dumpster find!

[vacuumfreeeke]

Hey there everyone. I don't usually find vacuums in the garbage, but last night there was one sitting out by the trash cans at my apartment complex just waiting. I took it in just to see what it was all about. It is a Koblenz commercial vacuum. The kind with the dust cup.... very similar in form to my Sanitaire SC887. It's in pretty rough cosmetic shape, but I thought I'd look at it anyway.

Seeing how badly it's beat up, I'm almost scared to plug it in. I do have a question though... WHERE'S THE POWER SWITCH? On the Koblenz models that I've seen in the past, I think I remember seeing a little button on the motor housing like the Eurekas/Sanitaire's have... well there isn't one on this vacuum, and there isn't a handle switch like on a Hoover either. Is it something that is integrated into the handle position like the eighties Singer/Kenmore twin fan uprights? Truly mind boggling!

Would this take a Eureka or Hoover round belt?

Sorry about the bad pic, my cell phone is my only camera!

Anyone familiar with these? How do they compare to a Sanitaire?

Thanks!

 

[vintageroyal611]

The switch is intergrated into the handle release. If I were you I would put it back in the dumpster. I have had a few of those shoot sparks at me.

 

[hoover_elite_20]

KEEP IT!

It's a lovely vac, despite its wierd switch. I'm sure you could almost replace the handle relaese switch with a switch on the handle, and just duct tape it on to the hande. Or, you could just bypass the handle relase switch and have it turn on every time you plug it in.

Nonetheless, It's a wonderful vac! Don't put it back in the trash!

Here's what it looked like when it was brand new(sorry it is small):

 

[tolivac]

Don't "retrash" that Koblentz-they are nice machines.give the machine a good lookover-like broken fan,bad handle switch,etc.Some Koblentz machines had a transparent(like the Sanitaire)cover over the METAL fan so you could see its condition.Later koblentz use plastic fans like the Sanitares.Eureka round belts fit these machines-that what koblentz suggest using.I have a few of these machines in my collection-they are quite powerful-sometimes even more so than Sanitaires.And another thing I like about these guys-tough METAL bodies--not plastic.Bet the beast can be fixed up that is if the motor isn't burned up.