Well guys,......I mentioned before that I like restoring things, all kinds of things, and I do have "some" experience in this (getting old, and remembering more than I care to remember).
Some day, I will get Sanitronic 50 (1965), and Avalir (2015), and I'll have all machines for every decade of my life (just entering the last decade for me).
The idea of setting them up for different "instant tasks" did occur to me, when I started working on Omega (my first one). Right away I looked everywhere for the set of original attachments, and I got them on Ebay. Then came 515 (for 20 bucks!), with its original attachments in the original box (what a steal for 20 bucks!!). Came Heritage 2 (no attachments), and became my main upright (using 515 in the office as the upright only). G4,.....no attachments, but Diamond came with all attachments, including the shampooer! Since the attachments are same for the G series,......I use Diamond attachments on G4 sometimes.
Now about leaving them set up,.......I tried, and didn't like it. Why? Because of what I call "displaying ability". As I said, I don't "lock them up" away from the view. Three are displayed (among other antiques, like an old, but functional/restored upright piano, two radios, two functioning telephones, loaded 12ga pump, and a loaded Winchester 94 in 30-30)) in the main hallway, and two are on display in the office (my study, or a den, or whatever you call it in different parts of the country). And they look their best just the way you see them in this picture. They don't look nearly as nice when they are set up as canisters, or portable (to me anyway). Carpet shampooer I will never use (have Bissel heavy duty steamer for that). There are also two Hoovers (one with the bag and one bagless) in this household, and are used to vacuum cars, kennel, garage, etc. Diamond Zipbrush is doing well on the furniture (living room, and office), wall and ceiling brush does well on the knotty pine, and open rafters, etc.
"Representation of decades".....yes, exactly that. That was my idea when I got interested in these. The ones before I was born,......what's the point? They were out of "circulation" before I lived. But the ones I have, I look at them and think,.....hmmmm I wander where was I when this thing was being demoed in homes all over the country, and what did I vacuum with at that time? And the 515 I use to make myself look even better,......when I show it to the people that visit for the first time, I say "this thing is as old as I am",...."don't we both look great for our age"? LOL
My daughter was born in 1995, and she is about to move out. She wants to take G4 with her (as old as she is), and I might be looking for another one soon.
Now I was proof reading and saw the thing about "antiques in the hallway", and before some of you think I am some kind of wacko for having loaded weapons on display,.....I need to explain. I live on 140 acre ranch. There is no neighbors, and behind me is a National Park with millions of acres of open land (and no roads coming my way, just horse trails that my wife and I ride on weekends). The park is full of animals, and I often have bears rummaging through my trash cans at night (not to mention cougars, coyotes, bobcats, deer etc.). When they show up, my dogs go bananas, and I can't sleep. So I grab 12ga and put one or two in hillside, and the wildlife leaves, so all is quiet, and I can go back to bed. 30-30 is there just in case bears decide that trash cans are not enough, and want to come inside. I never shoot any animals (just scare them away), but if it "me or them", well........
Sorry about this long post.
