Jeff,
that is Rob's contact, not mine. Hoover28, in upstate NY.
I do know of a repair shop in Utica Michigan that does only repair and sell used sewing machines and vacs. Nothing new, so they will not scam you into a new one, because they don't sell any.
It's called SAV sew and vac on Van Dyke avenue, Utica, Michigan. Just do a Google map search for the phone number and address. I'm sure they will give you an over the phone assessment and advise you honestly on wether you should bother to ship it to them.
Or you can contact Chad at Arbor Vacuum in Ann Arbor. He is also a member here, but I don't know him personally. I did refer someone there who needed a Miele bag compartment cover for a robin egg blue canister from California. He wanted a used part. Hard to come by, so I suggested finding any color, then matching the paint at a painter supply store for automotive finishes, or even having an auto body shop paint it.
I know that's able to be done, because my friend who bought a Pontiac Trans Am convertible needed a black front plastic bird insert for the front license plate insert. It was an out of state car which required a front plate.
