New church janitorial vacuum

[riccarlover]

Hello,
Today when I went to church to go for my organ lessons, I found a new vaccum. The whole school had to go over to church today to practice a song and I thought I saw the janitor with a different vacuum. Sure enough when I got to church for my lesson, I opened the closet up (I usually am just nosie in the closet) I saw a red upright. Well, hello hello. I found a new ProGrade (Cirrus) instead of the $800 commercial Simplicity. Does anybody know anything about these cleaners? I have seen them before but all I know is that they are made cheaper than Riccar and Simplicity. I will try it out in the next few days and post a pic so everyone can see.
Clayton

http://www.cirrusvacuum.com/pro-8500.htm

 

[eluxca]

These are Tacony vacuums that are the private label of Kirkwood Vacuum here in the Cincinnati area. They sell them in the stores and online. For the most part they are the previous generation Simplicity uprights and I don't know about them being cheaply made - they seemed pretty decent when I checked them out last year at the store.

Kirkwood is the largest Simplicity/Tacony customer in the USA with 9 stores that move their machines. They have tremendous buying power and at one time were major Royal dealers - they haven't dropped the brand for sentimental reasons, but they don't actively push them anymore. Now the stores carry Simplicity and Lindhaus.

On a side note, Kirkwood's owner and Miele had a major disagreement a couple years ago and they quit carrying that brand, although they sold the heck out of the canisters. Word is that Miele is courting them back into the fold...

John

 

[eluxca]

Correction

I just received an email that Cirrus vacs are made by Buckeye Vacuum. The store clerk I talk to sometimes has his facts straight, sometimes not. I believe at one time, years ago, the Cirrus line was made by Tacony since they looked like a carbon copy of the old Simplicity upright and felt substantial. Cost cutting and desire for increased profit has led them to another manufacturer. I wonder if they are made in China and distributed through Buckeye, or if they are made here in USA?

Anyway, sorry for the incorrect info. Vacuum on-

John

 

[eluxca]

Well, now that I looked at the Cirrus website...

I see that Kirkwood doesn't have a darn thing to do with Cirrus anymore! I need to get out of the cave more often. And I'm am going to grill Jason at Kirkwood's about what he has told me.

John

 

[riccarlover]

what i found out

i was told they are made in china and was also told buckeye made them.
thanks though!
Clayton

 

[riccarlover]

UPDATE

today i tried the PG and i had mixed feelings about it. the features i liked about it:
1. lighter than simplicity it repalced
2. fast-task tools
3. quiet
4. picked up good
5. really easy to push
what i didnt like:
1. was lighter than simplicity
2. REPLACE SIMPLICITY(grrrr)
3. not extreme power for being commercial
4. didnt feel commercial eough
so overall i thought it was an ok machine. the fast-task tools i loved! i also noticed the bristles are softer than simplicity and riccar. but i thought it did a better job on the carpet than the simplicity. i dont know why though. the simplicity didnt work great on the carpet(commercial berber type).

 

[riccarlover]

Front

very red

 

[riccarlover]

back

fast-task tools!

 

[riccarlover]

bottom

looks just like tacony commercials

 

[electroluxxxx]

looks like a drugged up panasonic performance plus

 

[riccarlover]

LOL

i guess now that u say that, it pretty much is.
thanks for all the help!
Clayton