Hans Craig came to visit bearing gifts.

[dysonman1]

29 years ago I met my very good friend Hans. In the days of the old VCCC, he came to a convention when I was president of the Club. We have been good friends ever since. Hans came for a visit this past weekend. Everybody came to see him. We had a barbecue, and he made his famous biscuits. He also came bearing gifts, like the Spencer Portable, all the genuine Spencer attachments, a “buy it now“ Kirby gift box for people who bought upon the initial demonstration. He also brought the very first Sears Kenmore PowerMate vacuum. And lots of other things.

Before he even unloaded the car, he wanted to run the Filter Queen.

 

[dysonman1]

Hans brought all kinds of literature on the Spencer turbine.

 

[dysonman1]

He gave me an extremely early and rare Spencer Portable. Basically, a smaller Spencer built-in on wheels.

 

[dysonman1]

The Spencer attachments are made out of sand cast aluminum. They are extremely heavy. You can throw the upholstery tool at someone and kill them. The dusting brush is as big around as a sandwich plate. The crevice tool is over 2 feet long.

 

[dysonman1]

Hans shows Adam the proper way to use it.

 

[dysonman1]

He brought a present for Adam, since he is the Kirby king. This was a gift box If the customer purchased the Kirby the same night it was presented. I have never seen this gift box, and neither has Adam. “Sanitation to the nation since 1919”.

 

[dysonman1]

And what kind of wonderful things did Hans bring me? In addition to the Spencer that I’ve never seen before? How about the very first Kenmore Power-Mate. 1958. It was the first time a two speed lamb motor was used. You will never see another one.

 

[dysonman1]

The PowerMate has a coiled cord that plugs into the side of the machine. The electric hose had not been invented yet.

 

[dysonman1]

Hans also brought me these two Hoovrah Aggravations. And their attachments.

 

[dysonman1]

He brought me this old Canadian Electrolux. The cord winder actually folds down instead of swings to the side.

 

[dysonman1]

Making the famous southern biscuits

 

[dysonman1]

My friend Robert gave me a nutone built in Kitchen Center. We are installing it this weekend.

 

[dysonman1]

Best of all, Hans brought me a 2 half gallon bottles of the worlds best barbecue sauce. North Carolina’s very own Red Bridges BBQ sauce. They have the very best pulled pork in the whole world, and their sauce is unique, thin, and vinegar based. It made the perfect glaze for the barbecue chicken for our mini meet.

 

[dysonman1]

Hans brought me something I’ve wanted for decades. A Ronson cook and stir blender. It has a two speed transmission. The low speed is used when stirring for making pudding and gravy. It will boil the water in the carafe while it is gently stirring. That way you can do other things while the gravy is coming to a boil. The transmission will also shift to use it as a regular blender. It is very heavy, very well-made, and I am extremely excited to add this very rare piece to my collection. Thanks again Hans.

 

[paul]

Wow - everything from rare vintage floor & surface care items to delicious-looking consumables, to the impressive In-Built to the remarkable Ronson; along with spending time with good friends - glad you had such an awesome time!

 

[electrolux137]

What a great haul! The Kirby gift box is, to me, the most prized item. I've never seen one of these before.

 

[dysonman1]

I’ve never seen that gift box before ever in my life. Who knew that Kirby had wall cleaner?

 

[lesinutah]

Wow

The kirby set is awesome. The Spencer vacuum attachments look like fittings for mechanical piping that are impressive it reminds me off what they use to refuel airplanes. The lady kenmores power nozzle is huge. The BBQ sauce you know it d good when it comes in gallon sizes. The cook and stir blender looks bada$$.
You got some sweet items. He sounds like an amazing guy. Thanks for sharing.
Les

 

[dysonman1]

Thanks Les:
I'm going to be making a few videos of the Spencer Portable running and being used with the Spencer attachments. Those sand-cast attachments cost almost $1500 in the 1980's. When hooked to my Modern Day "SilentMaster" at home, they really can do a very good job of cleaning carpet without a revolving brush.

Now that my very good friend Robert has moved to town and is going to be working at my store, we'll start the Spa Treatment of the "Lady Kenmore". It's the most interesting machine because you can use it 'on the cart' or 'off the cart' where it sits on three wheels. So far advanced for 1958.

 

[kirbylux77]

Well, Hans certainly set the model example for "how to be a good friend" with all those gifts! Geez, couldn't everyone use such a nice, generous man like Hans in their life?

Seriously though, that Lady Kenmore looks very nice! That will be a easy restoration, just dirt, discoloration and light rust spots that will be easily taken care of with a little light scrubbing and perhaps a repaint. One thing I am a little surprised at with it's design though is the coiled cord - one would think that they would have put a hose cord and cord straps on the hose like Electrolux eventually did in 1962 with the Model G. I do like the fact that you can take it off the cart and use it as a conventional canister, good design there.

I would hold onto that Canadian Electrolux loaf canister for a while - haven't seen that cord rewinder with the brass circle Electrolux nameplate in the middle before. That must be VERY RARE, or a early example that was discontinued early.

 

[dysonman1]

I got the two old Canadian Electrolux cleaners, the Z 57 and the Z 54 cleaned up a little. They sure are very interesting and quiet cleaners. I have the attachments for both of them. Hans is very generous with his friends.