Have you seen the new Filter Queen website?

[luxmanmatt]

I absolutely love the new site! filterqueen.com. I purchased the new Majestic last year, and told the dealer I bought from that their website (at the time) did not do the product justice. This is such a nice shrine to a beautiful product!

http://www.filterqueen.com

 

[eurekaprince]

I'm amazed they still have not added a cord reel to their vac. Am I correct?

 

[luxmanmatt]

Correct, no cord reel on the current model. I thought I read somewhere on another thread that Health-Mor is looking into it on a future model. I guess it's in R&D.

 

[kenkart]

R and D!!!LOL

They had the best on the market for years. all they need to do is go back to the old attacments. 2 speed motor and the original cordwinder.One of the finest vacuums ever built!

 

[tolivac]

Cannot see the new FQ line of vacuums-the product page on their website doesn't work.I hope the quality of these improves under the Dan Duggan ownership---get rid of the plastic bodies,PLEASE.And go back to the famous Ametec motor they used to use.Bring back the metal tools,paddle switch,and separate Hi-Lo switch.The rocker switch on todays machines just doesn't hold up.My newer FQ vacuum sits in the corner-so many machines I like better.Oh yes,PLEASE put a longer cord on the FQ machine.The cords are just too short.

 

[blackheart]

It's a nice looking machine.

But I tried one out of the trade in pile and the Single stage motor has a very annoying sound to it. That's why i'll probably never own a model newer than the 75th anniversary.

 

[kenkart]

Their vacuums

Were superior products for many years. but not so much now. like everything else too many corners cut!

 

[pr-21]

I have a Majestic 360 and the current black model. When I got my 360, I called Health Mor and asked if I could buy the old style power nozzle, hose and button lock attachments. They said there was no problem doing that and they sold me the attachments and old style power nozzle directly. They also noted my serial number so that I could get service if needed, except they would not warranty the canister, since I bought the 360 off of Ebay NIB. They were very helpful. I also can buy supplies from them if needed.

My first Filterqueen I bought from a local dealer at the time. It was the red Majestic Triple Crown. I didn't keep it very long as I didn't think it groomed my carpet very well. Little did I know that I could adjust the brush roll further down to groom my carpet. Live and learn.

Anyway, I really like my Filterqueens. There is a video on Youtube explaining that Filterqueen sold the company to new owners. These people worked for Filterqueen and liked it so much they went together and bought the company.

Sincerely,

Bud Mattingly
PR-21

 

[kenkart]

I wonder

If the Empress is still available. it still had all the old attachments. I know it was sold by the Henry company. but now that Mike Rogers is retired I don't know.

 

[vacman117]

I believe

That the Empress is still being sold, however, I think that they switched over to the new style hose and power nozzle. I've seen a few on the local Craigslist and at the store with them.

Chase

 

[durango159]

This is the Paisley unit still!!

Funny I was just on Filter Queen website a few weeks ago and nothing had changed. This was a pleasant surprise. I like the new web interface much better. It is more informative with more and better photos of the products and greater info of the company in general. I hope that this is a sign for more improvements to come!!

As far as the product.....

This same model Filter Queen Paisley design came out in 2011!!! It has been a long market runner for Filter Queen! I used to sell these!! In 2013, my Filter Queen distributor boss thought that at the annual meeting the company would be announcing a new product even if it was a color change. That was three years ago and still nothing!!!!

They have changed packaging of how the unit ships and is boxed. With that model numbers changed from M11NA to M11NA-NA during the time I worked there. The Defender is D11NA-NA!!

It is a single stage motor. The brush roll is wooden with very soft bristles.

The front metal plate on the power nozzle adds essentially no weight at all to the nozzle. If you remove that metal plate on the power nozzle base, it could slice through cheese!!! It has extremely sharp edges!!!

I have continued to check into the site on occasion curious of a product change. I have viewed the youtube video of Dan Duggans announcement of new ownership of the company back in January 2016. My guess is that a new product is in development but with the company ownership changeover, other things took priority!

