caligula
Well-known member
Well not really!
The Kirby convention in Cleveland was truly awesome, but the fact is two vacuum cleaner brands were featured and got along very nicely. Okay, I'm going to take credit for this one, but the fact was, I was simply in the right place at the right time.
Since I got to the hotel at 3:45 am, I made sure I was in the restaurant by 8:00. The first person I saw was Morgan who went to his table and I sat alone. Directly in front of me was a gentleman finishing his coffee, and we started talking. It was the usual banter of why are you here. Turned out this was Ross Jensen, Director of sales for Health-Mor, and the conversation turned to the early days of the V.C.C.C., and our first meeting in 1985.
Ross was quick to tell me that Health-Mor was now located in Strongsville, Ohio, and he offered to show us the new Filter Queen. Since I'd walked away from the management side of our club in 95, I couldn't make that decision, besides, I had no idea what was on our agenda. Fortunately, Morgan was still at breakfast, and I suggested Ross talk to him.
That's where I left it till the opening of the meeting room, when I learned a tour of Filter Queen was in fact on the agenda for the next day.
It's no secret that I know the history of Electrolux, Kirby, and a little bit on Air-Way, but Filter Queen has always been that nut I couldn't crack.
No, I don't have the same love, or feeling of loyalty to Filter Queen that I have for Kirby, but I do have an interest in vacuum cleaner history. Fact is, I was rebuffed by Health-Mor in the late 1970's, here's what happened.
The corporate office was on Wabash avenue in downtown Chicago, and one day I went in. I asked to speak to somebody in the head office, and inquired about the companies history. "Are you here for a job?" he asked, "no I want to know when and how the company was formed," I said. I met an icy stare. "If you don't want a job, there's the door," and I was outside again. My meeting Ross at breakfast changed all that. Now I have a starting point for new information, and a company's history to research.
On Friday evening, Ross saw the meeting room, and understood our interest in all vacuum cleaners.
You just never know where your vacuum cleaner collection's going to lead, or the people you'll meet. Three factories in one day, awesome.
Alex Taber.

The Kirby convention in Cleveland was truly awesome, but the fact is two vacuum cleaner brands were featured and got along very nicely. Okay, I'm going to take credit for this one, but the fact was, I was simply in the right place at the right time.
Since I got to the hotel at 3:45 am, I made sure I was in the restaurant by 8:00. The first person I saw was Morgan who went to his table and I sat alone. Directly in front of me was a gentleman finishing his coffee, and we started talking. It was the usual banter of why are you here. Turned out this was Ross Jensen, Director of sales for Health-Mor, and the conversation turned to the early days of the V.C.C.C., and our first meeting in 1985.
Ross was quick to tell me that Health-Mor was now located in Strongsville, Ohio, and he offered to show us the new Filter Queen. Since I'd walked away from the management side of our club in 95, I couldn't make that decision, besides, I had no idea what was on our agenda. Fortunately, Morgan was still at breakfast, and I suggested Ross talk to him.
That's where I left it till the opening of the meeting room, when I learned a tour of Filter Queen was in fact on the agenda for the next day.
It's no secret that I know the history of Electrolux, Kirby, and a little bit on Air-Way, but Filter Queen has always been that nut I couldn't crack.
No, I don't have the same love, or feeling of loyalty to Filter Queen that I have for Kirby, but I do have an interest in vacuum cleaner history. Fact is, I was rebuffed by Health-Mor in the late 1970's, here's what happened.
The corporate office was on Wabash avenue in downtown Chicago, and one day I went in. I asked to speak to somebody in the head office, and inquired about the companies history. "Are you here for a job?" he asked, "no I want to know when and how the company was formed," I said. I met an icy stare. "If you don't want a job, there's the door," and I was outside again. My meeting Ross at breakfast changed all that. Now I have a starting point for new information, and a company's history to research.
On Friday evening, Ross saw the meeting room, and understood our interest in all vacuum cleaners.
You just never know where your vacuum cleaner collection's going to lead, or the people you'll meet. Three factories in one day, awesome.
Alex Taber.
