Got Fantom?

[mattworld808]

So, I few days ago I suddenly got interested again in Iona Fantom vacuums. Plus I also want to talk to people about Fantoms because I personally think they are fascinating, I also want to share a story about how I fell in love with Fantom.

It as about 5 or 6 years ago back when I was a wee lad, we took a trip down to the St. Louis Vacuum Museum (back when it was still open). So we go inside and we do the usual tour With the man, myth, and legend Tom Gasko, He showed us around the place doing the usual tour, This was my third time there and he full well knew this so to make it more interesting he showed me his personnel collection of vacs.

The part that makes this particular visit so special to me is that he just rolled a Fantom thunder back down from the factory and just said "Here, you can have this" which just blew my mind at the time because I never even heard of this vacuum. He than goes on to tell me how the machine works and how this was the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">FIRST</span> duel cyclonic vacuum to ever be sold in <span style="text-decoration: underline;">AMERICA</span>. That just blew my small mind at the time even though that I think the Vectron holds that title maybe.

I still can't get over the fact that Tom Gasko gave me a Fantom Thunder for FREE! It was a little dusty but nothing a few baby wipe from my grandma can't fix! I then proceeded to vacuum the entirety of my grandma's huge totally 90's lake house for like 3 hours, I'm talkin' the drapes, the couches, the cracks and crevasses, and the dirt spots around there many potted plants of many sizes (That I all named). I don't know why Tom gave me this vacuum, Maybe he didn't want it or he was being nice but I like to think he saw me as the Vacuum equivalent of Neo, who will bring peace between The shark fans and everyone else.

This story has gotten way to long so if you made it this far, Thank you for reading and please post your own Fantom stories (Pun definitely intended) or pictures of your neat Fantoms

P.S. Sorry about the lack of pictures, I will post some as soon as I get it out of storage.

 

[hoover300]

Great story!

I have a Fantom Fury in the yellow Walmart color scheme, made one month before they went bankrupt and stopped making them. It is a pain to use and clean, but cool for the collector aspect. Totally worth the $10 at Restore. I don't have it on hand at the moment, I should be able to get pics later Sunday.

 

[dysonman1]

I remember you

I had an extra Fantom Thunder. When I find a vintage cleaner that's a duplicate of what I already have, I keep the duplicate to pass on to other vacuum enthusiasts. People who have met me know I like to share. I omitted the Vectron when talking about Dyson designs sold in North America because they were sold commercially - the public wouldn't really ever find out about the Vectron.

The Vacuum Museum still exists, but at a different location about 8 miles from where it used to be. The Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Convention will take place this year in September at the Museum. People are coming from all over the country.

In 1991, James Dyson and Alan Millman (President of IONA) were at the Vacuum Dealer's Trade Association trade show in St. Louis. It was the summer show (they did 2 a year back then). They were demonstrating what was the first Fantom Thunder (not called a "thunder" yet). There were all kinds of cool features like changeable bristle strips, metal soleplate, 11 amp motor, and no Hepa filter. They were demonstrating the unending suction by sucking up tons of cat litter, and then using an air flow meter to show the same airflow full or empty.

They were trying to sign up dealers. I asked to buy the demo machine after the three days of the trade show were over. I took it apart and wow was the motor fans packed in cat litter dust. At least it was clean cat litter.

 

[huskyvacs]

Its funny how hit and miss these vacuums are with their build quality. nicclonic has had nothing but trouble with his and its always breaking, meanwhile you did your entire house with this one and it's top notch.

I've got one on my list to try, but have not found one yet.

 

[dysonman1]

The Fantom Lightning was a copy of the Dyson DC02. The Dyson was far more powerful.

 

[dysonman1]

This is my new Fantom Thunder. It's from the very last run in 2000.