FilterQueen Curiosity

[jscarlato]

Hello all . . .
I don't see any posts in this forum relative to FilterQueen vacuums, particularly the newer ones. I'm curious if anyone out there has had any experience or opinions about these vacuums; effective, not effective, overpriced?

A few years ago, I was with the VCCC group that toured the Kirby plant in Cleveland. One of the activities included at this convention was a tour of the Health-Mor facility in or near Strongsville, OH. Part of the tour included a presentation of the "benefits" of the vacuum, and another activity was a tour of the factory floor to see the building of the vacuum and the ability to talk to the employees. At the conclusion of the tour, we were given the opportunity to purchase a combo of the vacuum and the accompanying air purifier for around $3,000.00. Too rich for my blood.

Since my wife and I have various allergies, we endeavor to keep our home clean and run an air purifier. I have the curiosity about the FilterQueen if they are worth it.

Granted, I have no shortage of quality vacuums--Kirbys, Royals, Hoovers, and a Sebo. I have a Miele C3 Marin canister which is a nice unit. I bought an adapter/reducer that attaches to the Miele hose end. This allows me to use a variety of Kirby and Oreck attachments, which I like better than the Miele attachments.

I submitted a contact form to the plant in Ohio to give me a call. In short order, the request was forwarded to a nearby distributor. The manager asked me what I expected to pay for one. No, I want YOU to tell me what you would sell one for? He quoted $1,500 to $1,900 depending on options. I just said I'll get back to you if I have any interest.

So, back to my original question--who has experience or knowledge about FilterQueen, and are they worth the price?

 

[dysonman1]

My oldest Filter Queen was made in 1939. I can still use it and it runs like the day it left the factory. The Health-Mor company started out selling straight suction uprights. I have most of the models up through the present. When you empty one, you are covered in the dust that raises from dumping the bucket. The cone filters are now only sold (in genuine) by distributors - you can't buy genuine filter cones from a vac shop and the parts are not available to vac shops. You have to buy them at highly inflated prices from an authorized distributor. Buy a used machine - there's no reason to buy a new one.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Joe, Wasn't that trip great?

I had a Filter Queen from the 60s. Placed it in the hands of someone who really wanted it.
We met Ruth Hollander, who sold them for years. She was wonderful. There's a pic of us at her place. Glenn and Mike Turner are in the photo. Sadly, they're both gone now. Mike got a NIB unit from her.

 

[gman]

Not Your Mothers Filter Queen

I grew up with a straight suction FIlter Queen as a kid. My parents still have it. When they moved I was using it and got all nostalgic and found a good deal on a newer Majestic thinking it would be awesome. Hate it! It gets referred to by my husband as the most expensive vacuum that sits on a shelf.

For one it is a screamer, not the quite purr of the older models. I don’t like the one piece wand, and the bare floor tool just pushes stuff around. The power nozzle dies in my plush carpets. I bought a bojack hose and Wessel Werk replacement for it, but I just can’t get over the noise.

Hind sight I wish I would have bought a more vintage machine.

 

[lesinutah]

Filter queen

They are descent vacuums and descent air purifiers.
The vacuum goes overboard on allergies bogging the motor down.
I'm not saying it's bad but if you want a vacuum air cleaner look into a two speed rainbow. I don't know another vacuum that is brushless. It emits no emissions to filter. If it doesn't have any to begin with and it's HEPA exhaust filter. The filter queen has carbon brushes and needs filters for it.
If you get a silver or platinum rainbow you would love it. The gold doesn't have a batting for sound reducing.
You can get a good filter queen for $200 or so. The rainbow would be $300-$450.
Les

 

[jscarlato]

Good information . . .

. . . on the FilterQueen vacuum from first-hand experience. Thanks to all for sharing.

John, your being able to know those in the know is a resource beneficial to so many of us.

Grant, I certainly wouldn't want to fork over cash for a vacuum that screams at you as it may or may not adequately clean the floors. I have a Royal upright model 8300, and that's enough of a screamer to sit around and occupy space.

Tom, dumping out the bucket and getting immersed in dust is certainly a concern. Looking around, the Aerus Lux Guardian Platinum is a superior vacuum with good filtration. I would consider one for a price that doesn't break my back.