Overall this is a good unit. It is actually built well!! The parts are very durable!! The wheels are similar material to what bowling balls are made of, and bowling balls don't mark floors! The wheel base can be completely folded in half and then rebound itself back into shape again!!! The dirt bin can be compressed in by pushing sides towards each other and then the unit will spring back to life without any cracks, marks or anything!!! I've done it on every demo I ever did!!!

The weakness I had with the Queen was that despite the cyclonic advertising, the cone still gets caked with fine dust and grit that does kill the airflow to the machine!! The power nozzle could be much stronger!!! I disassembled the power nozzle once for curiosity and was surprised at the "cheapness" of it, motors on those power heads are loud too and inconsistent in sound at the time I sold them!!! There were some I didn't mind and others I couldn't wait to sell because I found them obnoxious.

I hope that Filter Queen comes out with another unit soon!! They could do better with a different handle, bristles in the actual upholstery tool itself and not on the sliding block which loses too much airflow!! The power nozzle needs a headlight, quieter and more powerful motor, serpentine belt, better edge cleaning and either a height adjuster or more weight for more lean into the carpet!! Their tool change over system could be a little easier as the pulling to separate wands is a little difficult for some. The suction unit has good airflow and suction. It could be quieter and they need to work on the cyclonic technology so that it actually is cyclonic and dust doesn't kill the airflow!!

 

[ctvacman]

I had the 80th anniversary edition and didn't like the PN for the exact reasons you stated. I was always curious if mine had the single stage motor? It kinda sounded annoying like a singe stage but not too bad if that makes sense

 

[pr-21]

I have the 360 and M11 Black. I ordered the older style tools and power nozzle directly from Filterqueen. I just tried the newer power nozzle and it does not clean near as well as the older style, except for better edge cleaning on one side and you can fix that with a crevice tool. The geared belt is even slipping. Poorly built in my opinion compared to the older style with the flat belt. Also the older is heavier and grooms the carpet better, especially if you adjust the brush to extend further from the power nozzle bottom plate.


PR-21
Bud

 

[blackheart]

I could be wrong

But I think they made the change from a dual to a single either during or after the 75th anniversary edition.

 

[ctvacman]

Ok I figured that the machines with the new PN style were all the same suction. Motor.

 

[floor-a-matic]

I'll stick to my old K31X with K88 PN

 

[durango159]

The newer style power nozzle with no headlight hit the market in 2003. At that time it was gray in color and there was a muffler filter over the motor which had it quieter too.

At some point they removed the muffler filter and now those power nozzles are loud with a semi-obnoxious tone in my book!! The older power nozzles had short belt life but they cleaned and groomed better and were a heavier more substantial feeling power head. The new style is so lightweight it feels like its bobbing along the surface and not doing too much deep down!!

The current motor is a single stage. My guess is that change also took place in 2003 with the power nozzle switch but I'm not certain of that!


I hope they come out with a new power nozzle soon with headlight, heavier design, manual carpet height adjustment, airflow vents in nozzle for edge cleaning and a serpentine belt. That's my list for now for that!

 

[ctvacman]

I do wish I hadn't sold mine. I called the factory to ask about buying directly from them since we have no dealer close by, the price I got quoted was ridiculous. $2,600. Given I know what the rainbow, Kirby and guardian platinum go for when dealers buy them I thought this was quite the markup, I mean it can't be that much more than those other D2D machines. I guess that Dan Duggan guy is really trying to make his money back. Ebay it is

 

[durango159]

CTVacman

Different markets have different prices.

The distributor I worked for the Majestic was $2400, that was in 2012/ 2013. But I know other distibutors that were $2800. That was all with a demo. Now dealers would bargain with trade ins for current vacuum, etc. Did HealthMor over the phone try to negotiate with you??? You may be able to find a distributor that would negotiate.

I've seen deals of $65/month gets you a Defender and a Majestic at a deal of $2500!

