My vacuum collection is "gone"

[johnsmith96]

Good morning guys,
You might know me on YouTube by my username John Smith. I haven't posted in a while, or on here rather. But some information I wanted to share was my entire collection minus my rotator powered liftaway is boxed up and in my basement sealed away until I finish college and move out from home. Before Christmas my parents remodeled my bedroom and along with it, the closet that all my machines were stored in. They said they needed to be out of the house or at least somewhere else. So, that's where they will stay for now. I'm not upset about it, and it's kind of refreshing that they are out of the way. So no videos will be posted unless I aquire more machines, which they would not be happy about. Maybe this is a good way to create an easy way to part with some machines that I don't care for as much as others when I reopen them again. Also, for those of you with significant others, how did they feel when they found out you had so many machines? I know they should be "accepting" but I understand how it would be odd and maybe bother some people/give the perception that I have an obsession.

 

[vacuumlover11]

K

K sounds good

 

[gregvacs28]

Someone named John or Smith.... that's so specific and unforgettable. I don't know....

 

[jo]

Well, my partner knows I have several vacuums and we have an extra washing machine I won’t part with either. I try to keep my collectibles out of the way in a closet in the room I use as my personal office/den. We all have our side of stuff we want. He respects that about me and I respect that about him. He will sometimes at a dinner or something with friends and vacuum cleaners come up for conversation say “Jon has like 10 vacuums or something” and pass the conversation to me. People don’t see aghast at that as a lot of households usually end up with 2 or 3 or sometimes up to 5 of different types, perhaps older ones, a vacuum on every level, a shop vac etc...so having multiples isn’t that bad. We have 4 we use regularly out of the 11 I currently have and I just picked up a new one off the trash today to rehab if I choose to spend the money so that would make 12. I do try to give ones I’m not crazy about away after I try them out and have had any fun with them and if I don’t find them enjoyable they are easy to send off to Goodwill if I can’t find a friend or family member needing one.

I call it recycling ....on the ones I get off the trash and fix up and pass on to others or Goodwill or Habitat for humanity.

Jon

 

[johnsmith96]

My name

Yes obviously my name is NOT John Smith. Years and YEARS ago I made a profile with intentions of being able to comment and post on vacuum videos without people tracing me back to other online profiles or emails etc. While I do not have to post my real name, I've seen many instances where people can get sloppy and end up leaving info online that traces them back to their personal information. Also many years ago I was not allowed to have a cell phone, so I used my iPod touch and a texting app. It required an email and name to use, I chose John Smith that way people who I contacted to sell things, or telemarketing people wouldn't know my name. That's the same email I used for my YouTube. I understand how it's unspecific, but my followers know my profile and always call me John. It's kind of hard to change now

But thank you Jo or Jon for
responding to my initial post, you focused on my main points haha

 

[mvpdude]

@jo

I have a rotating collection (for the most part), buying machines I find locally that are rare or good vacuums and clean them up, make minor repairs, and sell them (usually breaking even, or a tiny profit, not accounting for time spent). It's fun for me, and I'm not terrible at it.

That said, I always hate when my vacuums are brought up, as most of my friends have 1, maybe 2 vacs, and for all of them, at least the 1 is a cordless stick vac. So of course, I feel like I'm left not only trying to explain how my collection is no more odd than that of someone who collects anything, yet also trying to explain why a cordless vacuum isn't generally good as being the only vacuum to own.

 

[blackheart]

oh

That's too bad. I've enjoyed your videos. But from the sounds of it this is more a delay than a discontinuation.
In regards to your other question Been single a long time but those who I have dated didn't have a problem with it and some even found it "cute" how I'd "geek out" over them. Some people may be put off by it but eh. It's a part of our lives and ya kinda get everything when you date someone.

 

[myles_v]

"Also, for those of you with significant others, how did they feel when they found out you had so many machines?"

I haven't dated anyone who really had much to say about it. Almost every guy I've dated in the last few years has ended up with a new vacuum, so they can't complain too much lol. I have one ex who had four Orecks and thought they were the best things ever, I didn't have the heart to tell him that there were better options out there.

