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Lots of good vac...

I think there are a lot of good ones. Someone else's top choice may not be your's.

I like the Sanitaire redline commercial or blueline uprights alot. I have two metal topped blues and a grey topped red. They clean very well but are loud and have a brutish kinda vibe to them. Coarse and tough, not an elegant machine, but proven and gets the job done very, very well.

On the other end of the spectrum is the Sebo Felix. I love mine. It's quiet, light, very nimble and maneuverable, a real joy to use. I haven't used it a ton, but others report that it cleans and grooms very well. I like how you can switch out the powerhead and attach a parquet head for dedicated hard floor cleaning. Interesting, because it's so much quieter than the direct air Sanitaires, you'd think it couldn't clean as well. I can't tell you because of my limited experience with it, but folks think it's one of the best vacuums. Again, it handles like a dream.

I have a bunch of Tacony vacs. A couple of Riccar 8000 series, a couple of Simplicity 7000 series, a Carpet Pro, and a Dustcare 6500C commercial vac which I don't think is Tacony but seems to be nearly identical inside (this vac was also once marketed as the Bernina 6500). Some folks don't like the Riccars or this style of vac. Well, I've only used the Dustcare with any regularity. I love it. As part of my job I clean up houses and apartments after tenants have moved out and this vacuum is fantastic. Some of the houses are trashed, and this vacuum does a fantastic job with the carpets. If you get the hose kit, you can plug it into the back and use the tools. Cleans great, not too loud. A real durable workhorse. One of my favorites. The Carpet Pro an affordable commercial/heavy duty vac with similar performance. The quality of the wheels and input hose, etc, make it feel more like a budget model compared to the others. Still, it's got the same components where it counts. Depending on what kind of environment you're in,you may want to look towards the commercial vacs with longer cords. I have a Carpet Pro CPU-1, which is the same vac but with a shorter 2 prong cord.Worth checking out this style of vac.

Windsor Versamatic. Love this vac, too. Quiet and performance feels absolutely solid. It has a feel of durable quality. Very solid feeling, both in build and performance. My only quibble with it is it's heavy. Annoying if you've got to go up and down stairs with it.

Dyson DC23 turbine head canister. Love this vac, too. Some say it can't deep clean very well because of the turbine head. I don't know if that's the case or not, but it cleans very, very well in my GF's house. I just used it last night and I swear it has this interesting effect of making the air seem very clean and breathable after vacuuming. I'm not just saying that because I'm a Dyson fanatic (I'm not - have an objective love of this vac, but would be willing to dislike it if warranted). It's an effect both my GF and I notice. She mentioned it after I was done, and I've noticed it after she vacuums. Don't know what's going on, there, but the effect is real. I don't know if you notice this with your upright or not. People are way into or way critical of the Dysons. In my experience with the DC23, a very good vac.

One that I don't really recommend if you're only going to have one vac: vintage Electrolux Epic or Prolux upright. I think it's a good vac for light cleaning, but doesn't vibrate enough or have enough suction for deep cleaning. Probably pretty good on short knap commercial carpet, but I'm not sure on higher knapped carpet. I like the versatility and use it for surface cleaning after I've deep cleaned with another vac. I like the way you can switch off the head motor and use it like an electric broom on hard floors. Apparently the current Aerus Guardian models have much more powerful motors and perform much better than these older models.

Hope you find one that's right for you!
 
I did mention the Simplictys, but I'll go more in depth now. Riccar and Simplicity are both owned by a company called Tacony and built in St. James Missouri. They are sold only in authorized dealers. Most Riccars/Simplicitys feature metal handles, brush rolls and bottom plates, although the low-end models have more plastic parts. The prices varies by the dealer. A small Riccar dealer near my house sells Riccar's Supralite for $279, but a larger dealer might have a more low-end model. Of course the price in negotiable; you could ask to thrown in some free bags or something like that.

