More Goblin Vacs

[collector2]

My collection is growing yet again. I received 4 more Goblin Vacs from Al in England last week. Thought I'd post them as they are interesting looking machines. These are a bit newer than the ones I have had previously.

First off a model G54. This was the bottom of the line model from 1961-64? The date on the motor says it was made in 1962. I need all the parts for it yet though if anyone can help with that.

 

[collector2]

Next the model G72. Also the same era as the G54 but this was the top of the line. Motor date is 1964. Almost complete. Only the Crevice tool is missing.
(Just as a note - the G54 parts were 1" while the G72 parts were 1 1/4")

 

[collector2]

Next it a Challenge VC10 - made by Goblin. Its from 1966 (motor date). As you can see I need most of the parts for this one yet.

 

[collector2]

And, last but not least, a model 555 from 1976. This was the BOL model at the time and is missing one wand and the crevice tool. This model was also produced in blue and orange (both yet to be found)

 

[vintagerepairer]

Collector, prior to the 555, there was always much more of a choice of cleaner. But then during the 1970's Goblin scaled this right back to around just two cylinder and one upright for quite a while. The later part of the 1970's saw two uprights and 3 cylinders, but even so, Electrolux and certainly Hoover offered much, much more.

A number of other vacuum cleaner manufacturers had gone out of business during the end of the 1960's, and other makes like Morphy Richards stopped producing vacuum cleaners and concentrated on their other appliances. More imported brands were coming in. I think sales of cleaners had slumped a lot, though Electrolux and Hoover remained very popular choices, despite being amongst the most expensive of labels.

The blue Goblin 555 goes back to about 1972; the yellow is from the early 1980's, with the very last versions having all plastic tool kits.

 

[collector2]

Hey Benny:

Thanks for the info.

So far this is what I have from catalogues.

John Noble 1974 - Goblin 702, Goblin 461 (Blue)

Argos 1976 - Goblin 702, Goblin 555 (Brown)

Shoppers World ? - Goblin 666, Goblin 555 (Brown)

Argos 1981 - Goblin 666, Goblin 581 (yellow)

Kays 1982 - Goblin 581 (green)

Slowly finding out what came out when

Doug

 

[vacbear58]

Goblins

The Goblin 461 appears in the Which report from October 1973 at a price of £19.58, typically discounted to £15.43 which seems like its first appearence. That same report lists the 702 (previously 701 - largely the same though) at £42.45 which was pushing up on the same list price as the much more modern and advanced Lux 330 except that the Lux could be got for a discounted price of around £33.50. The Goblin 603 (previously 601 & 602), very clearly the successor to the model 72 shown above in the thread, was also listed at £34.55 - more expensive than both the Hoover Harlequin 429 and the Electrolux 94 - Doug got one of those recently too

So it seems like the 461/555 series initially replaced the 502 series (and that's the successor to the model 54 above in the thread) and perhaps, if it was still around, the very basic model 300 which seems to be the last of the round bodied Goblins. However, the 502 lived on, for a while at least, as an Electra exclusive and previously both Goblin canister and upright cleaners had been sold as Electricity Board exclusives. I have a couple of the 555 style machines as Electra exclusives too.

Al

 

[vintagerepairer]

Vacbear, the information you have posted is most interesting, particularly the parts which suggest Goblin were not amongst the cheapest to buy. Certainly they lacked the quality of their peers, and of course the 701 and 702 didn't even have an automatic cordwinder.

One of the biggest changes to the Goblin range came when they began producing a very large powerful-looking cylinder in the very early 1980's, the likes of which were actually nothing to do with Goblin but made by a 3rd party and given the Goblin name. The tubes were extremely large in diameter, 36mm if I am not mistaken, a design used typically on commercial machines. But all of that ended quite abruptly around 1984 when Goblin was acquired by the American company Shop Vac, and the new Goblin cleaners completely redesigned accordingly.

Though I was no fan of the appallingly cheap tool kits used on the "New" Goblin cleaners, they were adequate for the price-point and the target market. Shop Vac did very well in my opinion as they kept the brand well & truly alive.

 

[funvacfan]

My favourites

are the yellow one and the polka dot one. I can certainly see the appeal for this brand and styling!

Nice haul!

Guy

 

[davidbevan]

vintage goblin 29 cylinder

Hi this seems to be the place to get info on and maybe dispose of an old Goblin vacuum. The pics show a goblin 29 serial 80815 from british vacuum company 300w.
It came from my Aunt's house and I loved the cast ali fittings and could not bear to junk it!
Any Information and advice on disposal would be appreciated.
regards david

 

[robyn]

Goblin 851

I have found a goblin 851 in the attic and was wondering are there any collectors out there and how much there worth

 

[anthony]

they may have been cheap

but the fact that they have survived and still work speaks volumes

 

[collector2]

Hey Robin:

Could you email me some pictures? I'm not familiar with that model number It might be one to add to my collection. My email is [email protected]

Doug