My current boyfriend is really interested in music and instruments, so my vacuum room is now also the instrument room. It works out well enough for us.

 

[rodknock95]

Significant other

Mine doesnt care. When he moved in there three dusty kirbys and a electrolux, which were long forgot about in the attic of the garage. Starting in March of last year I got hooked, pulled those vacuums out and restored them, and added 52 more kirbys and 30 electroluxs, pretty much filling up the basement. He doesnt complain about any of them and supports whatever I want to do as long as they are not where he can stub his toe... Guardian Platinum took him down one day and now he is scared, LOL. So I say you do your thing. As far as relationships go, dont sacrifice your happiness for others. Thats my advice

Blaze

 

[dysonman1]

When I met the man who is now my husband, I told him that I owned about 600 vintage vacuums, and that a company had built a museum to house them. That was my job, the curator of the vacuum cleaner museum. He thought the museum was fascinating when he saw it. I kept only a couple vacs at home, but on our first date I did show him the Rainbow and my model L Lux from 1968. He had never used a canister vacuum before.

He owned a Dirty Devil and a Eureka Victory before I met him, so anything was an upgrade. My vacuum collecting didn't upset him at all, but he didn't have to deal with a house full of machines either. That was six and a half years ago. We bought our current house right before we got married - and I now have a 'vacuum room' since we have two guest bedrooms. I have 29 machines at home plus my Modern Day central vac (the only vacuum my husband will use).

He has taken a slight interest in the machines at home, and comments on how quiet the really old ones are. All in all, he's always been cool with the collection and has bought me vintage cleaners to add to my collection from time to time.

 

[jo]

I sort of normalize my vacuum collection

I sort of normalize my vacuum collection to my partner. I tell him I don’t spend a lot of money and most of the vacuums I’ve gotten free and Injust like the brand and they don’t make them the way they used to. (I’m all about Aerus/Electrolux And some Sharks) anyway we have multiples in use so that keeps about half of what I have as useful and practical and the others have been acquiremenrs over time I’ve fixed up or flat out gotten really good deals on that I couldn’t pass up for pennies in the dollar. Just recently when we were out for a walk there was a vacuum on someone’s trash pile at the curb and he said “vacuum?” And I said “eh” and kept walking. Passing it up. I did decide later to go get the attachments and then finally the whole thing discovering the power mate had a broken neck. It works good for the exception of the neck. I figured I could get the part and give it away to someone in his family in need. He doesn’t mind when I do this because he knows it saves them a bunch of money.

Collecting anything is often a hobby. I’ve found that people only seem to see it not as odd as we think they would. I’ve seen people collect power tools, sewing machines, lawnmowers, and all sorts of things. My Father really got into collecting wood planes and has many beautiful ones but his hobby is woods working. He also collects golf clubs and has several sets. My Sister is an artist and has all sort of art supplies for different mediums and a huge studio room, she converted her walk up attic over the house to a giant studio room. Would someone think these are weird? Not so much so I don’t think the vacuum collecting is all that odd.

Jon

 

[human]

rodknock95 wrote:
I got hooked, pulled those vacuums out and restored them, and added 52 more kirbys and 30 electroluxs, pretty much filling up the basement.

I reply:
Okay, that makes me feel a little better about the size of my collection. My Kirbys and Electroluxes number in the single digits each, seven and nine respectively, and my entire collection totals about 25 machines, but I have them stashed in just about every nook and cranny. I've had girlfriends give me shit about having so many vacuums, suggesting I have a hoarding disorder and encouraging me to sell off all but one or two, but who's the first person they turn to when they need a vacuum? And yeah, I don't always get them back.

 

[marks_here]

Since my Troy passed away 6yrs ago I so appreciated his acceptance for my collecting anything and now that's probably why I'm still single, everyone is a minimalist or is only into themselves and wouldn't have room for me or for anything else.

 

[gregvacs28]

Sweet story

"I owned about 600 vintage vacuums, "


Can one get any closer to an ideal love story? It's better than I've done. Good for you both.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@dysonman1

What a wonderful love story Tom!