my new vorwerks

[gsheen]

I believe that at some time thses were sold in the states but not to sure , 


I got these and what good timing to as we have just become the vorwerk agents in Cape Town 


the one on the left is a vk116 the one on the right the vk 117 amazing attachments sets , the vk116 even has a polishing attachment.


 


i am still trying to work out exact ages but the vk116 is from the 60's and the vk117 from the 70's


what is amazing is that over the past week customers have brought in similar machines that are still in every day use. very light very manoverable. the new one is a hoot , will post about it in the new section later today

 

[gsheen]

vk116 with polishing head

 

[goadie12]

Wow I have never seen anything like that before those are some unique vacuums thanks. Zach

 

[whirlpolf]

years

hey Gareth, congrats!

As far as I know the 116 was 1966 - 1976, the 117 was 1975 - 1977/78 but was sold some longer than this, especially abroad from Germany (while here the completeley redesigned VK 118 was being introduced.)

Have a look at the model number plate on the back of the motor unit: Everything is printed, but one number is hot-pressed into the plastic: It should read something like 2569 (meaning week 25 of 1969).

Cheers
Joe

 

[gsheen]

Hey Jo thank you for that. As I said we have just become the agents in our City and although I have worked on a few I like to have all the info I can, I also have a Vk120, 121, 131, 135 and we got the vk 140 on Friday super powerful wow

 

[whirlpolf]

being the official dealer

wow, good for you.

I might be able to help you out on the older models: I used to have more than 2 garages full of Vorwerks and in a mindblowing frenzy, I trashed all of them. Was getting too much, that Vorwerk business. Right now I just collect some rare and odd special machines of all brands available, but once it should be getting more than my main room can handle: OUT! Out and gone for good. My hobby should remain a hobby, not a pesky task of keeping track of every tiny shifting and changing screws and colors of the manufacturers.

Yet, as far as I now: Maybe you can find out more learning from that other collector's page (see link, he is very likely to have swallowed up parts of my collection)
and up to the VK 122 models I know everything by experience and practical knowledge. So anything you might ask, feel welcome.

Just shoot me an e-mail.
Joe


http://www.vorwerk-museumprivat.de/

 

[eurekaprince]

Too bad we can't get these "tool-full" vacs in North America! The designs are so cool and the attachment system is so different from what we are used to over here. Love the "Tiger" canister they show on their website (see link below)...

I distinctly remember seeing the Vorwerk lightweight fan-first upright in use at the Dan Caesaria Hotel when my family visited Israel in 1973 for the first time (I was on the look-out for exotic vacs on any trip my family took - even as a teenager!)

Here's the Vorwerk website:

http://kobold.vorwerk.com/de/?et_cid=20&et_lid=79545

 

[tolivac]

Remember a Vorwerk vacuum at the used vacuum dsiplay at Star vacuums in the Wash DC area sometime in the 70'sWasn't into collecting vacuums at that time--now I wished I had it.Had all of the parts and tools-so reminds me a a Kirby in a way.Interesting machines.Have never seen one my way ever since.You ask any vacuum shop in the Greenville,NC area about a Vorwerk-they will look at you as if you had lobsters crawling out of your ears!

 

[whirlpolf]

yes you can!

Although not very widespread apparently, Vorwerk is available in North America (see link).

When rummaging through flea markets and goodwill shops, you also might want to look for brands such as "Bull Vac", "Advance", "Mighty Maid" or "Tennant", these were the US Vorwerk brands back then or Vorwerk was selling some models to these companies.

Indeed, they have some very ingenious tools: a crevice tool with a 6-position bending "knee", a suction cup to take up dust when drilling holes, their duster brush has retractable bristles so you can adjust it from "feather soft" to "stiff scrubbing brush" and the floor nozzle that you can see up above in the picture, its baseplate (white) is swiveling: When you push it against some table leg, it turns 90 degrees to clean up close to the leg and when pulling back it snaps back to the T-shape (spring loaded).

http://vorwerk.com/html/vorwerk_all_over_the_world.html

 

[gsheen]

Hard floor tool 

 

[gsheen]

turning 

 

[gsheen]

90deg

 

[gsheen]

Drill attachment which uses the vacs suction to stick to the wall, tried it it works great

 

[gsheen]

Cleaver little ratchet elbow allows you to adjust the position

 

[gsheen]

Joe

ok so the serial no on the 116 reads 7312 mmmm its on a metal plate , underneath the plate is the same thing on the plastic but no serial no ?????? help 

 

[sireluxomatic]

<span style="font-family: georgia,palatino; font-size: medium;">Those are really interesting looking machines, particularly the one with the swiveling bare floor head. Love that color scheme too...is it dark green, or is there something wrong with my monitor, or is my color blindness revealing itself?

</span>

 

[gsheen]

The latest one the vk140 is dark green and off white, its the one in the last pics