If you don't want to buy from a dealer, Tacony also makes vacuums under than name Fuller Brush and Carpet Pro, which are very similar to the Riccars and Simplictys but are foreign made. All of the Fuller Brush models sell for UNDER $300.

Tacony vacuums are for people with homes with mostly carpeting and don't use the vacuum hose too much. I don't like using my Riccar for dusting, and they are a bit loud, but definitely no louder than your Dyson. They are fantastic at deep cleaning carpets and many parts are easily replaceable. The motors in them normally last around 15 years. Tacony makes no bagless vacuums.

I would find a dealer and try one Tacony's vacuums. You will either love or hate it, but you must try one to find out!
 
Authorized Dealer

It seems there is a Simplicity Dealer very nearby my work. I may have to go over there on a lunch break this week for a test drive. They could be the winner.

Malcolm
 
a suggestion..how about ?

An older Filter Queen ( brown) with a good motor in it.


Put the FQ in a closet( or under the stairs that is central for vacuuming.

Hook up a 30ft non-electric OR electric central vacuum hose.

You can then choose your tools wand and power nozzel that suit your cleaning needs.


There you have it, a space saving, powerful central vac needing no piping in the walls.


You empty the canister once per month, it is quiet, fun to use, and you will be dusting less often!


I have this exact set up in my apt. There is alot of air flow at the end of the 30ft hose too. It works well too.
 
Uprights:

Hoover Tempo (Original WindTunnel)
Eureka The Boss Smart Vac 4870
Aerus Prolux
Kirby
Riccar

Canisters:

Aerus/Lux Classic
TriStar (pre-EXL)
Filter Queen
Dyson dc23
Rebuilt Electrolux (steel tank)

Or a central built-in is even better?
 
If you check out the Simplicity...

...also look to see if there's a Riccar dealer anywhere nearby. I know that Tacony only supports either a Simplicity or Riccar dealer in a given area, but not both, so you may only have one or the other around.

Both brands have many equivalent models are essentially the same. Don't know if Simplicity has a dual motor model like the Riccar Brilliance or not. But from the Riccar 8000 series and Simplicity 7000 series vacs I have, both lines seem more or less equivalent. There are some things you may like in one brand more than the other, like styling and handles, etc. For example, I like the look and feel of the Riccars more, but the foam slip-on handgrips on Riccars is really cheesy, and I like the molded plastic loop handles on the Simplicities better. But overall I like the styling of the Riccar more.

If you do like this style of vacuum and don't want to or can't spend the dough for a new Riccar or Simplicity, the Carpet Pro offers pretty much the same performance at a really value-minded price. They retail for something like $220, but I've seen them going for like $170-$180 shipped new from some ebay sellers. Again, the feel of some of the components, like the cheapish molded plastic wheels and the all plastic inlet hose on the back feel very budget compared to Riccars and Simplicities, but the insides, metal brush rolls, metal base plates, and performance are the same, making it an extremely good value.

I actually made a mistake getting the CPU-1 instead of the CPU-2 (commercial model) because the cord is too short for some of my needs. I would have gotten the CPU-2T next time, as well, as the "T" models have attached tools on the back. You may also want to think about which fits your needs best if you consider a Carpet Pro.

Let us know if the Simplicity/Riccar floats your boat.
 
Sanitaire or Kirby G series or Royal Metal Upright

Is what I would recommend for pure, raw cleaning power in a modern upright.
 
I never found a Carpet Pro website either...

Maybe Tacony just sells these through online retailers? Through word of mouth? Sure seems that way. Odd that there seems to be no website.

Anyone know if a Carpet Pro website exists?
 
Right Now...

I am down to the Simplicity and a Miele. While I would prefer to buy American, I can't seem to rule out the Miele machines quite yet.

I'll need to take both for a test drive before I can make a final decision. Of course I will report back my thoughts after all is said and done.

