DREAM (machines) CAN COME TRUE...IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU....

[crevicetool]

Like I said in my thread on the other forum, I have had a very busy late spring and summer. A lot has gone on. One thing that happened was a dream come true for me. I want to start out by saying that I am truly grateful to this person. I was, and continue to be, inspired by this person for his knowledge, his generosity, and friendship. I have referred to his website hundreds of time in my restorations of machines. I am speaking of Mr. Charles Richard Lester. Thank you Charles. And now without further delay.....


When Charles was having his Great Garage Clean-up recently, he posted a picture of the left-overs. A greatly reduced pile waiting to go into the dumpster. I noticed that one of the machines was a Universal VC6700. My ultimate dream machine. My Grandmothers, the one that started my strange attraction for these crazy things that seem to require a forum to talk about them, post pictures of,....etc.,etc. Anyway, the unit was missing a front cover. I contacted Charles, and when he realized that I would probably fall over dead if the Universal wasn't in my hands, he made me an offer...The attached pics are a result of that offer. (Just a note here, I had to drive out to California, Twist Charles arm-really beg and claw and cry before he would cave in and offer this thing...I was so exited about convincing him I could not live without the vac, that I drove home forgetting it - forcing Charles to have to ship it to me at a cost of $860,000.03 {just kidding Charles}.....)

 

[crevicetool]

Not only did.....

I get the machine (not pictured), without the front cover, which will provide two other machines with parts for return to service after retoration, but I got the VC6700, with front cover, hose, all the tools, a tool caddy, and something else, it's slipped my feeble mind at the moment----give me a minute---OH! YEAH!!!!THIS DISPLAY STAND!!!!!!!

 

[crevicetool]

To have acquired not only the vacuum of yesteryear...

I have not seen one since 1968, but the stand, is just too incredible!!!I am still thrilled with the good fortune that Charles provided me....I want to thank Charles here again for helping me officially complete my collection. There is NO other vacuum I could ever want....Ever...No, there is no othe-no, can't think of a ....Well, maybe an ELECTROLUX model V!!!

Thanks again Charles.....

 

[aeoliandave]

Well, I am sure excited for ya, Rick. I know the feeling so well when the dream machine stumbles into your life...and you have some spare parts kicking around just waiting to be re-united. Or wait a little longer and they just seem to pop up on your doorstep.

Like the Westinghouse T-6 I just had to make a play for...and got it.

Dave

 

[crevicetool]

It just occured to me.....it's

Fairy tales can come true.....not dreams....feeble mind! Forgot the other picture too....

 

[arh1953]

Celebrate The Moments Of Your Life

With a hot, soothing cuppa java from a Universal Coffee-Matic! Congratulations, couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

 

[portable]

Wow, beautiful!

I always wanted to see one of these Universals in operation. They are such a beautiful artistic invention. And that stand! It looks like it is in flawless condition. Congratulations.

Once upon a time I found Charles one of his holy grails - it was one of the small "thrifty" Electroluxes, in out-of-the-box condition. I'm glad he "paid it forward" and you are the lucky recipient...

 

[charles~richard]

The machine that "Portable" (John Lucia) is referring to is an Electrolux Model E, and it is indeed the most cherished vacuum cleaner in my entire collection. I still can't believe what fabulous condition it is in!

Then to Sir Crevice Tool, I am truly happy that this set went to such an appreciative and happy home. That makes it all worthwhile.

 

[petek]

Wow that is nice and very generous to say the least. That display deserves to be described as fab.

 

[charles~richard]

Well, "truth in advertising" here ... I did not *give* the Universal and stand to CreviceTool, he actually wrote "out of the blue" and made me an offer on it. I really hadn't planned to get rid of it but he seemed to want it so badly, so I accepted his offer without quarrel or reservation. Again, no regrets there. I can just imagine how happy he is to have it by thinking about how =I= would feel to find a similar display for an Electrolux XXX. As Billy Lipman would say, "CAN you imagine!?"