 

[kirbysthebest]

They are not bad vacuums

I have five now. They aren't the best either, as with any vacuum it has disadvantages:
1: I do not like their power nozzles. No edge cleaning whatsoever.
2: Newer models (as mentioned above) have a higher pitched scream
3: Though they are supposed to filter this is negated by dumping the dust bucket(I empty mine outside in the compost bin)
4: If you use all the filters they recommend, the consumables can be costly. The filters are all available from aftermarket sellers.

The Defender is not bad. I have two, one upstairs and one down. It's just a motor pulling air through a HEPA filter media. The filters are expensive, even when buying aftermarket. I vacuum mine out every month and it helps extend the life some.

Both vacuum and defender can be purchased on ebay at great savings over a dealer. There are often new or like new current models selling in the $600 range.

 

[lesinutah]

Filter queen

Is pretty much the same vacuum since the early 90s. I'd say get a majestic would run $150. The filters and everything $20-$40 a year. There power nozzle is trash. Get a eureka power nozzle they use the same pigtail.
If your looking for a vacuum/ purifier I'm not sure why you would want the lux gaurdian.
Les

 

[human]

I have a 1990s vintage Filter Queen Majestic that I paid $5 for at a thrift shop and then spent more than ten times that much trying to fix it up. Performance is really pretty lackluster, although I will give it points for being a very simple and straightforward design (no circuit boards) and thus very easy to work on but I'll take an Electrolux canister over it any day of the week. I have trash-found Electroluxes that will clean circles around it.

 

[tolivac]

Few weeks ago looked on the FQ website-like Kirby they could no longer do DTD sales or in home demos.---so they sell the FQ vacuum system for $3000 online!!The Defender air purifier is extra.For get the online price.

 

[lesinutah]

Purifier

Can be found real cheap on eBay.
Les

 

[myles_v]

I'm curious, does the Miele C3 cause any issues with the allergies? I like my 20 year old FQ but I wouldn't buy a brand new one, $3,000 for a vacuum cleaner is asinine when I already have so many. I would expect a Miele to be the best option, no messy bucket to empty and they have excellent filtration. If bagless is a must then the Rainbow would be a decent option, though I've never been able to bring myself to use one regularly because of the hassle of cleaning it out after each use.

 

[jscarlato]

No . . .

. . . there doesn't seem to be any allergy issue with the Miele C3. The filtration is very good. I use genuine Miele bags and the genuine Miele hepa filter. Of course, they're costlier than knock-offs, but I have a thing with original items until original bags and filters become outrageously expensive. Other pluses are that the suction control is quite handy, and it is a quiet machine.

Joe

 

[dysonman1]

Kirby is still going door to door in my area. Yesterday, 3 Kirby 'salesmen' brought in the trade-in machines they got from working my town for 2 days. There were 5 Riccars, a Simplicity, and a Rainbow. I got them all for $50. One of the 'salesmen' was actually a lady. Wearing leggings instead of pants. But they all had their masks on. They drive 4 hours to get here, so it's good to know people are buying expensive vacuums and I get to sell them consumables.

 

[myles_v]

If the main reason you want a FQ is to help with allergies then I would just stick with the Miele honestly. I actually bought one of my FQs from someone who replaced it with a Miele to help out their allergies.

 

[rivstg1]

I don't notice ANY particulates editing from my FQ....so I'd be shocked if someone is having reactions using it as long as the cone is in good shape, the cotton batting around the exhaust is clean. My Miele C3 canister ( that I gave my mom but am using it at the moment, works superbly as well so I couldn't say which is truly better. Emptying them easily goes to the Miele though.

 

[myles_v]

rivstg1...

Using the FQ isn't the issue, it's emptying the machine that caused a problem for the elderly couple who I bought one of mine from. They filter great when being used, especially with the newer Medipure filter.

 

[tolivac]

While having the recall mod done to my Rainbow-they mentioned the covid hasn't affected them at all.Still doing DTD sales thru appointments.

 

[cam2s]

Filter Queen

I have several majestics but my favorite Filter Queen is my old school chocolate brown one. I think it feels much sturdier than the newer ones and the dual stage motor is very powerful while being relatively quiet and pleasant to the ear while running. As noted if you have allergies probably the biggest issue is emptying it. The power nozzle doesn’t feel as aggressive as others but it never has an issue digging dirt either, whenever I use it the canister fills up fairly fast. I would have no issue daily driving this particular machine, I feel that is has the build quality and performance to go up against the competition.

Cameron.