Ira Lee

[waterstreet]

The September VCCC Newsletter has a small picture of a ribbon winning vacuum cleaner named "Ira Lee".
I Googled "Ira Lee" but did not come up with anything vacuum related.
I saw that the old website messages were archived here - but did not see a way to search them.
Does anyone have a link to pictures or other information on "Ira Lee"

Many thanks, David Lewis

 

[convertible68]

I saw Duane's Ira Lee in the newsletter as well and would to hear more information about it. To say it is a beautiful work of art is an understatement...I noticed in the pictures it had a very streamlined, "long" motor/nozzle assembly.

 

[swingette]

Duane, do you wanna tell us how the agitator is driven? i took this pic at the convention. Duane also had a very unusual cleaner called *Lady Hibbard*.

 

[vintagehoover]

Wow!

What a fascinating-looking machine - are there any more pictures of it? I'd love to be able to see it in person!! However does it work??

 

[compactelectra]

Since Duane Isn't Answering

I really don't know too much about this machine. Duane owns a vac shop in WI and people bring him vintage vacs due to the display he has in his shop. He completely restored the machine and isn't it beautiful? I did see it in person and it won two blue ribbons Best Restored and President's Choice. The brush roll is driven through a flexible shaft that runs from the top of the center of the brushroll housing down to the right hand side of the brushroll. You can see the curved housing on the top. Duane said that after he restored it, the shaft snapped!!! I am not sure how he repaired it.

Fred

 

[vacconnection]

The " Ira Lee"

The Ira Lee was in my brother's basement for many years. The vacuum was in very bad condition. When he gave it to me I was bound and determined to restore this nice vintage machine.Regarding the question on the agitator, there is a 4 inch spring that is attached to the tip or the end of the armuture.The spring is attached to a flexible shaft.The shaft is attached to a small gear that drives a larger gear that is on the roller brush. The vacuum cleaner works great,but once in a while the spring comes off or breaks. I will work on this untill I get it right. I need to get the spring and the gear to work a little better. I will try to send some pictures when i can figure that out. I am not the best one at this.