 

[crevicetool]

My fault....

I did buy the items from Charles. His generosity in his time and efforts in the matter are what is most important. Also, this guy spent an enormous amount of time in packaging up the units for shipment. They arrived from California without the slightest scratch. Charles said he MUMMIFIED the stuff, and he did, I received the packages last month around Father's day. I was just able to unwrap the last part of it last night!!!!LOL!!!

When I said offer, I meant that Charles sensed how important it was to me to have the machine and the display unit. It was his offer to part with a rare piece of vacuum history for the benefit of someone else. His unselfishness. After all, all I wanted originally was his garbage.

 

[luxg]

I tell everyone that this is one of the best groups of people and this is just one more case that proves it!!

 

[hygiene903]

What a Beautiful Machine!!

Don't remember seeing any Universals in this area, not even when I was selling Electro-Hygienes. Never took one in as a trade-in. Hope to see one in person someday--will you be bringing it to the Convention? Look forward to seeing you there!
Jeff

 

[charles~richard]

Here are some of the "teaser" photos I took for Rick just before packing and shipping the set to him.

 

[charles~richard]

 

[charles~richard]

 

[charles~richard]

 

[charles~richard]

 

[aeoliandave]

What is the Tattle-Tail Light?

That is so cool, Charles and Rick. Now I've seen the closeup of the tools...well, I have 3 of those and a fibre crevice tool that sure looks like an exact match. I'll have to get me one of them blue Universals to keep 'em company...for now they are complimenting the two blue Boots Monitor cylinders.

Dave

 

[charles~richard]

Rick (CreviceTool) -- does this model have the tattle-tail light? Or was that on the later model?

 

[crevicetool]

Yes it has the tattle-tale light!!!

I was going through the patents on line. Universal offered the tattle tale on many models up to the Jet99. There is a plate in the bottom of the machine that the dirt bag is in contact with. When the bag reaches a predetermined WEIGHT the tattle tale would come on indicating you need to clean out the bag. Two problems with this...and I know you already know the answer...you could load six pounds of sand in that bag, light blaring away, and still have suction. Or, you could vacuum up 1/4 cup of flour, the light not come on at all, and yet you know, and can feel the air flow loss. Not the sophisticated system that Electrolux designed based on restricted air flow. I think the patent said the light should come on at 1.5 lbs of "soil". The switch is located under the canister in that little "gondola". The light in my machine (from you Charles) has a clear glass lens in a chrome plated bezel. Under that, mounted within the handle is a clear bulb with a red "plastic" cover. When it lights, you see red. The low voltage bulb, 12v. gets it's power from a secondary winding within the suction motor. Lewyt Electronic anyone? However, the difference here is that both leads go only to the bulb and the through the switch, and at no time is it grounded.

Dave, every ad, picture, and now display stand I have seen of Universals show them with those same tools - they must have run for at least twenty years. This model has them, the "rocket", even my jet99. I think as time approached however for LF&C to die in 1965 they had been offering plastic tools with their machines.

I'm gonna try and get some pics in a little bit...

 

[crevicetool]

Inside bag chamber-switch plate

.

 

[crevicetool]

Tattle-tale light (Off)

Machine off, or bag not heavy enough.

 

[crevicetool]

Tattle-tale light on.....

Machine on, bag now heavy enough, or some fool is pressing the switch down with his right hand while taking blurry pictures with his left hand which shows how stupid said left hand is and why said fool had to give up his career as a concert pianist, even though I think with a little more practice he could have been GREAT!!!Nothing but ridicule followed him through-out his life when....whew!!!!, sorry.

 

[charles~richard]

Wow, that light really is bright!! I have never used my newer Universal enough to ever fill up the bag and see the light come on. Now I'll just have to do that!

btw Rick, here's a scan I found in my hard drive of the cover of the instruction booklet. I know it's around here ... somewhere!!