Favourite Vintage Brand and Why ?

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jmurray01

jmurray01

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Mine has to be Hoover, because they are simply the best, better than all the rest!

To put it in more detail; they invented the brush roll, made many models with the "Hedlite" (some people see as superfluous but I disagree!), had fantastic suction coupled with the brilliant brush roll design to beat the carpet deep down and what's more, were made to LAST.

I can't see how you could beat that...
 
Well...

interesting question.


Of course, the rule back in the days of old was Hoover for uprights and Electrolux for cylinders. Which a customer opted for would depended on their home, their personal preferences and the type of flooring. It was not uncommon for someone to own one of each.


 


I certainly love my old Hoover cleaners. I really don't think anything has come close to the carpet cleaning performance of the Turbomaster. However, I always found Electrolux to be better built and far more practical cleaners - especially where uprights were conerned.


 


With that in mind, I am going to make a controversial statement. Up to 1980, Hoover were the biz. But from then onwards, especially after the introduction of the Turbopower and despite those being a huge seller and excellent on carpet, they weren't of the best build quality and had a mass of strong competion. I think Hitachi are probably my favourite cleaners from 1980 onwards. The CV50 and CV60 were fantastic cleaners. Well built, high performing and practical.
 
For me it would be Kirby or Royal. They were the first upright to have descent tool suction and were a complete home cleaning system. Plus the Kirby had the lifetime rebuild warranty, both Royal and Kirby were ahead of the game with cords.

Then Eureka. Their brush roll was super! Their first design with all brush would out clean any upright of the time. Then as they progressed and started with the VG1 and VGII it just got better. They also had a longer cord. Tool usage was nothing to brag about but they figured out a better adapter system earlier than Hoover.

Even with their later top mount conversion tools, they provide a seal plate to improve on the suction.

Don't get me wrong, I like Hoover! But Hoover was not popular in WI where I grew up..Eureka, Kirby, Royal and Lux were the main stay. You rarely saw a Hoover in a home.

Morgan
 
John and Jamie

AND THE WINNER IS - THE AMERICAN ELECTROLUX VACUUM!!!!!!


 


Electrolux is my favorite vintage vacuum cleaner.  I have never been a fan of upright vacuums and prefer canister vacuums for their versatility.  When you are cleaning an entire house, it just makes more sense to use one vacuum that has superior suction and airflow, hence the American Electrolux tank.  If you have a noisy, messy, dusty Hoover upright - how do you clean above the floor?  With the ineffective upright attachements?!  To do a proper cleaning, you would have to have a tank vacuum for the rest of the house, especially wood floors and area rugs.  When Electrolux developed the power nozzle for their tank vacuums, Electrolux really became the Cleaning Standard of the World.


Of course, Hoovers were less expensive than the Electrolux and therefore a household could afford to have two machines.


I grew up in and Electrolux house and my Mother was a very detailed and neurotic cleaner.  Everyday was like spring cleaning.  No vacuum satisfied her like the Electrolux and she tried them all.


This is my opinion and experience.  Please no death threats!!!!


Stay well,


Richard
smiley-cool.gif
 
I agree with Richard that a canister/cylinder with a powerhead would be the practical option and probably the most effective to use as a daily cleaner as you have the deep cleaning agitation of an upright combined with the high suction and versatility of a cylinder.


 


Sadly, cylinders with powernozzel's have never been very popular in the UK. Usually, only the very top end cleaners had them. Hoover and Rowenta both had cylinders with PN's in the 1980's, but I don't think Lux ever did over here. I also don't think there is currently a cylinder with a PN on sale here - the airdriven turbo brushes seem to be more popular.
 
For vintage, it has to be Hoover - no other brand IME has ever produced so many different styles, colours and models. Thus, they are worth collecting, looking out for, finding brochure merchandise and other things. I adore the Art Deco inspired models too.
 
My favorite vintage upright is the pre-516 Kirby.  They have a lot of character.  Plus, when the 4 amp motor was introduced on the 513 during mid production, they became a much more efficient and effective cleaner.  Kirby now has a 4 row brush roll that can be installed that really makes them a cleaning champ!  As for canisters, it is a toss up between the Compact/Tristar and Rainbow. 

eurekastar++7-30-2012-13-43-45.jpg
 
My Kirby 4C

Not many of these were produced because soon after they went into production, the United States entered World War II.  This is also unique among Kirby models because it has a felt lined bag.  I guess Kirby was trying to improve filtration. 

eurekastar++7-30-2012-13-48-2.jpg
 
HOOVER. It Beats, As it Sweeps, As it Cleans!!

For me it's Hoover. Growing up it's all I knew. My maternal grandmom had a Convertible, my aunt had a convertible, my paternal grandparents had a Convertible and we got them a Dimension 1000. My parents had a convertible and Celebrity Elite. Then we inherited my paternal grandparents convertible and Dimension 1000 plus got a Decade. Now we did have problems with the Celebrity powerhead breaking, but the adult users, not me in that time period, were also vacuuming with lights turned off in the room and not seeing my sisters barbie toys left on the rug. So when Barbie's toy plastic kettle got stick in the vent of the power head, I understood why the room stunk like a skunk.

The school district used Sanitaire and most hotels I went to had Sanitaire, but when I saw them shaking the bags out, I couldn't take that.

Hoover, Nobody Does it like you!
 
Call Off the Cannibals

<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #0000ff; font-size: medium;">Okay Guys, no cannibals and no chopping up of my body parts.  What are you guys from Brooklyn?  You sound like some of my  relatives that bury people in building foundations.</span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #0000ff; font-size: medium;">At least a few agree that a tank type vacuum is the most efficient way to clean, especially if equipped with a power nozzle.  No John, not that type of power nozzle!</span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #0000ff; font-size: medium;">I will give you this, Hoover did make some very pretty and stylish vacuums.  However, they did not have the power of an Electrolux.  Besides, the XXX and the LX electrolux vacuums were magnificently styled vacuums.  They could be used as boat anchors, but they were absolutely beautiful and very powerful.  The Electrolux vacuums that followed, up until the Diamond Jubilee, were the best and most efficient vacuums produced.  And also great looking vacuums.  Kind of like classic cars - beautiful paint combinations and lots of shiny metal parts.</span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #0000ff; font-size: medium;">The last great Electrolux was the Olympia One.  After that the company declined.</span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #0000ff; font-size: medium;">Now John and Jamie, everyone is entitled to an opinion.  This is mine.  </span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #0000ff; font-size: medium;">By the way John, if you really want the "Palace" cleaned properly, I will show up with my Miele.</span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #0000ff; font-size: medium;">A great day to all.  Stay well,</span>


<span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #0000ff; font-size: medium;">Richard</span>
 

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