In the Closet

[electrogirl]

Well, I was relaxing this evening and about 11pm, my friend Sasha called and wanted to come over for awhile. I said sure, but as soon as I hung up the phone I started panicking...What do I do with the Vacuums???? Sure, I could leave the hoses out and about and and the crevice tools, dusting brushes, etc here and there, but I really felt funny explaining that I collect vacuums. It's kind of like saying, "Come on over, but don't mind the 57 cats I have."

Most of the vacuums were already neatly arranged in the vacuum closet, aka dead end hallway that I never use. I had a partially disassembled convertible out in the living room. There is an Electrolux Super J tucked away in my bedroom and hoses stretched out in several rooms. The Connie was in the kitchen where she had been hard at work. I have a large Kirby box filled with various tools and wands, and there are 4 power nozzles at the one end of my Living room. I managed to kind of spread everything around so it would not be so noticeable. The power nozzles I kept in the living room, but put a big box in front of them, and stuffed some hoses inside that. The convertible I placed on top of my window seat and neatly arranged the parts next to my tool box. The other convertibles took their place in the hallway. I don't think she noticed anything out of the ordinary.

This was her first time over at this apartment I have, so I had to give her the obligatory "tour." I showed her around and mentioned the hallway in passing. There is a wall sconce in the hall way but that light I generally keep off. We ended up at the other end of the hall and I opened the computer room door to show her the door to the main entrance, I flicked the light on real quick and as she was glancing at the hall, tried to block her view and swiftly turned it out, again she didn't notice a thing.

I found the entire episode amusing, but I do admit, I find it hard to explain to some people about the amount of vacuums. My one friend knows I have 5 Electroluxes and gets a kick out of it, she just thinks I am a neat freak. My mother also knows I am interested in vacuums and thinks it is fine.

I guess the point to this post is, what do you do when non-vacuum friends come over? Are you pretty open about your hobby? I am not embarrassed, I just think it is hard to explain to most people without them thinking you are a bit "off."

 

[sireluxomatic]

Hi Electrogirl. I understand those feelings. My wife and immediate family know I am a vacuum cleaner fanatic, but its not something I ever discuss or show too openly. I truly don't think its embarrassment, but just a desire to avoid awkward explanations about my "odd" hobby. Whenever people have incredulous reactions, I just point out that my hobby keeps the house clean

 

[electrogirl]

Hi Sireluxomatic,

You are correct about how I feel, it's not embarrassment, more awkwardness, because I know most would really not understand. The majority of people have a hard time in general paying more than the bare minimum for a vacuum from the store as it is, and here I am acquiring them left and right. And no one could imagine the reasons for owning more than two at maximum (I only say two because some people have an upstairs one and a downstairs one).

I think that is why the vacuums I have gotten thus far have been so reasonable, they are considered obsolete by the masses. That is the great thing about the hobby, you can still get a great deal, and not much competition for the vacuums.

 

[arh1953]

My brother, his wife, my sister and her family, and two women friends know about me so far, and no problem. Seeing the other kinds of things people collect and society finds acceptable, I wonder why the vacuums would raise eyebrows. I myself found out about one collector on HGTV, and after I got the computer, was surprised to see clubs, and the primo vacuum museum sites. Just because I was trying to find tools for my GE Cord-Reel. Now I shudder to think of how boring things would be without this hobby. I have other hobbies, but this one is so much fun. Good luck Debbie, and all the rest of us, when it gets out in the open!

 

[petek]

LOL, this all sounds so familiar. I have gone thru the same angst whenever someone comes over, racing around putting stuff away,hiding vacs in closets, but now I just figure what the hell. It's my/our house, I live here, they don't. Most are in the basement but there is at least one vacuum in every single closet, some have two, the spare bedroom has 4 or 5, there's always at least one in the livingroom, one in the kitchen, a couple in the laundry room, they're everywhere LOL Plus I have all the other stuff, mixers, at least 30 or 40 blenders, 10+ coffee percs, waffle irons, irons, toasters clocks you name it.
Usually if someone asks, like when the cable guy was here the other day I just tell them I fix the stuff and resell it on ebay, which is 1/4 truth anyways.. Surprisingly a lot of people love looking at all the things and seeing things that they had or their parents had when they were kids.

