electrikbroomgu
Well-known member
Hand vacs
I have had good luck with both the Royal Prince and DD red/black hand vacs. Be sure to use a paper bad insert on the Prince though because the rubber gasket is almost always shot on the bag end and they leak dust without the paper insert. The red/black DD vacs can leak too and they offered a paper bag adapter for the 1994 and older versions. You can identify a newer model that has the paper bag adapter built in by the tool adapter black rubber cover where you insert the hose. The older ones will have a round pull out plug and the newer versions have a squared off cover that stays on the machine. The metal bottom plate comes off with two philips screws so changing belts and clearing off debris on the brushroll is easy. Also note that the older models with the round front access plug have adjustable brushes for wear. You will see this by removing the brush roll and see numbers 1-4 on each end. The newer models omitted this.
I also like the Metro straight suction hand vacs from the 60's-80's. They aren't very powerful when the little bag starts to fill up but they are neat looking and made of all metal. They were the later versions of the old Goodyear hand vacs of the 50's I believe and they still make the same basic machine today in black or stainless steel as the "vac n go". I have a bunch in my collection with colors ranging from avacado green to orange to brown or black. I have seen blue ones also but have yet to find one for my collection.
I have had good luck with both the Royal Prince and DD red/black hand vacs. Be sure to use a paper bad insert on the Prince though because the rubber gasket is almost always shot on the bag end and they leak dust without the paper insert. The red/black DD vacs can leak too and they offered a paper bag adapter for the 1994 and older versions. You can identify a newer model that has the paper bag adapter built in by the tool adapter black rubber cover where you insert the hose. The older ones will have a round pull out plug and the newer versions have a squared off cover that stays on the machine. The metal bottom plate comes off with two philips screws so changing belts and clearing off debris on the brushroll is easy. Also note that the older models with the round front access plug have adjustable brushes for wear. You will see this by removing the brush roll and see numbers 1-4 on each end. The newer models omitted this.
I also like the Metro straight suction hand vacs from the 60's-80's. They aren't very powerful when the little bag starts to fill up but they are neat looking and made of all metal. They were the later versions of the old Goodyear hand vacs of the 50's I believe and they still make the same basic machine today in black or stainless steel as the "vac n go". I have a bunch in my collection with colors ranging from avacado green to orange to brown or black. I have seen blue ones also but have yet to find one for my collection.