 

[tolivac]

Feel the $2000 and plus prices are just too high for a home DTD vacuum.Now if it was a commercial machine-then maybe.The FQ,TriStar,Kirby, Greenville places have long gone.Only 'Lux and Rainbow surivive.Just don't think the market can support those high dollar machines much longer-we ARE still in a recession.To many folks those high dollar vacuums are a luxary than a need.Same with Kirby-I am talking about the non-vacuum type guy who is just trying to get by-paying the rent/house payment,car payment,utilites and so on.So,that is the customer that will buy his vacuum from WalMart,Target,whatever.

 

[dysonman1]

1978 Anniversary Model Filter Queen

I cut grass all summer in 1978 to buy the $600 50th Anniversary Edition Filter Queen. It had a special tag on top, noting the anniversary. The Dirt Container was METAL. The dolly base was METAL. The motor support and motor cover were METAL. The cone guard was METAL. The upholstery nozzle was METAL. There was a Cotton Filter Bat over the exhaust holes - it's VERY quiet. It has a high efficiency 2 fan, double ball bearing Lamb motor. The power nozzle concentrates the suction beautifully, and the height adjustment means a high pile carpet is easily cleaned. Basically, one of the BEST canister vacuums ever made - in the league with Rainbow D2 or Electrolux Super J or Air-Way Mark V Sanitizor. I'm the only person who has ever used it, or owned it.

 

[fairfax88]

Isn't that,

the SAME model that Ruth Hollander was selling too VCCC member's back in 2009??? I bought one from her NIB for $200.00!

 

[luxmanmatt]

Thanks for posting the 50th FQ Jubilee

Tom, that is one of the most beautiful Filthy Queen's of that age that I have ever seen! One thing (other than the lack of metal) that I miss on the new black M11 models are having the FQ emblem on the attachments.

 

[ctvacman]

@ Rob shore

I tried negotiating with health mor and he basically you said you don't like the price buh bye...honestly eBay is my best bet, that's where I got my 80th anniversary one from that was brand new.

These D2D Dealers cater to the demographic that typically falls for all the gimmicky stuff at the state fairs and home shows, they are looking for something to make their life easier and better. Hence why most of these machines are financed the clientel are generally less affluent and don't mind that low monthly payment for something that will change their lives like the demo said. Obviously there are exceptions but the vast majority of these people fall into that category.

 

[dysonman1]

I do not believe the ones that Ruth Hollander was selling where the 50th anniversary models. I think they came a year or two after. I knew Ruth at the time, and did her repair work on Saturdays. She did not have any new filter Queen's at that time. I bought mine from a door to door salesman.

 

[kenkart]

Ruth

Switched around selling different machines. First Compact. then FilterQueen. then Gem. then Saniway. back to Compact then back to Filter Queen.

 

[human]

I picked up a model 95X Majestic at a thrift shop a few months ago for the princely sum of $5 and then spent another 40 or so on replacement parts and consumables. According to the chart in reply #10, mine came very late in that model's run with a manufacture date of 9/92 on the canister and 3/93 on the power nozzle. After thoroughly cleaning and refurbishing it, I have to say I'm a little disappointed in its performance. My Electrolux canisters will clean circles around it and while the build quality is pretty good on the canister itself, the power nozzle is nothing to write home about. It's been relegated to the barn. Not sure what I'll do with it long term. Guess I'm just a Lux/Kirby guy.

 

[electromatik]

Great machine and nice site but a little humorous. I firmly believe these vacuum manufacturers caused and continue to propel the age-old American fear of dirt. They basically tell you your home is a petri dish and you need their product because of it. They have helped create the delusion that we must close off our homes to keep the nasties out. The truth is, indoor air quality is worse than outdoors. I believe vacuums and cleaning are necessary for better health but we simply cannot fully escape the tiny little nasties of the world. You need to open those doors and windows and let some fresh air in even though it'll include some nasties. It just strikes me as funny.

 

[luxmanmatt]

Almost 1 year away from FQ's 90th anniversary!

It had been a few months since I last checked the site. So I wonder if they are just going to wait until late next year or early 2018 to release a new model to coincide with the 90th anniversary?