I just can't stop! =]

[vacman117]

Last night we left for South Bend to run a 5k at Notre Dame this morning, and when we were looking for a place to grab some lunch, my dad pointed out an Oreck store. Usually vacuum stores have a good selection of trade ins, so I stopped in and asked about what they do with them. They said Orecks get fixed up and put on the floor and everything else gets pitched. But he pulled out a Bissell Powerforce, I left it of course, and he also came out with a pink and white Eureka Imperial. Judging by the serial number, it is either a 1988 or a 1993, I really don't know. It had a bad brushroll, but underneath it is VERY clean. The hood is just scuffed up. So I asked him how much he wanted for it and he said to just go ahead and take it. I was thrilled. The actual owner was in there and he was like 80 something years old and kept repeating himself about how much he loves his Oreck XL 40000 that was up on the wall and how I "probably don't have one"..I told him twice that I did but he didn't hear me XD. Anyways, I used to have a blue Imperial but junked it, but I like this one a lot better. I am definitely going to restore it, but I am kind of iffy on whether or not to wash the bag. It's dirty, but not to dirty. Anybody know? Thanks
Chase

 

[bagintheback]

Nice Eureka! Once I took a Bissel ProHeat and used the hose to clean a Hoover Elite bag, it worked okay but it still has the Hoover logo on it and no longer smells, so you can try that out.

 

[vacman117]

I've actually done that with a Steam Vac on my Guardsman. It actually worked out pretty well!

 

[ohio_tuec]

Oreck XL-4000

"..I told him twice that I did but he didn't hear me"

I would've told him I didn't, maybe he woulda thrown that in too. The XL-4000 is a fun cleaner, completely different in design from the Orecks that followed. I have a few XL-4000's, even one with a plaid bag. Now that Oreck has discontinued the bags, dealerships will probably see any remaining out there come in as trade-ins. That's a nice looking Eureka. I found a blue 1489A at the flea market last week for $10.! It looks as if it was used a handful of times, then stored away somewhere. I would have kept the original paper bag if it wasn't full of dust....

 

[vacman117]

Oh don't worry, I asked=], he said he didn't want to get rid of it. But here is the Eureka after it has been fully cleaned, and the bag has been washed. Of course, the people who owned it before put the bag in upside down..Every Eureka I get has an upside down bag..But it turned out VERY nice.

 

[thevacuumguy96]

My Mom's Aunt has a Eureka Imperial just like that!

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Congrats, that's a great find! I have the greenish blue version that is ESP with a white handle and it's a fabulous machine.