 

[ian88]

This is why most of my Vacuums live in the (very rarely ventured into, even by family members) Garage.

It's just easier ;p

 

[aeoliandave]

Exact same thing here, Pete & Debbie. Frankly, I think of it all as 'decor', same as folks that have Bradley Mint plates hung all over their walls. 'Cept when another enthusiast comes over and then they are 'features' that must be taken out for a run and played with.
I encourage everyone to find and nourish a hobby, so if you want to collect jars of Barbie heads, or toenail clippings, it's all fine by me.
Its is funny though, I was raised in a home where there was to be no saving or storing of extra or duplicate stuff; My Mom even culled 3/4 of the photos from the family albums when I was 12 or so because they were 'just old pictures we've all seen'...no sense of nostalgia whatsoever. Could be a depression, war & post war thing? Or because both parents are Virgos? My siblings are from the same mold - lovely houses clean and tidy and functional as a whistle and mostly new stuff that replaces old stuff as soon as fashion or need dictates.
How I turned out as a pack rat no one can explain and of course, my family marvels at how I fix it all up and have it running good as new, sparkling and shining & humming silently like fresh from the store...back in the good olde days they'd rather leave behind as ancient unimportant history.
Ah well, I put a smile on their faces, provide them with the family oddball stories to share with their friends (my Son/Brother, the dorknerdgeek) and unlike many of my cousins, I ain't been in jail/divorced/on medication/destitute. 'Nuff said.
As for computers, well, there's 6 here all with a different purpose and absolutely essential to my general well being. LOL

 

[charles~richard]

I spent too many years in too many different closets, including the "Sweeper Closet." I keep this a secret from no one. Those who celebrate it, celebrate it. Those who ridicule it, ridicule it. But I have found that most people really don't care one way or the other.

 

[myhooverco]

I had forgotten those days, Debbie. I remember one time I had a Convertible completely torn apart in the living room one Saturday afternoon. Heather was at work when her Uncle rang the bell. I literally shoved everything into another room and shut the door. He was there to drop off a wedding gift at the time. He never did ask me why it took me so long to answer the door! Eventually everyone got used to it. In fact, friends and family have found me some great machines over the years once they found out my passion for Hoover Cleaners. So I say let everyone know. Someone out there knows their great great aunt Gladys who has a really cool old machine in her attic and is yours for the asking.

I still from time to time have the strange looks of bewilderment from repairmen that come down to the "basement museum". I usually get folks who just stand there in awe or laugh uncontrollably. One guy who was working on the phone line never said a word other than hello. Another guy, the cable guy, sent another workman back to "check" his work later that day. I think that he wanted to see it for himself. The Sears guys that delivered a freezer stayed and chatted awhile telling me of an old guy that had 100's of cuckoo clocks. They happened to deliver a fridge right around 12 noon and had to leave because of all of the noise coming from the clocks!

So I say be proud of your hobby. EVERYONE collects SOMETHING. Who is to say that a stamp collector or a baseball card collector is any more sane than one of us? What about all of those guys who have dozens of collector cars? They can only drive one at a time! Yet they are not looked at oddly. There is nothing wrong with collecting things. I come from a long line of pack rats...yes, I think it started with the depression and my grandparents who never never threw anything away. (I cannot imagine ever throwing photos away either!)

So everyone collect! Enjoy! And share your hobbies with anyone who will listen.

--Tom

 

[charles~richard]

I echo Tom's sentiments that NOT keeping this a secret is a great way to get machines! This has been the case for me both direclty, one-on-one, as with my web site. I have had a few people from church who know about my collection bring me machines, and of course my web site, where I -HARDLY- keep it a secret, has brought me many treasures. The latest of which was that beautiful early Electrolux 30. Had I continued to keep this a big secret and did not put a web site up about it, I would never have gotten it. Nor the complete, mint Airway Mark II. Or the fantastically gorgeous Lewyt. And so on, and so on, and so on.

We really have nothing to gain from secrets and hiding other than to keep ourselves surrounded with negative feelings and self-effacement.

 

[arh1953]

My brother and sister-in-law are quite neat, sis-in-law confessed to being claustrophobic and in April of '06, she and brother dearest had a massive meltdown when they saw the family home. Then in June I suffered a near fatal car accident, and my former next door neighbor(present roommate)had to clear the living/dining area and kitchen, for my wheelchair. This predates my vacuum collecting. My sister and brother-in-law are arts and crafts constructors, and they are not neatniks. I must invest in a good shed, my storage locker is at critical mass.

