Library-specific vacuum or accessories?

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warren_l

Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2015
Messages
11
Location
Georgia, USA
My wife asked if there was a library-specific vacuum or an accessory to dust books, separately or on the racks.
I couldn't find anything with Google, then I remembered seeing vibrators, shoe polishers and knife sharpeners along with even stranger accessories for vacuums here. I have a Nilfisk Gm80 Museum vacuum, but does anyone know of a machine or tool to dust books? (we have a very dusty library)

warren_l++2-8-2017-00-18-59.jpg.gif
 
I guess you need a nice soft dusting brush with long horsehair bristles attached directly to a nice long hose to reach high shelves standing on a stool or ladder. The shorter the hose handle the better - so that your hand is pretty close to the brush itself for easier manipulation. A method for reducing suction somehow would be helpful too as a fresh empty bag/dust container may cause the suction to be too strong for some library items like soft cover books.

From what I have read over the years, a Nilfisk commercial barrel vac like the one pictured is probably your best bet for giving you excellent noise suppression and air filtration.

Interesting question!!!!! :-)
 
I think a horsehair brush like the Electrolux upholstery brush works fine. But I'm finding with things waist high or higher, it's just easier to use hand dusters like Swiffer Dusters. Having a hose attached to an accessory and going above your waist just doesn't seem like the easiest way to do this. Oftentimes I have to stand my DD Electrolux on its end to get the height I need. Books are a different exercise BTW than using wand extensions to get cobwebs off of walls, drapes etc....requires more hand manipulations. And like Brian said, the brush needs to be short coupled to your hose so you can manipulate around books.


 


Great cleaning question!


 


Kevin
 
Warren

You might be interested to know that Electrolux Canada division did actually have not just one, but two optional library brushes, for it's canister vacuums in the 1940's & 50's. Attached is a Vacuumland archive with a ZB55 owners manual in it, scroll down to reply 24 to see it being used & reply 29 for the list of optional attachments. Also, I don't know for certain, but I do believe Electrolux USA also did produce such a attachment around the time the XXX first started production in the late 1930's, Charles Lester (electrolux137) could chime in here with more information. If you tried contacting some old Aerus Electrolux dealers, as well as keep a eye on Ebay, perhaps you could find one.

Rob

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?2683
 
Spencer Central

Systems are available with a library brush, I know because Mike Hays has a Spencer central outlet, hose and attachments hooked up in his house, the very finest quality you ever saw!
 
Wow......

I'd sure like to have that 'book nozzle' and the 'library brush'! Never saw one on eBay or I would have nabbed it. There's nothing like that in the G accessories that I've seen.....don't know about before that.


 


 


The Canadian division of Electrolux seemed to be more innovative and perhaps more oriented to customer feedback then Electrolux USA. Lights on PN's.....sure would like to own one of those in any PN style.


 


Kevin
 
<a name="start_33702.366408"></a>Spencer Central

 Systems are available with a library brush, I know because Mike Hays has a Spencer central outlet, hose and attachments hooked up in his house, the very finest quality you ever saw!


 


I downloaded their tool catalog and they have really well-made commercial accessories. It's a 'system' though and I don't know if it would adapt to Electrolux or anybody else without having one in my hands.


 


Kevin
 
That Library brush

Looks similar to the Spencer one Mike has, it is just longer, works great for dusting, I used it when we were moving his collection.
 
Oreck Extendable Crevice Brush

Well, thanks to all your kind and knowledgeable replies, I started looking for brush attachments for various vacuums and found this Oreck Extendable Crevice Brush!
It's a bit cheap and flimsy but it's exactly what I wanted. It's design is in the spirit of the Electrolux Library Brush, but in a vinyl like plastic.
It's a discontinued item, a bit hard to find. I saw one on eBay, found one on Amazon for half what eBay wanted. Think I may have bought the last one.
It makes short work dusting books and shelves. I tried it with my Nikfisk Euroclean GD930, usually a quiet vacuum, after an hour using it I had to put hearing protectors on, the nozzle is headache inducing loud. The brush fibers are really short, the strong suction seems to pull the dust through the bristles rather than push it in front. Here's a pic. Thanks again for all the replies!

warren_l-2017021600024100295_1.jpg
 
I found....

the Oreck on amazon & eBay today. On Amazon it was $20 plus shipping(no prime) and on eBay it was about $10 and $7 shipping.


 


There's this sort of unusual phenomena going on with some Amazon vendors.  They ask almost comically high prices for individual items and also comically high shipping in some cases. It's as if they don't really want to carry/sell an item, but they've been 'forced' to? I've verified their ridiculous pricing a few times and it was no misprint. Don't know what that's about, but avoid them like the plague.  If it's a marketing ploy, I guess I just don't get it.


 


Kevin
 

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