I've acquired an Apex

[justjunque]

Hi, all.
My in-laws were doing some spring cleaning, and offered this Apex to me, instead of tossing it.
I know absolutely nothing about it. And, the pictures are just the way it came from their basement.
I posted it in '50s '60s and '70s, because I'm guessing it's probably from the '50s. But, like I said, I have no idea.
As I write this, I haven't even opened it up to see if it has a bag. I don't know if these even use bags.
The cord and the hose are kind of stiff, but not to the point of feeling brittle.
Anything anyone can tell me about it would be much appreciated. In the meantime, I'm going to start cleaning it up, and digging a little deeper into looking it over.
Thanks!

Barry

P.S. Please excuse the cat scratcher and my feet in some of the pictures.

 

[2011hoover700]

I have that exact same apex.

 

[justjunque]

Damien,

Cool. Can you tell me anything about it?
About how old it is, how likely it is to find any of the missing parts for it?
Obviously, it's missing a handle of some sort on top.
Here's a couple of pictures of the inner bits. Does it look like everything is there?
I wonder if there's a disposable bag that would fit inside the cloth bag.
Speaking of the cloth bag; any advice on cleaning it? Do you think it could be hand washed without damaging it?
Also; is there a way to clean that screen/filter thing that goes after the bag, and before the motor? I took it outside and tapped it, sort of like a little tambourine, and lots of fine dust comes out of it.
Although I would like to get it cleaned up as well as possible, I don't think I'll be trying to run it. The outer covering of the cord is broken pretty badly, near where it attaches to the body. Ratty cords scare me.

 

[huskyvacs]

Wow such a great find!

 

[justjunque]

Thanks, husky.
I wish it was all there, and in better condition. It seems like finding parts for it probably won't be easy. It's not like it's one of the more popular and plentiful brands. But, I certainly didn't want it to go to the dump.
I'm hoping someone will be able to tell me lots of neat info about it!

 

[lesinutah]

My

Modern Hygiene 240 looks somewhat similar. Mine takes type J royal vacuum bags and comes with filter with the bags. My motor is 550 watts and 4.5 amps x is 540 watts of power. The thread attached shows pics of mine.
I believe kenmore, GE, universal and a few others share parts.
I'm guessing early 1950s on the machine.
Iirc apex vacuums had power. Mine has okay power.

https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?44429

 

[canisterman]

1948

49 Apex, rated well in the 1948 Consumer Reports magazine

 

[collector2]

That model would be from around 1950 as that is the year the ad below is from. Apex made machines under a number of different brand names as well as their own including President, Good Housekeeping, and Connor. It would have had a full set of parts in a kit like this one with the President pictured below

 

[justjunque]

Thanks, Doug!
I sure wish this one came with more than just the hose and dusting brush.
Although, like I said, I'll probably never even get to turn it on, because of the condition of the cord.
Plus, I've never seen a filter screen like this has, and I don't know how to clean it. It might be safe to hand wash the cloth bag, but I'm not sure. I don't want to ruin it after all this time.

 

[collector2]

Hi Barry

I've always like the design of those machines. Show your in laws the picture of the President I sent and ask them to check around for the kit. Pretty good chance all the rest of the parts are still sitting in the kit somewhere.

 

[lesinutah]

Cord

The cord is easily replaced. You can buy a eureka hoover pigtail cord for maybe $20.
The hose probably end can switch out and you have a functioning vacuum.

 

[vinvac]

Were these sold also as Speed Vac.

My neighbor had one, same hose end, a rubber expandable when twisted. If memory serves me correctly the wands and hose end had a little nib that you inserted and gave a slight twist.

It was a great little vacuum.

 

[justjunque]

Anyone have any advice for cleaning the cloth bag and the (pre-motor?) filter screen?
I don't want to destroy the bag after all this time, but I'd love to clean all the fine dust out of it.
Same with the filter screen. It appears to have some sort of filter media, sandwiched between two metal screens. I don't see any way to disassemble it.
Thanks!

 

[collector2]

I usually just use another good vacuum (my central vac) and give the bag and filter a good vacuuming. It gets them pretty clean.