Love at First Sight...

[fatalfranklin]

Did you ever just see something that made you heart race and your head twirl....sigh...??!!??

Well, I did today! I got off the credit cards two years ago, it was a wicked battle, but I keep one around for catastrophes and emergencies. Today qualified as neither. It was pure lust!

Now, I'm not a vacuum cleaner aficionado or collector (yet, there's still time), but when I saw this baby, I just couldn't resist. It was dulled enamel, textured, teal blue, shaped like a bullet train, SOLID ?aluminum?, minimal plaaastic (yuck), chrome accents....MMmmm...boy was she sweet! It was sittin' behind the swathe of bulky old televisions at the local thrift shop. I stop in most days to see if there is anything worth re-selling. When I saw it, my head got all fuzzy, instantly I was groping it and fiddling with it. Checking out its insides, poking and prodding it. I nearly left my purse laying on the floor so that I could find an outlet to plug it into.

....And then I plugged it in. All the stuff at the thrift store is tested before it can go out on the sales but being a typical human, I have to hear it for myself. The cord was clean and vintagy but sturdy and "modern", no deterioration. I plugged it into the socket.....pressed the super-sleek chrome button.....it sprang to life...AAAaaaawwwhhhhmmmm.....the perfect whirring pitch of a well built motor with lots of life left in it.......I placed my hand over the intake....thwack! MAN does she SUCK!! And on the other end she BLOWS!!! WoW what a machine.

I know NOTHING about vacuum cleaners, except my mother has a Kirby from the early '70s and thinks it is the only vacuum cleaner ever made worth having. I know that everything I see in big box stores looks like a bad amusement park gimmick. And that what is offered at my local specialty shop seems like an expensive (mostly plastic and base metal) gimmick that I can't afford. Lastly I know the vacuum I settled on buying for my house was $50.00 new, mostly plastic, "Sanitaire" by Electrolux, performs adequately and will likely break or burn out before my cats die.

Like I said, I was scoping out the thrift store, like I do every day. Buying thrift store stuff and finding out what it is at home is like my lottery tickets. I justified this purchase (on the demon credit card) as a potential re-sale item. But really it was all for ME! I didn't even look around after I saw it...I just gripped it tightly in both arms and dashed to the cash register. Again, I have ZERO clue what I'm holding, just that I LUST it.

So here she is...I'm not sure what she is supposed to be called, and I can't read the serial number under her "hood", maybe 4--735.... Here's the info on the case:

Interstate Precision Products Corp.
Model C-4
Pat. 2639002D175657
July, 13 1951 Others pending

Side of the case reads:
23rd Anniversary Edition



She is in okay shape. After looking around she is missing a lot of the attachments. One foot and the hose isn't completely functional...but those things seem relatively minor to functionality. I see a lot of her sisters have swivel feet, instead of dragging nubs??!! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE any info you pro's have about this sweet machine. Especially where I might find parts and attachments. Maybe even the floor buffer head...mmmm...buff the wood...aah

 

[stricklybojack]

like this one?

...going for a song at a Goodwill in Charleston West Virginia. See link, also available online shipped.

http://www.shopgoodwill.com/viewItem.asp?ItemID=12884040

 

[fatalfranklin]

Mine sang better...to the tune of $14.99 and it was on the way home (no shipping) from the supermarket. Didn't even waste any gas to get it.


I Adore the feet in the one you linked to....hehe, it has little blue balls for rollers!! Sweet!!!

 

[fatalfranklin]

I found this on EBay when I got home and started Googling (instead of ogling) my new prize....

I wish I could bid, but like I said, I already put the $14.99 on the demon credit card...I'm irresponsible, but only to a degree, lol.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171021297264?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[suckolux]

Sounds like my baby from 59 mom got new! Yes, still going.I have heard it called the Pig aroud my area, or blue or green pig.Just Compact here

 

[kenkart]

That is a

1960 C4 Compact or Revelation.The company started in 1937, I have a 1957 20th anniversary model,Almost the same except its tan and has a flat lid.

 

[fatalfranklin]

So based on the 20th edition being confirmed as made in 1957, my 23rd edition is a 1960...cool! I had no idea that teal was carried over into the '60s as a trendy color.

 

[suckolux]

So I would guess he looks a brother to this?

 

[fatalfranklin]

I read some info that referred to it as "the pig" also...cute name, better if it were pink. It immediately made me want to fashion some ears and a snout for it... go Halloween special with it.

Seriously though, I would really like to know if there are replacements still made, where to find them, or what to be searching for? This machine was made with a respect for quality...it deserves to outlive me, if I can help that happen!

 

[suckolux]

many parts I suspect will interchange with the Tristar that replaced the Compact. yes, tough machine.

 

[fatalfranklin]

suckolux - Nice baby! Looks like a sweet one....to think, my mother was 10 years old when your mother bought that machine! Thanks for the tip about "Tristar" I will ask my local vacuum cleaner store about parts, and suggest the Tristar make.

Are there any places online that people have found that deal in vintage parts?

 

[electromatik]

It's good you are so attracted to that machine but one shouldn't equate plastic to poor quality. Metal in consumer goods has been largely abandoned. There are different grades of plastic. Some are tougher than others. Most high-end vacuums use plastic but are very well made and tough. Metal rusts and dents and is far heavier. Miele and Riccar & many others are very well made and use plastic.

 

[caligula]

Hi guys.

Yes, the Compact was often referred to as the 'PIG.' That was not ment as a put down, just because it looks like one. We have a lot of people here that collect Compact's. By the way, where's the Magic Disk? And a bit of trivia, the Compact was given away on the game show 'Queen For A Day' a game show from the 1950's

Alex Taber.