 

[petek]

That's right. I'd forgotten that aspect of it. Out west we lived in the country and seldom anyone ever came over but now that I'm living back in my old hometown where all my family is they all know as do the neighbors etc. I've been given free a complete Kirby G4 system, an Oreck, that red Sanitaire I used for parts, a nice little Jet-Flo and a Hoover Concept One, plus other little odds and sods. So it does pay to let everyone know

 

[z30soulbrother]

collecting

Car collecting is "respected"and not wierd as is toby jugs ornamental cats dogs pigs rhinos clocks vintage cycles, need i go on????? but vacuums doesnt seem to be thought of as normal or acceptable and i just dont understand why. The engineering thats gone into them, the designs, trends over the decades, i find it fantastic, and its not that im "not ashamed " that i collect and am obsessed if you like, its that i cant see why i should be, basically. Ive found this club, joined and love it. I have seen the reactions to Kyles video on youtube and frankly how people can be so nasty about him i relly dont know. As youve probably seen ive given some strong feedback to say the least but anyway thats my feelings on the subject and i say to you all KEEP IT UP I THINK YOU ARE ALL GREAT!!!!
All the best

Si

 

[ian88]

Toby jugs are evil imo.

Heh @ Tom Anderson's story..I can just imagine little oily trackmarks leading into the next room where you shoved it ;p

Ian

 

[crevicetool]

It's Funny, I think....

When the designer of the Electrolux XXX (the name escapes me right now), it credited in so many publications, and looked upon like, Wow, what an artist, what talent. Now here's someone that DESIGNED a vacuum cleaner. why is that not weird? But collecting them, that's a whole different story. Being that I enjoy vacuum cleaners I am tolerant of other peoples weird hobbies. Still, when it comes time to tell folks about the vacuums, I find at first I'm a little uneasy about the reaction. My other hobby is collecting Belly Button Lint. LOL Just try telling people about that one!!!

 

[ge1969]

Hi All!! I agree with you guys. It can be a little difficult to tell people about your hobby. In fact, if you guys think it's rough shoving vacs behind and under things and into closets trying to hide them to avoid explanations, try explaining a building in the backyard with around 125 vacs in it! I agree especially with Charles R. that you can end up with some great machines by not keeping your hobby a secret. Many members of my family have gifted me vacs that I probably would have never found otherwise. BTW CR, I still have that beautiful Fairfax that I got from you! Anyway, keep up the good work all of you. Later, Trg

 

[z30soulbrother]

vac collecting

Back to the Kyle video reactions for a sec, i couldnt beleive it, the malice!! and why? and why keep on about "GIRLFRIENDS LATER ON" and nonsense like that. Whats that got to do with collecting vacs? I dont understand where their biggotted notions come from and i told them so! One guy told me to "get off it" i ll "get off it" when Torville and Dean use hell as a training ground! Anything like that gets me savage and i am not long saying something. I suppose if it was collecting signed soccor shirts that would be heroic!!! but machinary wierd??? Sorry i just dont get it. (going now before incredible hulk mode kicks in!!!!!)

si

 

[electrogirl]

Thanks for all the replies. It was very enlightening to read that others have had similar experiences, and your "coming out" stories were inspiring. You are correct that I should embrace the hobby and scream it from the rooftops, as it is part of what makes me uniquely me. I am sure I will get over this hangup eventually. There is certainly no shame in collecting vacuums and it is sad that most people feel vacuums are disposable items. I can only imagine the great vacuums that have been tossed over something as minor as a worn belt.

In todays throw away society it is a wonder that the vacuum repair shops even exist anymore. I suppose it is those people that have Kirbys, E-Luxes, and other higher end vacuums who realize the value of repair rather than replace. Surely very few, if any, would bother to have a Wal-Mart Hoover repaired as they are so inexpensive to begin with.

 

[charles~richard]

I especially think it would be far less difficult for a woman to "explain" a vacuum cleaner collection than a man --- because you wouldn't have to deal with the obvious inference that some people immediately jump to with a smirk, when I as a man tell them I collect vintage vacuum cleaners --- right off with the "sucking and blowing jokes" and what not, you know.......