It hunts dirt in the night!

[bvac6]

It's a Vampyr! At night it rises from the closet and sucks the life dirt from unsuspecting carpeting!

Well maybe not, BUT, it is a weird machine. The nozzle and motor casing are bakelite and the motor is a 220v drop in type with rubber mounts. They had dry rotted and collapsed so I remade them with liquid rubber. The carbon brushes were so thin you could have shaved with them. I had a set that fit perfectly.

It runs awesome now, the bag is on its way from the seller still who sent it seperately for some reason.

 

[caligula]

Just looked it up.

Seems to date back to 1924. I'm still hunting info even though its daytime. When it wakes in its closet for the nightly prowl I may have more info.

I love old machines like these. Will be interesting to see if the bag is anything like the pic I saw.

Alex Taber

P.S. Caligula is the cat in my main pic.

 

[caligula]

Interesting! Go to Vampyr vacuum cleaner, Images.

It is indeed German. What you seem to have is the Vampyr 100 as it has the Bakelite nozzle. The bag is very interesting and is mounted on the left, behind the power switch.

The word for vacuum cleaner in German is staubsaucgar.

Seems they are still being made.

 

[caligula]

Correct spelling.

According to the German to English translation on Wikipedia the spelling is Staubsaugar. Seems the person who posted the ad I located had it wrong.

Still researching this little dirt sucker, but the original from 1924 with the chrome handle, motor housing and nozzle, which like Health-Mor, Royal, and other P. A. Geier designs was removable. There is a great pic of the factory in operation, have a look.

Seems your Dracula spin-off is from the late 1940's as Bakelite was common then with the shortage of metal.

I'll check to see if I can find an instruction book for our nocturnal creature.

 

[electrolux137]

~
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The correct spelling is "<span class="st">Staubsauger."
</span>

 

[caligula]

Thank you Charles Richard.

Seems the eyes can't tell an A from an E. Pushing 70 does have its disadvantages.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Wow - that one IS an oddity yet a true black beauty! A bakelite case is very unusual, especially to be surviving at this age. However, the metal shortage does make it make sense. Great purchase - awaiting a picture with the bag on it!

I find it fascinating to see all of the different styles of appliances back then, whether vacuums, fans, toasters, washers, radios, or whatever else.

 

[madman]

Nice machine. Can't find a literal translation of staubsauger. 'Staub' means 'dust,' though. idk much about German, but if it's like most German words, it's probably extremely literal. Probably 'dust sucker.'

So it being 220v, I'm assuming it was made for the German/European market?

 

[lesinutah]

Weird

I'm actually well versed in Deutch. I'd say I'm a jelly filled doughnut but that's history.
I know what the word translates too. I just get the feeling the vacuum is playing off vampire legends. My ancient world history has cobwebs but the original German empire outskirts was Romania.
I just checked German Saxton's colonized Romania.
I think it was originally a publicity stunt. If you look at date of when it's made you already know there pushing German origins.
Les
The vacuum looks like a bison to a point.
If you put colored LED bulb in it would cause a fright.
Les

 

[bvac6]

Thanks for all the info guys! I also forgot to mention it's straight suction.

 

[caligula]

Yes I saw that in the pictures.

You have a great vacuum cleaner, when you get the bag post pics of this dust sucker.

And remember, don't let the rays of the sun hit it. Vampires don't like that and I'm sure neither would this Vampyr.

 

[caligula]

I just looked it up on reddit.

Here's what they say. "Vacuum cleaner is in German staubsauger." Literally "Dust sucker."

Interestingly, on Wikipedia the translation for staubsauger is "Hoover!"