My feelings for my Vorwerk Kobold VK200 + intro of me

[drsnuggle]

I have not been particulary active at this forum until recently. I have seen people post pictures and videos so I decided I will do the same as to introduce myself. I recognize quite a few here which I found positive. I do wish to see more videos from others doing the Vorwerk which is my favorite vacuum (also Sebo Felix).

I live in Sweden and I have only been interested of vacuums for say 2 years. I now have 12 vacuums, mostly German as I come from Europe, but I also have one Oreck!
Clean air vacuums is my thing and I equally like uprights as well as canisters. Bagless vacuums are not my forte as they seem to be of low quality and I have dust mite allergy.

Vintage vacuums does not interest me that much due to the fact that Sweden is not know for having a vacuum culture :-(. Sweds do not use powerbrushes and people think uprights are those cordless stick vacuums popular these days.

Here is the video I did and if you think that pictures is ok, but videos not. Do not watch, but let me know if it is inappropriate. See this as a introduction of me. I have no reason to make this a habbit and I am glad that I took the step to be a bit active here. Thank you!





http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUVk84dm-jU

 

[v6jme]

Cat man

Hej

It the Swedish man with the cat : )

Jakub

 

[eurekaprince]

Thank you Jakub for joining us here at Vacuumland. I am very much enjoying your latest videos demonstrating the beautifully-designed Kobold system.

Quick question: does the Vorwerk's hose handle have a suction relief valve to adjust the suction when dusting? It would seem to be helpful to have - especially when using that innovative dusting brush.

 

[myles_v]

Oh! I've watched a number of your videos in the past. They're all very good

I share your feelings on bagless vacuums, btw. Welcome to the forum and happy vacuuming!

 

[drsnuggle]

No air valve

No, it does not. Personally this tool I find a bit flimsy as the brisles offers no resistens due to being few and soft. I normally lower the power speed to Soft or medium when I use it. The green thing in the pic is a lever to retract or pull out the brush. The dustbrush itself has a nice wide opening that helps airflow. Yes I have been reading the posts here . The blue thing is my morning coffee!

And thanks for the other comments as well!
Now I must go to work :-(.
/Jakob

 

[eurekaprince]

Aha, I see. But at least you can lower the power of the motor.

Eureka used to include a "Groom-a-Pet" tool with their vacuums here in North America. It was like a dusting brush but instead of bristles, it came with a ring of plastic fingers that combed the fur on cats and dogs. Too bad Vorwerk does not give you such an attachment for your kitty-cats!

 

[turbo500]

Sweden seems to follow the trends of lots of European countries - lots of hard floors with rugs down. I understand cylinder vacs are far more popular in Sweden than uprights?

Where my brother lives in The Netherlands, you don't see uprights at all.

 

[drsnuggle]

What's an upright???

It not a trend here in Sweden, we have never been proponents of uprights. When I show my videos to friend or colleagues two things usually happen.

1. They say that they have one similar. I get suprised (!) and then they say it is weak and they only use it in the hallway. It turns out to be a stickvacuum.

2. They ask: That's one of those American vacuums, right?
Well, I use to think so too. I bought my first upright, The Felix Classic in the pic, about 8 month ago. It was rather difficult to use at first, but now I really like upright. I do however appriciate both uprights and cylinders. Why American? It originates from TV were we Sweds see them in American TV-series .

I got a nice surprise though when shopping foodstuff a couple of weeks ago. I and the clerk started talking vacuums and he began as in point 1. But then he said "It is super powerful and I use it everywhere. I can even clean my sofa with it". He turned out to have a Kirby!!

I hope my english is not to bad. It is difficult to know if I use the words in the right context. If I do not, then please forgive me. I do try.

 

[kirbysthebest]

DrSnuggle

Your English is perfectly understandable.


Thank You for sharing your experiences with us.   Here is the states I used see that people gravitate towards what they grew up with.  If your Mom had an upright, you tend to go upright.  If you Mom was a tank/canister person, people tend to go with tanks.


 


When I was growing up neighbors, and friends tended to have uprights Kirby, Royal, Hoover or Eureka.  or Tanks Electrolux, Eureka, or Air-Way.  Occasionally you would hear of a neighbor that got one of those odd machines like a Fairfax or Rainbow.  Some would go to their Sear's store and get their vacuum.  For some reason in our part of the world, you rarely saw some of the other Door to Door brands, but occasionally someone would have a Lewyt, or a Compact. 


 


Then the whole throw-away thing began and you see people grabbing whatever, with no brand, or style loyalty.   I once asked seven different people at work what kind of vacuum they had.  None, not one could give a brand name.  Some answered "Red" or "Bagless". 

 

[drsnuggle]

Be careful, be on your guard

Thanks about the English. I can now relax.

Yes I have noticed, since I became interested in vacuums 2 years ago that it is a cultural thing. In US and in UK they are all very sentimental and remember vacuums from their childhood.

Most people in Sweden are the same as the Walmart vacuum buying costumers, but they do seem to know the brand, but no specifications and which model. It can go like this.
-What vacuum do you have?, I say.
-I have a Miele?, they say
-Ok, is it a C3 or? Does it have a turbobrush? What wattage?
-Ooo..aaa..mmmh. I do not know.

I am generalizing of course (spelled with a Z and not an S!).


In America you should be careful. The low wage country products will take over fast. It just took a couple of years in Sweden and suddenly, boom, all Swedish made premium quality appliances was gone. Here is an example video by vacuumtests (mike811) of the history of Electrolux (which Swedish people was so proud of).


[this post was last edited: 8/4/2017-14:40]

 

[mike811]

I love those old Electrolux vacuums when they used to be pure quality.
Now quality has gone downhill, but at least we have Ultra-series (like UltraOne). Those are only Electroluxes what I would buy. They are still made in the EU.

Lux continued where Electrolux stopped. Making high quality vacuums.
Unfortunately price of the Lux vacuums has gone through the roof. Not many can afford those.
Here is the latest Lux S115. I can only dream on it. Price has four numbers, so I can't afford one. It has two hepa filters and much more high end features, than I can remember.

 

[mike811]

DrSnuggle

And by the way. Excellent intro of you!

You have very professional videos in youtube

 

[drsnuggle]

Thanks! About Electrolux UltraOne

Electrolux have parts made from different countries, one being China. I bought mine 2016. The pictures show the 800W motor (made in Slovenia), The powerbrush and mini-turbobrush (made in China). Also, on the cord I found a Chinese factory name (but hard to see on camera so I don't post it). It is probably just assembled in EU, but the parts are harvested elsewhere. Still I see on Swedish forums, people recommend "The Swedish made electrolux".

They had a lot of complains during 2011-2014 about things breaking and such. Here is one interesting customer forum in Australia from those days, some are from 2015:

https://www.productreview.com.au/p/electrolux-ultraone-z8821p-z8871p/m/z8821p.html

I think Elecrolux has shaped-up since then and I am rather pleased with my item. Though I prefer premium quality brands, of course.

Nice to hear that there is something left at least. Lux seems to only sell door-to-door.