Historic central vacuum system

[mays]

I work in a historic mansion from 1922. We know there was a central vacuum system in the original home, although don't have any record of the manufacturer. Recently we discovered a key'd push button mechanism and are wondering if this could have been the original switch to turn on and off the central vacuum. We believe there were key'd push buttons above each inlet, but I'm wondering if anyone has any insight or knows if this is correct.

I have attached a photograph, but it seems, from the internal workings, that a key was used to push the button (it was not turned). I've also included a photo of one of the vacuum inlets in case that helps.

Any thoughts?

 

[blknblu]

There is a member on the board that is knowledgeable about the historic central vac systems.
Hopefully he will see this thread and comment.

 

[caligula]

Central Vacuum cleaner system.

Hi Mays:

By 1922 built-in systems were common for stately old homes, mansions, office buildings and so on. The man who started the idea was John S. Thurman of St Louis, Mo. and obtained a patent for his 'Pneumatic suction machine' in October, 1899. Yes, some claim that this was a blower system, not true, it was a 'vacuum' cleaning machine. John Thurman sold and installed several models over the next decade, and of course others had to build a better 'mousetrap' so there were all sorts of companies manufacturing them by 1922. However, the name that stands out in my mind is 'The Federal Electric company' in Chicago. I'll do some digging to see what others were out there. 'Western Electric,''Arco-Wand,' 'Spencer,'and 'The American vacuum cleaner company' all ring bells in my mind.

Feel free to contact me privately at [email protected], I'm the founder of the Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club, and have been researching non electric, and early electric vacuum cleaners since 1974.

Alex Taber.

 

[josh]

While I've never seen an older central vac, I can tell you that those look an awful lot like buttons for a dumb waiter. Was there one in the mansion at some point?

Man, I'd love to see the mansion. I enjoy vintage architecture and old mechanical systems. Please snap some photos of any other cool old mechanical systems you come across!

 

[caligula]

Central Vacuum cleaner system.

Hi my friend as I told you privately there are two threads dealing with this subject. Simply go to the end of Vintage archives 12/28/2008, and 1/4/2009. They are threads 5115, and and 5157 respectfully. Both are very long threads, certainly not read in one sitting, but none the less well worth reading. Especially for anybody not familiar with cleanung systems of the late 1800's through the 1920's.

Good luck in the search, I'm sure you will find people here to zero in on exactly what you want.

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

Hi Josh:

have a look at these threads, those machines were wonderful. And from the ones I've used, no buttons, simply plug the hose in the wall and start to vacuum. But these machines were huge beasts, fortunately they were in boiler rooms, basements and so on, far away from the office workers or general household. And I believe there was one, or perhaps two on the Titanic, but this was never proven.

Have a look at history at the start of the last century, it's quite a read.

 

[luxflairguy]

The inlet and switch are from a vintage 20's central vacuum. Back then, most likely an Arcowand system. While there would be 2 or more inlets per floor, most often there would be an on/off switch per floor. Or in most cases, one for the entire house! More often than not, the system would be switched on and while running, the hose would be moved from inlet to inlet. Neither the CFM or waterlift were so high as to create enough force that the new inlet couldn't be opened like today's. Or one would run ahead and open the new inlet with someone else bringing the hose along behind. Never the less! the old systems did work!
Our member Owen Perkins in the Chicago area collects vintage systems and knows more than I, but I've been lucky here in the Seattle area to see a few in action and spent 34 years working in a 1918 home which by 1979 still had it's Arcowand system in place, but unusable. We replaced the entire system in 1983 with a VacuMaid system. 20 inlets in 15,000 sq. feet.
Owen! Comments, please!

 

[josh]

Alex - those threads were excellent reading! Thanks for pointing us toward those.

I never realized that some early vacuum systems were positive displacement rather than centrifugal fans. Very interesting. I actually operate bigger versions of the positive displacement vacuum pumps at work sometimes. Ours are newer though (1930s) and used for an industrial process rather than floor care.

I'd love to see some of these older central vacuum systems. Very cool stuff!

 

[caligula]

Hi Josh:

I've been interested in non electric vacuum cleaners since the early 1970's. I've done extensive research on these, but it's hard to collect built-in systems.