Malcolm
 
A good tip when considering Mieles, look at the cost of the bags, and the size of the bags too, cos they're pretty small and pretty expensive, and small bags fill quickly and need replacing often, which gets expensive, even when using generics, an upright like a Sanitaire has huge bags which last a long time with frequent use, and cannisters like Sebo C or K series models have pretty decent size bags too, and of course bigger bags means better filtration, and better filtration is better efficiency... :)

Cost on the day of purchase is not really the best thing to be considering, you need to look at the cost of operating a vac over a period of time, say a year, I've used a set of 5 bags in my miele in less than a year, but I haven't gotten through a pack of Tristar bags since I first got my CXL, and that's with double-bagging too (only got single-ply bags), and I use both about the same (though doing different tasks), so, yeah, think about your potential purchase wisely, and if you want to buy an American cannister, buy a Tristar CXL, even if it's used, it's still a damned fine vac, and an Upright (even if most are made in Mexico these days) would be a Sanitaire S677, both excellent quality vacs, readily available, off-the-shelf consumables and parts, and can't be beaten, unless it's with a Sebo, but they're a tad pricey... :)
 
Not to be a downer Malcom, but most of the people responding do not work in the vacuum field, they are collectors who enjoy certain types.

Nobody has bothered to ask you what surface you are vacuuming. When you go to your local Riccar or Simplicity dealer, they are trained and experienced to help you buy something that matches your home, budget, and cleaning needs.

I want to correct a few things you have been told about Riccar. The Supralite comes in 4 different models. RSL1, RSL3, RSL4, and RSL5. You can view Riccar's website and find out the various costs and visit your local dealers for the best product.

The Carpet Pro's and Fuller Brush vacuums are nothing like the Riccar or Simplicity vacuums. They are built to handle a more mass-produced lower end market.

Tacony vacuums are made for people with carpet, bare floors, tile, laminate, or any surface. There are Vibrance uprights that handle carpet only, and some with a switch to turn off the brush roll. Some supralites have lower speeds that you can switch to for bare floors. The Tandem Air Models (Brilliance, Radiance) have brush roll shut offs for bare floors. The extensive canister line also is obviously for homes with both surfaces.

The supralites have no attachments. The Vibrance and Tandem Air series' have wonderful on-board tools with telescoping wands and great on board attachments. You can also purchase an attachment set with a 15' hose separately.

97% of our customers who buy Riccar fall in love with the product and enjoy it. If you are skeptical, try a 30 day trial dealer. That gives you 30 days to try out the machine and return it, no questions asked, if you are dissatisfied in any way.
 
Nobody has bothered to ask you what surface you are vacuumi

I totally agree with that.  When people find out about my hobby and collections, I get asked all the time if vacuums are "good", or "what's the best...", or "I have a ___, is it a good vacuum?.."


 


My first reply is usually "What are you cleaning or what are you going to be cleaning with it...?"  I learned long ago that there is no vacuum which is "perfect"...  Everyone has different needs to be met by a vacuum cleaner, and only through knowing those needs (carpet, bare floor, above the floor cleaning, bag/bagless, etc...) -- along with a user's preferences (upright/canister), can one narrow it down to a close match. 


 


I do absolutely love my Miele canister.  Without a doubt, out of all of the machines in this house -- it's one of the cleaners I use most frequently.  It's just so easy, so well made, and so quiet.  Robert loves it too, (not that he gets a chance to do much vacuuming).   
smiley-cool.gif



 
 
Fred, you are the difference between an obsessive enthusiast and a true collector!

You used to work for Hoover, though, didn't you?
 
Floor Type

Primarily, the vacuum cleaner will be used to clean a cut pile carpet which spans most of the house. Other than that, I would like to have a long enough hose/pipe to reach the cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling when needed. A bare floor attachment would be helpful as well.

Is there any reason to chose a Riccar over a Simplicity or the other way around? They seem to have almost identical units.

