Early Christmas present

[shag]

I have been haunting Craig's list and eBay for a teal green Compact. Of all the vacuums I remember, it was Mrs Davidson's Compact that I remember most. She kept it under her laundry tubs. It was the colour and shape that appealed to me. I got to use her Sunbeam upright and her Fiter Queen, but never the Compact. I recall her using it and the sound it made.
When I was looking on eBay, I found a guy that was selling a burgandy Compact and he had others. He was here in Ontario. I sent him an email asking where he was. I thought he would be in some remote northern place like Pickle Lake, Timmons or Astorville. It turns out he was an hour and a bit from my house. I sent him a few emails asking him if he had the elusive teal green compact. Sure enuff, he had an old one that didn't work but could make it new again.
Without further ado, her is the vacuum I have lusted about for 35 years.

 

[shag]

He had sent me an email late Wednesday night saying he could not have it ready for Thursday's pick up. When I got my emails, he had sent another at 4.30 am saying he had it ready. Dave, the vacuum guy went all out.

 

[shag]

He stayed up all night to get it fixed. He rebuilt the motor, new cord, new filters, new tools. I know it dosen't look original, but I want to use this vacuum a lot. I love the long cord. I can almost vacuum the whole house without unplugging it. I like the tools. The floor brush is great, it manoeuvres well. The crevice tool is pretty cool and the furniture brush works great on stairs.

 

[shag]

He did a great job cleaning it.

 

[shag]

First vacumming of the house. Great suction. I do find the power head sloppy to use. It is very quiet and works great.

 

[shag]

Dave rebuilds vacuums and has a warehouse. He said he has hundreds. I only got to see the shop on the back of his house. I plan to see him in the new year and see what he has. Such a nice guy.

 

[shag]

How old would this vacuum be? The model # is C80-2
Under it, it has both Canadian, US and British patents. The last one says, July 13 1951. Would this vacuum be that old?

 

[shag]

He gave me extra bags for the Compact and a new crown for my Filter Queen. The Queen is much happier to have her crown again

 

[eurekastar]

I think that particular model built in the mid 70s. I also think (but I'm not certain) that it was the first model with a power nozzle. If it wasn't the first then I'll bet it's the second. You'll love it. I think it's the best canister made. It has a simple straightforward design. It's extremely powerful too. And even without the after filter, it still filters extremely well because of the way the air flows through the bag. I don't know of many canisters with a PN that will create a suction seal to the carpet. That one will.

 

[suckolux]

Brian, I had a twin to that one here in US, bought it new in 81 or 82, lots of $$$ I was in love with the vac shop guy. I agree, thought the powerhead was sloppy to maneuver too. I liked it fine, not the same as the sound and memories of my 59, so a few years later sold it, wish I hadn't. Hope you enjoy it, pretty darn hard to kill one, if you even can. d.

 

[suckolux]

You know, thinking back, I bought a used FQ from him also, it too a twin to the one in your pic! What's the chance of that?

 

[aeoliandave]

Well done, Brian.

It appears to be the Canadian version of the 1978-1981 C-8. Wish I had them for you but I too am looking for the gold flaked clear chrystal dusting brush, crevice and upholstery nozzle, which have usually turned a golden yellow with age. maybe the Canadian models came only in ivory. (?)

The sheer sucking power of a Compact compensates somewhat for the sloppy PN coupler joint, which I find is like pushing a wobbly shoebox across the floor or carpet.

Today's Pic # 21

 

[suckolux]

Way to go Dave! Again a font of knowledge! Nice pic.

 

[aeoliandave]

Teal Blue or Turquoise? (or is the one on the left Baby Sky Blue?) (and then there's the much earlier C-4 Institutional Hospital Corridor Greenblue).

These are both C-80s, 'tho only one has the pn socket.

The Anniversary decal on the side will help date it if it has a number. Originally developed in the early 1940s, Compacts were first sold to the public in 1946. But the Anniversary Date refers to the ~1936 founding of Interstate Engineering, not the vacuum. So a 40th Anniversary decal would indicate 1976, for instance.

Please shoot us a head-on picture of the decal when you get a chance please, Brian. They don't usually survive in legible condition from being tugged around sofas and walls.

Dave

 

[shag]

It would be nice to find the funky glitter tools. The handle has that great nicotine sheen to it.

 

[shag]

On the side it says, 45 years of quality.

 

[countryguy]

A friend of mine has a compact, not sure of the model but it is the silver grey coloured one and has the big air filter on the exhaust. She has the clear coloured dusting brush, crevice tool and upholstery tool.

Gary

 

[vintagecanister]

Congratulations on your........

find, Brian!

I've had my eye open for the yellow one and would love to find one. It's from the late 70's........I think. I've always thought it was cool with the decal.

I have the 75th Anniversary edition with a great decal as well.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

The c-80 was the last Compact cleaner made in 1980-1984 and then went to Tristar.
The gold ones were c-8 and c-9. The c-8 had a black label on the power nozzle from the early to mid 70's. The c-9 was the one with the gold label on the power nozzle, canister was the same machine as the c-8 but with a more powerful motor and was the first to have an all electric hose rather than a non electric with a cord strapped to the outside of it.This machine was about 1977-1980 replaced by the c-80.
I have a burgundy Tristar that is dated 1984 but the model number is Compact-tristar c-9 and does NOT have the two speed switch. I find it strange that the very first tristar used the compact model number before adopting the CXL number. It must have been a transitional model