 

[rugsucker]

Compact

Great vac.Looks like an 1890-1920 or so house in pic.Any paint on yet?Are you redoing inside?If so you will find a compact with good hose and paper bag inside cloth bag will clean all sorts of remodeling messes.-I do have extra polisher attachment if you or others want.And some other items when time allows to find and sort.Also one Desert Sand(pinkish)color.Could probably stay close to thrift store prices.Am am in middle of Knoxville TN,Roanoke VA and Asheville NC.If you happen to be close to any come fill a car!Happy Vacuuming(and remodeling)

 

[tolivac]

Please note--the term "Pig" for vacuums is patented by the NSS folks for their M1 vacuum.Even though the Compacts-TriStars look like "pigs" they do not use the term in their advertising.NSS does.Both are GREAT machines!Have both and like 'em both.I call my Compact-TriStar "Little Pig" or "Piglet".

 

[fatalfranklin]

I just logged back on to see if there were any responses...I have to say, I am still giddy about my new machine. I was just looking for attachments on EBay. I looked on the Tristar web page, but I am not that rich....

@ electromatik,
I can understand your argument, and I know plastics are being improved and have great benefits. Especially in the types that are used for bullet-proof vests and such. For me, plastic vs. not plastic is more philosophical. SHOULD we use plastics? Plastic in our society is widely seen as disposable and "single use". It's wasteful. I also see where consumer goods are widely made from lighter metals and plastic parts, where if you look for the same type of tool....say a stand mixer, sewing machine, vacuum, etc....the industrial counterparts are made from more robust materials and significantly less plastic. Albeit at higher initial cost. I guess I have yet to develop a love for plastic. And really that is half of the decision in a consumer purchase...emotion and perception.


@ Caligula,

When I first saw it, I envisioned "Bullet Train"....
I have no idea where the "Magic Disk" is. If I had to guess, is it the filter?


@ rugsucker,
Thank you for noticing the house. It is about 1880s I think. Very simple house...might have been a boarding house of some kind. Solidly built, but nothing really amazing. Slate roof and small carriage house behind it. Paint is finished on the front of the house so far....doing it myself, so it is SLOW going!
Do you have a place where you list your spare parts? I love Tennessee...wound around in the Smokey Mountains trying to find North Carolina, a little over a month ago. Brought home a cool rock!

 

[rugsucker]

fatalfranklin

'simple house'?Simple can be good.Slate is not simple as it is the Quality,Long Life roof.Do it yourself is also good as most contractors want to wrap any house in vinyl siding until it looks like a double wide.Do researsh for historic guidelines,Old House Journal,etc and you will end with(and now have)great home.
"place where I list spare parts?"Yes.My brain.It can be downloaded by pressing the following buttons-423-297-6918.I do have Compact atts.
Smokey Mts-You were very close to me and a ton of vacs and parts.I am further east with the same type scenery,mountains,rivers,lakes but NOT the sometimes terrible traffic jams closer to Smokey Mt Park.Also close to rock/gem areas such as near Blue Ridge Parkway in nearby NC.Would love to be a tour guide but only IF stopping at the thrift stores in area thay can range from good to great.
Happy Vacuuming,Jimmy

 

[fatalfranklin]

rugsucker:

OMG !!! Traffic JAMS!! You called that one. We (Mom and I) were staying in Sevierville...one of her "time share" intro sales things...Country Vegas wasn't really our cup-o'-tea, but there is just so much more to see then tourist land. So, on Sunday we headed through Gatlinburg to an area we were exploring earlier, in the park area. No sweat getting through Gatlinburg to the east. When I found my prized rock, and we decided to go back through Gatlinburg to the west.....holy crap!!...a sea slug could've beaten us out of there!

Oh well, I ended up with my prize rock in the long run. Took 20 minutes to roll it out of the ravine...then could barely lift it into the P.T. Cruiser (and I'm small but not a wimp), but I got it! In between the traffic jam and the rock swiping, I got to climb a waterfall, sit on a rock in the middle of a river, and swing from the biggest rhododendron I have ever seen. And I found wintergreen growing on a rock that was very breath refreshing! Brilliant place to go to. I didn't even realize that there was rock and gem attractions...learned that after I got back home.

As to the house...it's a challenge...always wanted a resplendent Victorian mansion...I got the modest Victorian house. I have to admit, it is still a bit more than I SHOULD have bitten off. But it does keep me on my toes, and I won't be throwing in the towel and turning it into a plastic tote! Slate seems to make even reputable contractors get all weird and freak out. Not to mention the insurance agencies. When I applied for insurance, the idiot that did the assessment turned me down because "the asphalt shingles are curling and deteriorating.". I took pictures (and one of my shingles) to my agent and asked her if she had ever seen a rock curl? Even she didn't understand, and had my house insured wrong. The new girl said something like ..."you have "rock" on your roof....is that like, ?new? When was it put on?" She didn't understand that it was put on over 100 years ago and was rated to last another 200 with proper care. It's really a different way of looking at roofing. I can remove pieces and re-use them. I can take one broken piece out and only have to put one new piece in that place. I can leave some cracked pieces and slip aluminum or copper guards invisibly in place (or beer cans folded double..that works too ).


Thanks for the digits, but I'm more of a text and internet sort of gal. Mostly because those two things are "unlimited".

So have you always lived in Tennessee? How did you start collecting vacuums?

 

[caligula]

The Compact Magic Disc,

was a carpet fluffing tool much like Kirby's Miracle Head, kind of like a carpet sweeper.

Compact was never offically called the pig, but a lot of collectors myself included used this as a friendly term. I first heard that used in 1955. In 3 weeks when I come back from Indiana with my files I'll post a picture of the Magic disk from the instruction book.

Alex Taber.