Filter queen

[filterboy244]

Got a question would i be able to tell when my K31x was made by looking at the serial number?

 

[d-jones]

Hi Ray

I've asked this question here before and got nowhere with it. I've been told that Filter Queen didn't keep those kinds of records, but maybe someone here knows better.

Now I have a comment, and I hope you won't be offended, because I'm not trying to be offensive. It's just that I see you have six threads going at the same time with questions about this one Filter Queen of yours, two of which ask the same question about serial numbers. All of your questions could have been dealt with easily in one thread, two threads if you wanted to be extravagant. All you have to do is ask your question in one of your existing threads. That will move the thread to the top of the list and people will see that a new comment has been made. They will then read it and respond. Thread after thread after thread on essentially the same subject just clutters things up needlessly. Of course I'm just another guy here so you're free to disregard my advice, but it's something to think about.

 

[filterboy244]

well thats true. :S

 

[d-jones]

Since Ray asked the question about serial numbers, I thought I'd join him in his effort to figure them out by posting a few pictures of the Filter Queens my family owns along with their corresponding serial numbers. First up is a photo of my parents model 31 purchased in 1975. It's a two tone machine with an outlet for a power nozzle and the serial number is 0439599.

 

[d-jones]

This is my sisters’ machine. It’s a monotone model 31 with a power nozzle outlet, and its serial number is X9023784. It’s clearly a newer machine than the one belonging to my parents.

 

[unimatic1140]

Thank you David for pointing that out. Ray I think David has a good point, if you have a Filter Queen thread going and have something else Filter Queen related that you would like to talk about you should post it in the same thread. That goes for any topic. I believe most Vacuumland participants would really appreciate, it makes for a more tidy and easier to read forum.

Thanks again for understanding!

 

[filterboy244]

yea i realize that now but i cant delete the threads to consolidate what ive already posted :S Sorry for cluttering 

 

[d-jones]

This is my machine. It’s also a two tone model 31, but note the lack of a power nozzle outlet. Ordinarily, that would lead me to believe it’s older than my parents machine, but its serial number is 8932096, which is a higher number than theirs indicating that it’s actually newer.  The thing that puzzles me about this one is that I’d have thought that once power nozzles were available, all the machines would’ve been built with an outlet for them. By omitting the outlet from this machine, Filter Queen essentially prevented it from being upgraded with a power nozzle, thereby denying themselves the potential sale of the power nozzle and the associated hose and tube. Unless of course, in spite of the serial number the machine is actually older than my folks machine and predates power nozzles, but that seems unlikely to me. At any rate, like Ray, I'd love to know when the various models were introduced and when the model 31 went from two tone to monotone. When was the power nozzle introduced, and was it not Filter Queens policy to manufacture all of their machines with outlets for them from that point on? Are there any experts here that feel like chiming in with an answer?

 

[kirbyvertibles]

hmmm interesting,
I have the one in the first picture. I found no way to decode the number but when I took it all apart for a service I found a date on 1972 on the armature. Now I have no idea if that means anything or not. I mean (example) mine could be 1975 but the armature was made in 1972? Mine does have the power nozzle. I do know that sometime in either the 80's or 90's they started stamping the date in the very top of the machine in the metal ring were the model number is but you have to have a very good light and super powered glasses to see it. My Mom's majestic says 97 right next to the model number and she did buy it in 97. Also if you have a power nozzle and if you're lucky enough to have the original motor in it, the date should be on the power nozzle motor.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

ps I have also at time found a date on the bottom of the dirt bin but not often. My red and white princess has a date stamped into the bottom of the white bin (1982)

 

[d-jones]

I just realized I made a mistake when describing my sisters machine. It's actually a two speed machine with NO power nozzle outlet. So assuming serial numbers are consecutive, if I list the above machines by serial number(and therefore age) we get the following:


 


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<p class="MsoNormal">S.N. 0439599 is a two tone finish model 31 with a one speed motor and a power nozzle outlet purchased new in 1975.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">S.N. 8932096 is a two tone finish model 31 with a one speed motor and no power nozzle outlet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">S.N. X9023784 is a monotone finish model 31 with a two speed motor and no power nozzle outlet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So it seems that the power nozzle outlet was an optional feature, but look at the difference in serial numbers between the first machine and the second. That second serial number is 8,492,497 higher than the first. That's eight million, four hundred ninety two thousand, four hundred and ninety seven higher. Is that even possible? I'm having a hard time believing Filter Queen was able to sell that many machines, especially when one considers what they were asking for them. That's a Filter Queen for one in thirty seven people in the U.S. today. Considering the population was smaller in the 1970's when these two machines were sold, the ratio would be even higher. Clearly something else is going on here with the serial numbers, but I have no idea what.</p>