Back in the 1980's when Robert Ballard found the Titanic I wrote to him, I'm certain there was a built-in system like the Arco-Wand as part of the construction, sad to say Robert Ballard never responded. Perhaps he thought it was a phony letter, or just thought 'who's this nut who collects vacuum cleaners?' (heard that comment all my life.)

I love these old machines, and was glad to help mays, good to know I helped you too.

Alex Taber.

 

[caligula]

One of my favorites was not a central vac.

It was a portable system called the Federal Electric. This little gem sold for the outragous price of $140.00 in 1910. I shudder to think what that is in today's money. Somewhere I have more pictures and in better condition I'll try to find them.

 

[caligula]

Portable? I think not!

This beast was made in Chicago, and sold very well, I'll look for the other pages.

 

[s31463221]

Alex

That $140 in 1910 is the same as $3,403.25 in today's money.....NOT a cheap machine by any stretch of the imagination to say the least! You know, you brought up an interesting topic I had never given much thought to, but yes, I imagine the Titanic did have a massive central vacuum system....it's a shame Robert Ballard never responded back as that would have been fascinating info to have found! I've always been a BIG Titanic buff myself and have really tried to study it as much as possible without actually visiting it! Thank you, now I have a new Avenue to look down!

 

[caligula]

Thank you my friend.

The V.C.C.C. was only a few years old, perhaps Robert Ballard thought I was a kook, and it was a crank letter.

I'll look for the info on the Federal Electric, the pictures are a laugh riot. In one it tells that the machine can be used as a coffee table or sette when not in use. Imagine that in your living room! or better yet try the rocking chair vacuum cleaner of the same time period. And yes it was manufactured and sold.

On another note, let's talk titanic, one of my favorite topics aside from vacuum cleaners.

 

[mays]

Hi all-
Just wanted to thank everyone for the information and feedback! Owen, who luxflairguy mentioned in his post, was able to come out and visit and provide lots of valuable information about the system. We are still not sure what brand the vacuum would have been, but Owen did say that our 1 1/4 inch inlets were too small for Spencer Turbine. Another interesting discovery, the original piping for the vacuum system was used to run updated electrical and phone wiring throughout the mansion, probably sometime in the 1950s. The wires are still inside, we just never thought to look!
Thanks again, all!

 

[caligula]

You are most welcome.

Hi mays:

That's what the V.C.C.C. and Vacuumland are here for, to answer questions, provide historic information and help our fellow collectors. If I can be of further help don't hesitate to ask me.

Alex Taber.

PS.
The Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club turns 34 on January second!

 

[human]

Technical information on Titanic's nearly identical sister ship, RMS Olympic, might be revealing regarding the presence of a vacuum system. Olympic, the only one of the three ships in its class not to meet an untimely end, stayed in service until sometime in the 1930s so there should be fairly extensive technical information and maintenance records available. The third ship, RMS Britannic, never saw service as an ocean liner. It was pressed into service as a hospital ship during WWI and subsequently sunk by a German U-boat.

 

[caligula]

RMS Olympic.

I've already thought of that, in fact this was one of several things I mentioned in my letter to Robert Ballard back in 1985 or 86.

I'm a Titanic buff, and have researched the doomed liner and her sister ships extensively. I've bought almost every Titanic book available, including 'TITANIC AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY' by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall. Nowhere is there any mention of housekeeping, kitchen or other related services, or supplies. Clearly this is the one area where we are all in the dark.

Rest assured, I want the answer to this burning question and will continue to research it.

 

[collector2]

LOL time to throw in my two cents worth. All the central vacuum installations I have encountered here from the teens and twenties were set up in the same way with a 3 way or 4 way switch on the wall above every outlet so that the machine could be turned on or off from any location. The keyed switch is a new one on me though.

Most of the outlets I have encountered appear to be a larger diameter than that one though and the caps are removable instead of being hinged.

 

[kirby519]

Titanic

I too am a Titanic buff as well. I have wondered what was used to clean the ship. I do believe at the time all the linens, bedding were laundered off ship.