove · Aug 17, 2011

Richard!

If only you lived closer to PA... Was that awful to just say?

richardlxixxx · Aug 18, 2011

John

Hi John,

 

No, that was not an awful thing to say. It would be great to meet you as we probably have much in common. The restoration and preservation of historic homes is of particular interest to me. I managed a landmark estate in Palm Beach for many years and happen to be quite familiar with the care and maintenance of a legacy home.

Also, I am a great Italian cook. Growing up in an Italian family, it is all about good food and family.

John, you have a great sense of humor and I really enjoy your posts.

 

Stay well, take care, and wear a mask when you sand those floors,

 

Richard

Does it bother someone else at your house?

Help Support VacuumLand:

New member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

New member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Similar threads