Nice vintage vacuum for everyday use

[rll70sman]

Hi all. I'm usually on AW.org but thought to flip over to this site for some sound advice. My 2001 Kenmore Whispertone canister is slowly falling apart, and I'm looking for a nice vintage vacuum cleaner for everyday use. I've come to the conclusion that anything brand new is pretty short-lived. I know of a nice old 1979-80 Montgomery Ward-badged Eureka upright that seems like a good choice. What would you recommend as a daily driver? Is there any brand that's better than another? Thanks for your help!

Rob

 

[xraytech]

I would reccomend something that was a rather common model when new and something easy to repair.
I think your mention of the Wards badged Eureka is a great choice for daily use, other things I'd suggest also would be the Hoover Convertible, or if you are a canister person an electrolux like a Super J or Olympia.

Hope this helps, and let us know what you choose.

 

[hydralique]

A high end, high quality vac that was made by a company still making vacuums is going to be easiest to find parts for - you might look into Tristar (Compact), Filter Queen, Raibow or Kirby in addition to the old Electroluxes. Any of these should last for years and years if maintained.

 

[Real1]

If.....

you can live with a canister type vac, you can't beat the LUX G. If you wanna go a little newer and still have a all metal, transitional model-the LUX 1205 with the fully electric hose & PN-2. I'm partial, but hey, you asked!;-)

No particular problem (except matching color body parts), getting parts for either model, although more out there currently for the 1205.

Kevin

 

[henry200]

I'm prefer a cannister and I'll second the idea of an Electrolux.  I have several vintage ones and they are all great performers with no problems, and a few are well over 50 years old.  Filter Queens and Compacts are also great machines.  For an upright you can't go wrong with a Eureka or a Hoover Convertible.  A Kirby in good condition is mighty nice too. 

 

[xraytech]

A kirby is another good choice, but remember if it is a pre-Heritage model it will have the dump bag which could be a real mess to empty

 

[vac_whisperer]

Um, I think you mean pre-Tradition.

 

[xraytech]

no, I meant pre heritage, at least in my area everyone opted for dump bag Trditions

 

[vac_whisperer]

Dumpout-bags were an option all the way up to the H2, as the Trad was the first Kirby to feature the dumpout bag.

 

[brandon_w_t]

The Legend two was the last kirby to have a dump out bag system. Also last for the 13" brush roll.


As for a good reliable vacuum for daily use thats vintage, you can not beat an old Eureka F&G or maybe a hoover convertible. Eureka upright parts are still quite easy to get.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

from personal experience, shake bags on kirby's really aren't messy. once you shake the bag out and open the emtor, it plops into a neat little pile on a piece of news print of paper towel you put under it and you toss it.

 

[vacuumfreak]

If you are looking for an upright I would go with a Eureka F&G model, a Hoover Convertible or a kirby. If you are looking for a canister though, Electrolux's and Compact/Tristar's are good too ;-)

 

[kirbylover]

They don't make them like they used to..

If you have mostly carpet and like uprights, I would suggest KIRBY! I think the Hertiage through Legend II are the toughest Kirbys ever made. The Heritage was the first to get the modern paper bag and also I like the bag hanger, it's a better design then the Classic/Tradition style. Tradition was the first to get paper bags, but they are they old style and the fill tube is thinner (can clog). This is easy enough to fix by putting a Heritage style sani-emtor or mini emtor with the larger fill tube (you could do it with older models as well, but you'd have to get a cloth bag with a zipper). Everyone will tell you the mini-empor (most popular on the Heritage II/Legend II) work better than the larger sani-emtor however I find the sani-emtor still works fine on my Heritage.

If you don't have alot of carpet (wood floor, a few area rugs) then a Kirby isn't the best choice as they are big and heavy to move around.

 

[tazcatsdad]

They REALLY don't make them like they used to!

<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;">If I had to rely solely on a vintage machine as my daily driver, I'd opt for an F&G Eureka (like one of the 2000 series models pictured below) or a Hoover Convertible (as far as uprights go) -- based on the fact that parts for both of these designs can still be obtained.  As for canisters, I'd choose a pre-Aerus Electrolux (even though I have an Epic 6500SR, my personal faves are the Diamond Jubilee or the 2100) or a Filter Queen (such as the Majestic Triple Crown) ... they're both time-tested designs that are still easily serviceable.</span>


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;">Hope this helps -- good luck in your search!</span>


 


<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,geneva;">Bill W.</span>

 

[Sablekid]

How about an older Royal?

No nonsense deep cleaner.

 

[brandon_w_t]

Cordaway!

I have been using mine a lot recently. I just LOVE this machine. Eurekas best.

 

[mercuryman]

You Can't Beat an Old Lux:

These machines are workhorses and, to this day, can be repaired very easily with the abundance of available replacement parts out there. This is a pic of a Model 1205:

 

[mercuryman]

And if you want a cute, lightweight Lux:

Here's the Model L:

 

[floor-a-matic]

Uprights:
Kirby (SUPER duper powerful)
Hoover Convertible
Eureka F & G style
Royal metal

Canisters:
TriStar/Compact/Revelation
Electrolux (Easy bag change)
Filter Queen
Rainbow (NO filters to buy! Uses only water)

Or maybe even a central vac?