My new (old) Filter Queen

[d-jones]

My parents bought a band new Filter Queen model 31 in 1975 that they've used as their primary vacuum cleaner ever since. In all that time the only replacement parts have been countless paper filter cones and a tool caddy. It seems the old one cracked clean through on one side during an unfortunate tumble down the stairs. Rather understandable under the circumstances and actually kind of amazing that that was the only damage.

At any rate, the vacuum cleaner soldiered on with its cracked tool caddy for many years until one day while my dad was using it, I wondered out loud whether or not a cream colored tool caddy might be available on eBay. He suggested that it would be wonderful if they were, because the cracked one had bugged him for years. So when I got home I had a look. Having never searched for anything related to vacuum cleaners before, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much was available, especially if you have the patience to check back now and then while waiting for just the right part to turn up. It took a few weeks to find a cream colored tool caddy in really nice condition (one got away when I was outbid) and somewhere along the way I started thinking I should probably get a Filter Queen for myself. But not just any Filter Queen, if I was going to piece one together for myself it would have to be exactly like my parents machine, after all, that is the vacuum cleaner I grew up with. I don't even remember the vacuum it replaced, though I'm told it was a GE.

Well, it took several months but here it is finally finished. I still need a crevice tool and felt pad for the floor brush, but it's essentially done. It's the spitting image of my folks machine. Most of the parts came from eBay, but the hose assembly and the two steel wands came from craigslist. They're in remarkable condition and I feel very lucky to have found them. All told, I have just a tad over a hundred dollars into it. Considering that my parents paid about five hundred for theirs(they didn't even try to negotiate on the price) I think I made out pretty well.

Anyways, here are some photos so you can decide for yourselves.

 

[d-jones]

The entire hose assembly is as nice as this end looks

 

[d-jones]

The cuffs on the wands are almost pristine.

 

[d-jones]

Even the floor brush cleaned up well. These things are often beat to hell.

 

[vacuumfreak]

That Filter Queen looks like its in awesome shape! Wish I had one of those : )

Daniel

 

[d-jones]

Thanks Daniel. I'm really happy to have it. Considering how well built these old machines are I fully expect this one to outlast me. They really are lifetime machines when properly cared for, and sometimes even when they're not and allowed to fall down the stairs. So there you have it. A word of thanks goes out to all of you folks here on this blog. Your love of vintage vacuum cleaners definitely inspired me.

 

[danemodsandy]

David:

I think it's really neat you went to such lengths to duplicate your parents' vacuum. I have a TriStar CXL I restored as the nearest modern equivalent to the Compact C-2 I grew up with, but it's far from being a duplicate. You really did well.

By the way, I like your kitchen very much. Those California houses' kitchens can have some really neat features in them, if the flippers and dot-commers haven't ripped them out in favor of granite and stainless.

 

[d-jones]

"if the flippers and dot-commers haven't ripped them out in favor of granite and stainless."

I agree completely, Sandy. Much of what most people call renovating, I would call vandalism.

And thanks for your comment. I really can't explain it but for some reason, just looking at this machine makes me smile. Probably because it's identical twin and I spent so much time together(when we were both much younger) cleaning the house. I should have done this years ago.

 

[d-jones]

Rather than start a new thread

I'll post this here. The only things missing to complete my model 31 are the crevice tool and felt pad for the floor brush as mentioned above. If I have to I can just keep checking on eBay. I'm sure they'll turn up eventually. But if anyone on this blog has an extra pair in this color and is willing to sell them I'd appreciate hearing from them.