Door to Door Brands.

[rainbowd4c]

This kind of got me wondering from a prior conversation. But the big door to door brands have always been.

Rainbow
Kirby
Electrolux (Aerus)
Filter Queen
Tri Star.

Rainbow and Kirby seem to still be doing well for the most part I see a lot of both. Aerus Electrolux USA seems to be checking out. Are they still viable?

But what is going on with Filter Queen and TriStar? Are they still around? Are they still viable? Any other Door to Door brands anyone can think of as well?

 

[panasonicvac]

I can confirm that Filter Queen is still around shifting to online sales like Amazon but Tristar is now history just like Aerus later down the road as I don't think they'll survive for much longer. It appears Patriot is also still around as well and the current color is red but I also have doubts for them as well in the long term.

https://www.amazon.com/Filter-Queen-Majestic-Ultimate-Cleaning/dp/B0BCX9MVZL?th=1

https://patriotfilterstore.com/products/patriot-hybrid-clean-air-system

 

[eurekaprince]

Believe it or not, we have a vacuum store here on the West Island of Montreal which currently shows a Filter Queen on its website. The store is called Vacupro and it is primarily a dealer for Miele Canada and Sebo Canada. But the most expensive canister on its website is a CAD $ 1700 Filter Queen. I imagine an interested customer could go right into the store, check out the cleaner and buy it right there like any normal vacuum cleaner. Go to vacupro.ca to check it out!

 

[rainbowd4c]

Another one I have always had an interest in was Fairfax. Faxomatic. What was their story?

 

[lesinutah]

The

Patriot isn't red. The brochure is generic and red is the default color.
The current color is purple.
I only chimed in because I order the brochure every couple years.

 

[human]

I love vintage vacuum cleaners, but not vintage sales schemes. Thankfully, the door-to-door (d2d) sales/coercion model is finally dying a well-deserved—and frankly overdue—death. Today's consumers are far more comfortable and familiar with online shopping, and it seems that at least some formerly d2d vacuum cleaner companies are learning to adapt to modern paradigms before they die. The d2d model may have worked in the past, but here in 2025, people don't even send their children outside to play anymore, much less invite a strong-arm salesman into their home to be force-fed a product they don't necessarily want and cannot really afford. Many shoppers today are more sophisticated, greatly preferring to go online to do their own product research, and then shop for the best deal, locally or on the Web, before making a purchasing decision without the pressure of a salesman trying to induce a sense of crisis to make an instant purchasing decision or lose the opportunity forever. As the son of a car salesman, I know the last person I want to deal with in such circumstances is a heavy-handed salesperson.

 

[beagledad]

My Aerus dealer is doing quite well. They offer good rates on repairs for all vacuums and will use the opportunity to show the customer what an Aerus can do over their battery powered vacuum. Aerus have also now made the switch to HEPA bags for all canisters. I don't think they would have done that if they planned on shutting down soon.

 

[human]

The last time I checked, the closest Aerus dealer was about 40 miles away from me. It's been a long time since I've visited it, but a Web search says it's still there.

 

[n0oxy]

door to door brands

I did not know Tristar was no more, actually I think once Aerus bought them the designs were never as good. I think Patriot and Miraclemate are still around but they are overpriced for what you get. There are a few other water vacuums around that are still sold by in home demonstration, Hyla and Ritello come to mind, I think the Delphin is sold that way too. I think Kirby is now sold on line as is Filter Queen. Aerus is still around although they seem to be more interested in air purifiers than vacuums. I do wonder how much longer these brands will last. I haven't heard any good things about Rainbow's newest model.
Mike

 

[lesinutah]

Tristar

Exists still but im not entirely sure what capacity. I'm pretty sure no more machine are being produced.

http://www.tristarclean.com/

 

[n0oxy]

tristar

I think the last really good model was the CXL, or was there also a DXL before Aerus bought them? Not sure but once Aerus bought them they were never as good and they used a nonstandard hose end for attachments. From what I've heard, that's why they sold the Electrolux name back to the Swedish Electrolux company, so they would have funds to purchase Interstate Engineering.
Mike

 

[panasonicvac]

There was a DXL

From my understanding it's the same machine as the CXL.

 

[cheesewonton]

Tristar made their last vacuum in September 2022 with metal parts cast in 2019. I bought one of those very last ones as a keepsake. Like the metal Royal upright aluminum tariffs did Tristar in. Miracle Mate hasn't made a new vacuum since 2017 and still has a couple of unsold new ones left over. Patriot remains in business in California and our local Tristar distributor has become a Patriot dealer. Last year I got a wild hair to see what happened to Fairfax and apparently they are still in business and will make you new vacuum but they are all made to order now and while I didn't ask I bet you have to make a significant down payment. Vortech still has a distributor in Canada. The story of how Vortech came to be is pretty interesting but for another thread.
Now if anyone here knows the story of the Interstate Engineering Eco Max 2100 I am all ears. I have one but don't know much about it other than it was made by Interstate before they were sold off to Joe Urso.

 

[lanesharon]

Kirby Heritage II 1984.

I bought my first Kirby Heritage II in 1984 from a traveling salesman. I lived in the country and was talked into it by doing payments. I used it for decades replacing only filter bags and keeping it clean. Once, I had to have the plastic fan replaced, but at that time, there was a Kirby repair place near me. I had purchased the 'repair for life' plan for $99 when I originally bought it, but replacing that part was cheaper, so I did not use it. The motor finally gave up on it about 6 months ago. Try to find a Kirby repair person. Impossible! I did get a main number that said they would honor it if I paid to ship it in and out and the $99, but they would not promise that they had the parts to fix it. I tried putting new brushes on it, but that did not help. I had done that once before on my own. Yes, it worked for 40+ years, so I cannot complain. I bought a used motor head off of Ebay and it was working great for several months. The other day the fan totally disintegrated in pieces. I shut it off quickly, but it did have a burning smell immediately so not sure if that destroyed the motor. I have it apart and will try to replace that fan and while at it, new brushes, hoping it will crank back up. In the meantime, I am currently using a FairFax that I had bought decades ago in a garage sale but never used. This thing has serious suction, for sure!

 

[centralsweeper63]

The Fairfax machines always interested me. There isn't much information about them anymore.