huskyvacs
Well-known member
Hello all! I have returned yet again with another curious yet mysterious vacuum purchase to add to my collection. This is something I picked up at the local Restore for $30.00 back on December 30, 2022. I know it seems expensive, and yes I agreed on that too, but I hemmed and hawed about it and I said "I'll do it". I followed my own rule that if I have never seen something before, and it looks unique, it just might be rare, and that usually proves me right. Also it's cheaper than eBay which is usually where I get all my vacuums from since it's hard to find vacuums in thrift stores where I live. I am not sure if they just chuck them in the bin or what, but it is usually months between seeing any for sale.
When I got it I originally thought it was a Shop-Vac, like many of you would say right off the bat. It looks nearly exactly like the early 80's Shop Vacs that came in this same color scheme. However, there is one nuance, the colors are reversed! The pattern goes from light to dark gradients of blue going from top to bottom, and not dark to light like on a Shop-Vac.
Of course the first thing that drew me was the weird looking industrial motor on top. I thought that was pretty cool. However I did not notice until I got home and took all the attachments off the lid that this motor was a bodge.I am not sure what vacuum it came from but it looks pretty old. What amazed me is that this thing does still pull quite a lot of suction, enough to discolor your skin when sticking the hose to your hand. For such a tiny motor on this big drum that is quite a feat!
If anyone knows an exact idea of who made this, I would appreciate knowing for my collection's inventory. I did find one other photo online of one, but it was too poor of a photo from a Facebook advertisement to make out the label. I have a suspicion it is made by a brand called "Master Mechanic" which has a history of copying Shop-Vac paint jobs with inverted designs, but I am not 100% sure on it.
More photos and discussion after the jump. Enjoy!
Photo taken on: 1/3/23 11:26 AM

When I got it I originally thought it was a Shop-Vac, like many of you would say right off the bat. It looks nearly exactly like the early 80's Shop Vacs that came in this same color scheme. However, there is one nuance, the colors are reversed! The pattern goes from light to dark gradients of blue going from top to bottom, and not dark to light like on a Shop-Vac.
Of course the first thing that drew me was the weird looking industrial motor on top. I thought that was pretty cool. However I did not notice until I got home and took all the attachments off the lid that this motor was a bodge.I am not sure what vacuum it came from but it looks pretty old. What amazed me is that this thing does still pull quite a lot of suction, enough to discolor your skin when sticking the hose to your hand. For such a tiny motor on this big drum that is quite a feat!
If anyone knows an exact idea of who made this, I would appreciate knowing for my collection's inventory. I did find one other photo online of one, but it was too poor of a photo from a Facebook advertisement to make out the label. I have a suspicion it is made by a brand called "Master Mechanic" which has a history of copying Shop-Vac paint jobs with inverted designs, but I am not 100% sure on it.
More photos and discussion after the jump. Enjoy!
Photo taken on: 1/3/23 11:26 AM
