aeoliandave
Well-known member
You are absolutely right, Chad
Sounds like we have the same Intrepid and Fearless Explorer Adventurer spirit.
On all my looooong winter trips (or a daytrip to familiar places or a new town), I check out the yellow Pages in the motelroom, get out the paper map and mark places down with adresses and phone numbers. On such a map you can easily visualize the mostr economical route.
3. Plan out in your mind where they usually keep the small electris and vacuums.
Natuirally we're not interested in the pots & pans and dresses (or maybe we are. LOL) and so a beeline is made to the appliance section. As Pete will tell you I also have to detour through the Toy Department...
In this case, I used a Garmin GPS in a strange new city and it shaved hours off the hunt. Went on a zigzxag path from south Toledo north to the Michigan border without wrestling with a paper map and the results speak for themselves. Perhaps why the Decade 800 didn't jump in the back seat was because it wasn't purty or unique enough in my knowledge base and I knew Pete would like the Convertible, if he didn't already have one. I could tell the bag was original. Under the grimy layer the plastic hood looked flawless to me. The Decade 800 was fairly bashed up & scratched under 'on yer knees' inspection.
Now, tho they are not remotely on my top 300 must have list I did grab up a whole bunch of those dang plastic Cyclonic bagless dirt throwers in the Spring but that was because I had a plan for them. Fix 'em up enough to give and/or loan out to actors and other temporary Theatre workers who couldn't give a rat's ass about value or collectability, just wanna vacuum the darn carpet...and I don't have to be concerned about a cherished item getting trashed out on loan. It's not fair to the loaner or the loanee to bear such responsibility. They all are told they can bring it back if it breaks down - I'll fix it or give 'em another one. Usually I find they sucked up a sock or something.
Something I'll add to Chad's suggestions is, as you go through your current collection of incomplete vacuum ensembles, keep a running list of parts to keep an eye out for...and take it with you wherever you go. Scanning down the list from time to time will keep the items fresh in your mind. Or in the car to run out and consult. Because that list is going to get many pages long...
Oh, the number of times I've gotten home only to smack my forehead because I forgot to remember I shoulda picked up this or that thing because dang it, this here vacuum needs a thing like the one I saw in that box. And it won't be in that distant box when you go back tomorrow. When in doubt, grab it. Do Not Hesitate. If you can't use it someone else can. Before ya know it you'll have the entire vacuum set assembled.
Don't be a purist; mixing and matching similar parts will do until you've accumulated the correct full set.
5. Always consider what you've found. You may find a machine that is one of your dream vacuum cleaners, but It may not be complete, or in the greatest shape. It's does NOT always pay to pass it up...
There's no mystery or magic to it. Mostly dumb luck. But make no mistake. Collecting is work. Fun work but work that must be done with a passionate fervor. We all wish we could be retired like Pete and could make the rounds every day if not twice. Work with whatcha got.
Yes, plan on coming home empty handed...but eat a hearty breakfast, carry water and travel light with cleaned out trunk, back seat and floor. be sweet and polite to shop owners and patrons; often they will give you leads you must follow up on.
Be prepared to be dissapointed at outrageous prices AND DO NOT PAY THEM or attempt to bargain with someone who 'does not speak your vacuum collector language - you're talking to a log.
If possible return at the end of the day with a fair offer. Never be ashamed of your offer..after all, you are the collector with the insider knowledge. If again unsuccessful learn to withdraw gracefully and tactfully.
8. Remember: There are ALWAYS more to be had. I learned that from a fellow collector, and it has time and time again born out to be quite true to the words. Be perservering, and patient, don't fall into the FleaBay trap, and just keep looking.
Yup. Ebay - know when to quit. Set a limit, write it down and stick to it. The item generates little interest and you get it or...there's always someone with more $$$ who has to actually pay for it. Consider yourself the winner who will return another day.
A happy roomful of cheaply or freely obtained vacuums entitles you to a mad splurge once in a while for that musthave treasure.