Malcolm
 
Riccar and Simplicity are the same thing- same great dealers standing behind the same great products. Not sure what your price range is, but I would try a Vibrance Premium upright by Riccar with 15' attachment set or a Pristine or Immaculate canister.

Georgia Vacuum and Sewing (770-963-1910) over in Lawrenceville is a great place to look. They are a full line retailer and will have all of the Riccars on display.

If you want to try one and have a 30 day free trial, check with Vacuums Etc. (770-479-4001) in Canton and you can do a 30 day free trial. It may be worth the 30 mile drive just to do the free trial, or you may be able to get GA Vac and sew to do it for you.

I just noticed you lived in Buford- my family almost purchased Tapp Funeral Home over on Morningside Dr. years ago!
 
I was a Simplicity Dealer

and the machine are just designed a little different although I like Riccar for some models and Simplicity for others. It`s really just away to have both brands in the same town with out causing any same brand competition between dealers . You can tell the machines are very similar upon visiting both Simplicity and Riccar dealers . I prefer Riccar/Simplicity over the newer Miele`s I think they offer more features for the money and I prefer the older Mieles to today`s . I gave my Sister a Blue Moon and a Capricorn The blue moon is used Daily downstairs and her Capricorn is used upstairs twice a week and the Capricorn is not holding up at all . My sister is very gentle with her vacuums and cleans them before she puts them away I tought her well . I was also a Miele dealer too , love German products drive German cars but when it comes to Vacuums I prefer Simplicity/Riccar all American made vacuums !
 
I'm another Miele guy. We've had ours about 7 years and it's great. It is so quiet you can actually hear the dust & dirt coming up the tube.

I went with a neighbor about a year ago to look at vacuums. We went to a Simplicity dealer. The guy seemed nice. He also had several old beat up Mieles for sale. During the sales process he kept telling the potential customers "You want to buy a vac that won't end up looking like THOSE (Mieles) in a year or so, don't you?". I thought that was unfair. So the neighbor bought the Simplicity for about $750.00 just because "The salesman was nice."

We got the vac home to her house and put it together and started it up. I found it to me not nearly as powerful as our Miele is. She like it though, and I guess that's all that counts.

A couple of months later this woman called me and said that the vac is not working anymore and that she wants to return it. I told her the dealer is not likely to take it back after a couple of months. So we went over to her house.
The first thing that struck me when I saw the vac was the red light that says "BAG" was on. I opened it up and the bag was overflowing with dirt!

I told her that the vac dealer is not going to take a vac back that only needs a bag change. She said she didn't realize that changing the bag would need to be done so often!

I sometimes wonder how many of these kinds of customers you see?
 
Simplicity

I plan to check out the Simplicity dealer tomorrow. If I am still not 100% sold, I will drive out to Woodstock for a look at the Riccar next weekend. Fortunately, my Dyson is still holding on. So I am not under the gun to purchase in a hurry. Which is they way I prefer to handle shopping.

Malcolm
 
Done Deal

Well, I just got home from All Wholesale Vacuum in Gainesville. I purchase the Simplicity Synergy upright. Totally impressed with the build quality. Once I get through the Owner's Manual, I will unleash the beast on the house.

I think I made a fine choice.

Malcolm
 
WOW!

Nothing cleans like a new vacuum cleaner. This thing out performs the Dyson in carpet grooming alone. Just awesome! I'll be cleaning on a more regular basis for sure. I also like the horse hair dusting brush. So soft!

Thanks to all who offered their advice.
Happy Vacuumer Here!

Malcolm
 
Bags

That was a pleasant surprise, the bags are relatively inexpensive compared with other brands. Six bags for 14.50. I am infatuated with this machine. Tomorrow, I will try cleaning the a/c vents and dusting furniture with it. So far, I am greatly impressed.

Malcolm
 
Great!

Glad you like your new vac! Nothing like having a machine that just performs brilliantly.
 
You made a great choice Malcom! Us Riccar/Simplicity dealers will always be there to take care of you! Welcome to the Tacony family!
 

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