Introducing "The Vacuum Archives"! (And the Hoover Factory Tour Book)

[coffeecanman]

Keep in mind this project is still a work in progress, but I am pleased to announce that The Vacuum Archives are now online! This is a place where vintage vacuum cleaner manuals, brochures, and other literature will be digitized and available FOR FREE! I have just started the actual scanning process, so there aren't a ton of documents available yet, but I have a stack of manuals here to scan, and a few collectors have offered up their paper collections on loan for the benefit of this endeavor. And yes, a couple of the Kirby manuals from the Kirby website are being used in lieu of high quality scans until I can get the original copies. Check back often, as there will be improvements on the file system (search function, etc.) and I will be adding MANY more manuals over the course of the next...well, a long time. If anyone is willing to loan me original copies of ANY vintage vacuum cleaner manuals or literature, they will be well cared for during the scanning process and returned in good order. Also, donations will be accepted to help fund the cost of hosting, buying more manuals as I find them (The Hoover Factory Tour book hurt a bit!), as well as potentially buying a large format scanner so I can start scanning advertisements as well.

Without further delay, here it is!

(The Hoover Factory Tour book is contained within, enjoy!)

http://vacuumarchives.org

 

[electrolux137]

~
~

Brandon, thank you SO MUCH for doing this!! Donation sent. 

 

[coffeecanman]

Wow, thanks Charles! That is so kind of you. I hope you enjoy reading the book (and more!)

 

[vac-o-matic]

Amazing information shared with more to come! I can tell you're putting your all in this, I donated as well. Good on ya!

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

CoffeeCanMan

Keep up the good work!

~Ben

 

[constellation86]

Thanks for doing this! One of my favorite things about vacuums is reading the manuals.
Are you interested in digital submissions? I have saved a few over the years.
Nicholas

 

[akabent]

And yet, ANOTHER Vacuum Museum!!

<span style="font-size: 12pt;">(This one being digital!)  And awesome.  And selfless.  Thank you so much for doing this.  Now people who are not within striking distance of one of  the various physical vacuum cleaner museums around the country (world) can view an ever-increasing array of vacuums through your kind efforts.  Again, thanks so much!</span>


<span style="font-size: 12pt;">RBNOC</span>


<span style="font-size: 12pt;">(AKABENT)</span>

 

[coffeecanman]

Thank you all, it's truly appreciated!

Digital submissions would be accepted as well, contact me for details on the specifics of how the images need to be scanned so that I can assemble them to be of the same quality as the other manuals in the archives.

Once I have the backend set up better, I will be including notes on whose collection specific documents came from to give credit to those kind enough to help out with this.

Back to the scanner! I'm working on a couple of Electrolux manuals this evening.

 

[blknblu]

This is a great start. The work involved to get stuff scanned is enormous.


I cannot afford to donate right now, but will help out when I can.


There is a shortage of this material available on the 'net

 

[bikerray]

Well, since you don't want your email address known and the contact link keeps failing, if someone wants to send you a PDF of an owners manual or service manual how are they to do this?

 

[midcenturyfan]

Thank you very much for creating this great resource. It will be of massive benefit to our hobby.

Robin.

 

[miskini]

Awesome job

 

[coffeecanman]

I have updated the file system to be a little more user friendly, as well as adding a search feature. I I have also added a few Electrolux manuals as of late last night. Enjoy!

Ray, regarding the email address: it should be working later today, I had to make a few changes to the DNS configuration and they need time to propagate. I sent you an email from my personal account in the meantime.

Thank you to everyone who has donated to the cause so far, all donations as of this morning have gone toward the purchase of 5 fun new manuals. Stay tuned!

 

[coffeecanman]

I just tested the email address and it is now working properly.

Here's a sneak preview of a few new manuals on the way!

 

[coffeecanman]

Just added a bunch of new manuals this morning, including a very nice copy of "How to Judge an Electric Cleaner" by the Hoover Company.

 

[sitop]

Donation sent

Brandon- I can not thank you enough for all of the time spent to help out everyone!
Best,
Eric

 

[delaneymeegan]

GREAT JOB !


I have a few manuals I can send you, I just need the address.

Also, I have some scanned materials I can send you electronically. Hopefully it's the quality you're looking for.

Are sales literature, and catalog ads, included in the collection?

Thank-you[this post was last edited: 1/17/2016-16:05]

 

[coffeecanman]

I sent you an email with my address. You can send anything digital you'd like, I'll let you know if I can use it or not. I do prefer to scan the originals for quality control purposes, if possible.


Thank you to everyone who has contributed in any way so far!

 

[bikerray]

I sent you a couple of PDFs the other day and sent you a couple of scans. Haven't heard if you got them or not. I didn't know what DPI you are scanning at.