Dave
Sounds like we have the same Intrepid and Fearless Explorer Adventurer spirit.
On all my looooong winter trips (or a daytrip to familiar places or a new town), I check out the yellow Pages in the motelroom, get out the paper map and mark places down with adresses and phone numbers. On such a map you can easily visualize the mostr economical route.
3. Plan out in your mind where they usually keep the small electris and vacuums.
Natuirally we're not interested in the pots & pans and dresses (or maybe we are. LOL) and so a beeline is made to the appliance section. As Pete will tell you I also have to detour through the Toy Department...
In this case, I used a Garmin GPS in a strange new city and it shaved hours off the hunt. Went on a zigzxag path from south Toledo north to the Michigan border without wrestling with a paper map and the results speak for themselves. Perhaps why the Decade 800 didn't jump in the back seat was because it wasn't purty or unique enough in my knowledge base and I knew Pete would like the Convertible, if he didn't already have one. I could tell the bag was original. Under the grimy layer the plastic hood looked flawless to me. The Decade 800 was fairly bashed up & scratched under 'on yer knees' inspection.
Now, tho they are not remotely on my top 300 must have list I did grab up a whole bunch of those dang plastic Cyclonic bagless dirt throwers in the Spring but that was because I had a plan for them. Fix 'em up enough to give and/or loan out to actors and other temporary Theatre workers who couldn't give a rat's ass about value or collectability, just wanna vacuum the darn carpet...and I don't have to be concerned about a cherished item getting trashed out on loan. It's not fair to the loaner or the loanee to bear such responsibility. They all are told they can bring it back if it breaks down - I'll fix it or give 'em another one. Usually I find they sucked up a sock or something.
Something I'll add to Chad's suggestions is, as you go through your current collection of incomplete vacuum ensembles, keep a running list of parts to keep an eye out for...and take it with you wherever you go. Scanning down the list from time to time will keep the items fresh in your mind. Or in the car to run out and consult. Because that list is going to get many pages long...
Oh, the number of times I've gotten home only to smack my forehead because I forgot to remember I shoulda picked up this or that thing because dang it, this here vacuum needs a thing like the one I saw in that box. And it won't be in that distant box when you go back tomorrow. When in doubt, grab it. Do Not Hesitate. If you can't use it someone else can. Before ya know it you'll have the entire vacuum set assembled.
Don't be a purist; mixing and matching similar parts will do until you've accumulated the correct full set.
5. Always consider what you've found. You may find a machine that is one of your dream vacuum cleaners, but It may not be complete, or in the greatest shape. It's does NOT always pay to pass it up...
There's no mystery or magic to it. Mostly dumb luck. But make no mistake. Collecting is work. Fun work but work that must be done with a passionate fervor. We all wish we could be retired like Pete and could make the rounds every day if not twice. Work with whatcha got.
Yes, plan on coming home empty handed...but eat a hearty breakfast, carry water and travel light with cleaned out trunk, back seat and floor. be sweet and polite to shop owners and patrons; often they will give you leads you must follow up on.
Be prepared to be dissapointed at outrageous prices AND DO NOT PAY THEM or attempt to bargain with someone who 'does not speak your vacuum collector language - you're talking to a log.
If possible return at the end of the day with a fair offer. Never be ashamed of your offer..after all, you are the collector with the insider knowledge. If again unsuccessful learn to withdraw gracefully and tactfully.
8. Remember: There are ALWAYS more to be had. I learned that from a fellow collector, and it has time and time again born out to be quite true to the words. Be perservering, and patient, don't fall into the FleaBay trap, and just keep looking.
Yup. Ebay - know when to quit. Set a limit, write it down and stick to it. The item generates little interest and you get it or...there's always someone with more $$$ who has to actually pay for it. Consider yourself the winner who will return another day.
A happy roomful of cheaply or freely obtained vacuums entitles you to a mad splurge once in a while for that musthave treasure.
Dave
