If you go Sanitaire I would suggest one that takes an F&G or ST bag setup. They are out there. I don't believe that the shake out bags spew too much, but shaking out the bag when its time will cause quite a storm.
If you're interested in a Sanitaire with shake out style you might be also be interested in a Hoover Professional Decade 800 styled machine. Same concept of fan first system but in a Hoover.
The Hoover Elites are great and clean well. All the above including the Elite come in a 12" width. The Hoover Breathe Easy is a slightly more powerful motor over the Elite and that is needed because its a 15" width.
Are attachments a consideration? Most of the above machines do not come with attachments as they're strictly marketed commercial new. You can find attachment sets for Hoover Decade 800/ Convertibles and adapt to bottom plate of Hoover Commercial Decade/ Guardsman/ Professional styles. Some Commercial Elites have attachments and some don't, it depends on model. The commercial Soft Guards would have attachment. Any residential previous sold model Elite or Breathe Easy would have attachments. eBay, your area Craiglslist or local thrift stores would be good bets to watch and check out for those.
Here's a few links
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/hoover...ght-vacuum/prod4600200.ip?sprodId=prod4600200 Sam's Club exclusive Hoover Industrial Decade 800 styled machine with EZ empty dirt cup and headlight. $139
http://www.vcdiscounter.com/c1700.html Hoover Commercial duty Breathe Easy. 15" width, no headlight $229
http://www.vcdiscounter.com/s670a.html Sanitaire S670 blue line commercial/ residential. $300
http://www.abcvacuumwarehouse.com/hoover-ch50000-professional-commercial-upright-vacuum-1.html Hoover Professional CH50020 Decade 800/ Guardsman style with headlight, 2 brush agitator, Hoover disposable Type A bag system $140
http://www.abcvacuumwarehouse.com/hoover-c1414-900-elite-lightweight-upright-vacuum-cleaner.html Hoover C1414-900 Elite style with onboard tool set, no headlight
http://www.abcvacuumwarehouse.com/sanitaire-sc888k-commercial-upright.html Sanitaire ST bag system. Sanitaire SC888K no headlight,no tools $195
http://www.discountcleaningproducts.com/Sanitaire-SC688-Commercial-Upright-Vacuu-p/sc688a.htm Sanitaire SC688 paper bag disposal, no headlight, plastic hood, no tools
http://greenville.craigslist.org/for/3648955288.html Royal Commercial vac on Greensville, SC Craigslist, looks new $200
http://greenville.craigslist.org/hsh/3577076459.html Royal Heavy Duty on Greensville, SC Craigslist. Nice blue, looks to be very nice condition $75
http://greenville.craigslist.org/app/3526968712.html Hoover Breathe Easy Widepath listed in Craigslist ad. Looks like it may need attachments which are easy to order on eBay or local vac shop. Owner says repair may be needed. Could go check it out, probably new brush roll, belt, bag and filter which most any used vac would need anyway. $5 make offer
Hope all of this helps and best of luck! Let me or others know what you're thinking with all of this info which I realize is a lot to absorb. Curious of your input towards attachments, depending on that factor it could definitely sway your decision. Of course if you have a separate canister vacuum then attachnment use is taken care of with that.
I would also heavily recommend a trip to your local vac shop. See what refurbished machines they have and what new machines they have to offer towards Sanitaire, Hoover, Eureka Commercial. Riccar and Simplicity are great machines as well. Local vac shops tend to offer a warranty on their refurbed machines as well. I have a friend who is owner of Vacuums Etc in Columbia, SC. He can definitely help you out! His website is on the link below and he has some specials listed on his Facebook site. He may be willing to ship???? I would definitely contact him and see what he suggests/ recommends and if he ships. Feel free to mention me.
http://www.vacuums-etc.com/
