Found a Compact

[lillylux]

I have heard some of you discuss compact vacuum cleaners and I just aquired one. It seems to have an impressive amount of suction. I would welcome any feedback on Compacts from all of you.

 

[jaker15]

Interstate Engineering Corp.

Is one of my favorite manufacturers of all time. Their machines are incredible. I have a Model C-4 from the mid 50's, it runs great and has ridiculous airflow and suction. All you hear when I'm running it is the whoosh of airflow through the rear exhaust vents. If I remember right, all of the older canisters use a HUGE 2-stage ball bearing motor. They're quiet, reliable, and run forever if they're maintained well. Compact canisters are remarkably easy to service and repair. I replaced the power switch on my grandma's C-6 awhile back, and it took 10 minutes flat. 


 


So, yeah, I'm definitely a fan of Compact! 

 

[lillylux]

Jaker; It definitely has lots of airflow! Sounds like a jet airplane. It had with it the hose, male machine end and I wondered what kind of hose I should look for to maybe turn this fitting into a hose. Glad you know so much about them! Do you have to have the paper bag in the filter or can you have the paper bag without the cloth filter? Thanks!

 

[suckolux]

have to use the cloth bag, paper with it is optional

 

[jaker15]

The original hose was a woven cloth style, my grandma's C-6 has the original hose, and it's still airtight after all these years. Better than Electrolux hoses, it seems. LOL. Mine came with a newer plastic hose, but it has the original machine end and suction end. This hose is quite a bit longer than the original, I can leave the canister in the middle of the living room and vacuum the entire carpet without moving the canister an inch! 


 


Do you know what model yours is? Could you post a few pictures of it? I'd love to see it. As suckolux said, you can use your Compact with the cloth bag only, but paper inserts are still available. I like using the disposable bags, they make emptying the Compact a snap.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Nina,

Your machine being branded as such, would have last been made under that moniker in 1981. In 1982 it was renamed Tri-Star.

I'd love to see pictures of your Compact so I can help you on the exact time frame.

~Ben

 

[lillylux]

The Compact says under the name Compact "Electra". I will look around it and see if I can find any numbers. It is so cute! Looks like a little creature or something. I have surgery on Thursday, again, and I will start working with "Madonna" (the name I gave the Compact) when I'm feeling a little better--but I seen this one as being a major "using for cleaning" in my household. I don't see any PN plug in so does it have the capacity for one? And is the Compact vacuum cleaner still manufactured?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Nina,

Yes, but under the Tri-Star moniker.
http://www.tristarclean.com/

~Bent

 

[jaker15]

Model number

There should be a nameplate embossed on the underside of the canister, I believe it's between the rear wheels. It should say "Compact Model C-(whatever model yours is, mine says C-4)" 

 

[jaker15]

Compact History

Here is a picture showing all of IEC's models, which one does yours look like? This was the Picture of the Day not too long ago, I didn't steal it.... 

 Haha!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Nina,

If it has a provision for a PN it should be a model C8 (1973-1978) or a C9 (1979-1981).

~Ben

 

[dysonman1]

The turquoise model is the Compact C-6 Electra. The salmon colored machine is the Compaqct model C-6 Standard. I believe your machine would be a C-6 based on your description.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Here are my Compact/Tristar vacs:
1964 C6
1985 CXL
early (1999-2000) EXL (A101)

 

[lillylux]

I had to undergo another sugery yesterday but when I am feeling better I will look over the whole machine.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Hope you are feeling better. Compact /tristar are my favs for everyday cleaning. I have every common model of Compact (model 1 through the C80 and 1 C2 Revelation. They will last forever. We had a big Compact dealer in our small town in the early 60's. Mr. Gerald David sold over a thousand machines through the 60's. Many of them are still in regular usage today. A few year ago I had an elderly lady come to my shop with 2 c6 machines that he bought new from Mr. David and he wanted them rebuilt after many decades of use in her 4,000 square foot+ home. They still worked fine but she wanted to rebuild them anyway. So I called Mr. David (whom I had never met) and asked him if he wanted to help me rebuild Mrs. Mackinzy's Compact. He was loooooooong since retired but was touched I had asked him to do one last service. Then he shocked me by saying: Hmmm Mrs. Mackinzy,,,, she bought 2 c6 from me. lol The man remembered almost every machine he sold and who they went to. I wish vacuum dealers had that much dedication to their customers today. Just a little Compact story

 

[floor-a-matic]

Lately I've found a few A101 TriStar vacs (3 EXLs & a MG2) in trash; the MG2 seems like previous owner used it for wet pickup & one of the EXLs operated without cloth bag & motor filter, but had only a paper bag

 

[jaker15]

floor-a-matic,

Yikes! I hope you can get them both working again! The old Compacts seem pretty bulletproof, I'm sure the TriStars are the same way!