New Riccar Upright Models..Any Info yet?

[luxlife]

Yesterday, Tacony hosted a "product showcase" roadshow event in Houston, TX to show off their new Riccar clean air upright models. I tried to get in with a dealer friend of mine but their "security" detail would not let me in. because I was not a dealer. Of course, no cameras were allowed either. Whatever.....


 


Anyway, Riccar has this new upright called an R25 and I haven't found anything about it on the internet, nor the company website. I was only able to find pics on FaceBook (see attached).


 


If you know anything about this model, please share. 

 

[electromatik]

headlights look a little odd to me

Those look like they will also be equipped with the Tandem Air nozzles.

 

[blackheart]

Hmm...

I haven't heard anything about them but looking at them I have to wonder if they are dual motor systems. If you look at the handle of the Deluxe and Premium you can see something circular under the main switch this could either be a power indicator or perhaps an on/off for a secondary motor. Another thing that makes me think that is the nozzle itself it seems rather long. I also don't see the usual carpet/floor slider on the nozzle, but the tag shows hard flooring on it. I look forward to learning more about these.

 

[luxlife]

I just don’t know...

I think these could be a single motor design, but it looks very different. I did notice that these were referred to as “Clean Air” and not “Tandem Air”. Also these were on display directly next to a Tandem Air model. Only other thing I can figure is that it’s a 2 motor clean air design. I just can’t figure out what they’re doing!

 

[rugsucker]

"Headlights look a little odd--"

Didn't look odd on the Raymond Loewy post war Singer.

 

[ocscott3085]

At first glance these remind me of the old Eureka Excalibur uprights from the mid 90s.

 

[luxlife]

There’s still one opinion out there that I haven’t heard....

I’m gonna reserve my judgement until I see comments from our resident Tacony expert. Even then, only if he wants to share information.

 

[henrydreyfuss]

As Oscott3085 mentioned, it reminds me of the Eureka Excalibur from the 90's, and also the Dirt Devil MVP 2 motor vacuum. Looks like a 2 motor upright, and a far departure from their tried-and-true current clean-air lineup. If they have the expected Riccar quality, I'm very interested to learn more!

 

[luxlife]

Ahhh, how the threads do drift.......

Thank you very much for posting.

 

[vacuumdevil]

The fishnets on the hose

This would appear to be an update on the R20
It seems to be a 2 motor bypass system. As in 1 motor for the brush roller and one motor for the suction.
my understanding is it has been lightened up a little bit since the R20 had gotten a little overweight.
I'm sure it will be beta tested on the public like all Tacony products.

 

[luxlife]

Thanks for posting pics!

 

[electromatik]

"Didn't look odd on the Raymond Loewy post war Singer."

To me it did. Not sure why but I'm on the fence about one-eyed design styles. I do like them overall and they look high quality. Wish it had a cord reel though like many uprights of the past. I'm just devastated that canisters seem to be fading out...

 

[dysonman1]

I got to see it, use it, and play with it in it’s prototype form. They were absolutely dead set against putting the hinge on the front, until I showed them an Electrolux upright. The wheels on either side are huge, they are next to the body. Between the body and the nozzle frame. Kind of like the old sharp Big Wheels. The drop in bag design was what they were going for. I did not think it got the rug clean at all. They’ve had almost 2 years since I’ve seen it to work on it. I doubt it’s any more suction than the prototype. yawn! Nothing about the prototype made me want to buy it. I’m pretty sure it’s part of the new “made in China” series that is only being assembled by a couple workers at the factory. I could be wrong though. I will have to call my friends who still work at the factory.

 

[luxlife]

THANKS TOM!

As always, your input never disappoints. Had a feeling it was too good to be true. It really cracked me up the way people were scurrying around the entrance to that conference room at the hotel yesterday, acting like it was some humongous top-secret deal.

I think it’s sad and pitiful that you had to even show them the Electrolux upright. They wanted a drop in bag design but had no clue as to who was already making one??? They’re just totally out of touch with the industry!

 

[dysonman1]

That is exactly what I think. “Out of touch with the industry“. The engineers at the corporate level do not care anything about any vacuum cleaner other than the ones they designed. When they look at a new design, they look for its flaws. They never look at a competitor for what they do right. Never. 10 years ago I suggested a bag less ultralight, even drew out what it should look like for the marketing department. There were no other 8 pound bag less uprights with the fan first on the market. They just kind of laughed at me. They did copy the Electrolux dusting brush for the prima. They did copy the Kenmore Tandem air power nozzle for the Prima as well as the Electrolux cord rewinder design. The same phrase comes to mind about both Tacony and Kirby. “Late to the game”. Look at the Sebo Felix if you want to see a very user-friendly and consumer first design made for vac shops to sell.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@dysonman1 I couldn't agree more with you Tom !

 

[dysonman1]

A very good friend in Denver told me today about the rollout of the new Rice Car Upright for all the dealers in the Denver area. Instead of holding it in a hotel convention room, like in years past, they held it in a dirty, hot warehouse. Instead of having catered hors d’oeuvres, they went to the grocery store and bought, according to him, $25 worth of hummus and chips. Then they asked the dealers to place a $3500 opening order. However there won’t be no machines until November. One thing (among many) that I learned when working at the factory, never believe that a product is going to launch when they say. Sometimes the Chinese take longer to make things. Tacony is certainly changing under their new leadership.

 

[n0oxy]

not for the better

It doesn't sound like Tacony is changing for the better. I wonder if any dealers are going to take that gamble and place a $3500 order, I wouldn't. I would see how the market receives the new machines first. It doesn't sound like there is anything revolutionary about them.
Mike