Numatic John

[rutger]

Hello
I just thought I'd share my experience of the new Numatic John sold via John Lewis as part of their 150 year celebrations, fitted with the new lower watt eco-type motor. I got this recently (I'd originally got the purple Lewis model but a faulty front castor meant I returned him). Therefore I decided to get the green John model instead.
Well, having used him on various floor types, I can only conclude that if this new motor proves reliable, Numatic have a hit on their hands.
The new motor is quiet, powerful & the new floor tool really excellent with very good edge cleaning. The whole package inspires far more confidence (although as I say it's early days yet) than the old 2 speed auto-save did with it's flimsy boost switch. The power available reminds me of the early Henry's that always seemed to have more "wallop" than the later ones & I find the single speed no handicap at all (the red "on" light is cool too).
I heard that the new Henry's (& Harry) with this motor will appear in September this year.
I like this little machine a lot, it's a real improvement on it's predecessor. It's also nice that it's from British company.
Cheers
Dave

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

Numatic are brilliant. I have a George and they are so tough and durable, built from really high grade materials. Just genuinely functional units, relatively easy to sue for what they are as well.

Post a picture of the new floor head ? Think numatic have used the same generic floor head forever ahah

 

[dys0nb0y]

Don't forget to Show us lots of pics

 

[sebo_fan]

Are there still no points on this machine to store the smaller cleaning tools though? Id have thought Numatic could have added rings at the back for the tools to store onto.

 

[rutger]

Hi

There's one "hook" type attachment already attached & clipped onto the brim of his hat(same type they've had for a while)that will hold one small tool but generally I add a couple more. It is a touch irritating as the stored tools can catch on door frames etc & ping off, but they're no worse than the ones that attach to the main pipes like on some vacuum's, I find those more annoying. I do prefer proper dedicated tool storage under a flap like our old Miele has but given the Henry shape I can see this wouldn't be possible.

Dave

 

[sebo_fan]

This is what I liked about James with his open top.. but then you'd have the fun of having to lasso the entire cord wrapping it around the body after you finish vacuuming.

Id have thought Numatic could have put slot rings on the back of the wheel castor frame beside the main switches. It would have been more logical to add rings there either side of the new park position added onto the back of the tub for the new floor head to slot onto.

 

[rutger]

I must admit that is an excellent idea concerning slot rings at the back near the "park", hopefully Numatic will do it one day.

Incidentally I don't suppose anyone knows who actually manufactures these new lower watt Numatic motors do they? I assume it's bought in & not Numatics own.

Cheers

Dave

 

[sebo_fan]

Thank you. I've seen it on more modern Vax canister tubs as well as elderly Electrolux MasterVac tubs.

I have already suggested it to Numatic many moons ago but I think they were worried about the durability tests and if the rings shot through if Henry/et al was abused badly. They also tried a secondary wall around the existing design to house extra tools, but that also had the same problem if the sides got knocked. Im sure there's another solution.

 

[vintagerepairer]

The solution came in the form of that canvass bag. Do they still use those? It has to be remembered that any 'feature' on any item is there only to either ensure that a product sells, or else can be sold for more money. In this instance I doubt the absence of on-board tools is harbouring the sales of the cleaner, even if the collectors amongst it find it to be a useful addition. Thus, no incentive for Numatic to have this feature.

 

[sebo_fan]

Well actually, on board tools are an issue on the Henry. I've heard buyers say it and I've read reviews about it - the issue of not being able to store tools like the dusting brush AND crevice on board is a downside. The clips are handy but they often break and so, they are a short term solution.

Numatic don't install the free bag any more with Henry vacs unless you happen to buy an past year model. You now have to buy the bag separately, which I think is a great pity - the canvass bags are also great for shopping with!

Another downside was the floor head as a complaint from domestic owners - which the new one obtained from Wessel Werk may be a lot better or lighter to push along carpets without the air valve at the top opened.

 

[vintagerepairer]

Point taken that noises have been made about these aspects, but in terms of numbers, the cost of altering / adding a new design would have to be justified by additional sales as a result of it. I would certainly float the suggestion that if sales were being lost in vast, quantifiable units, Numatic would be right onto it.

 

[sebo_fan]

Thing is though, until that EU law was passed, Numatic have done very little for the domestic market other than bring out fancy colours and a slight change of adding that parking slot onto the back of the cleaner. Switches have been changed presumably down to the non-functioning buttons or broken switches when the Autosave button ran into problems.

Bit by bit, domestic suggestion or pressures to pull Henry into this century show that the company are willing to change the design, if only a bit at a time.

After all, not many commercial cylinder vacs "proper" I have used have a park position on the back for the floor tool and commercially, as you probably know Benny, the worse part of Henry that goes early is either the floor head twin pedals, or the flex which needs to be restitched back in. Other issues are worn down cuffs where cleaners have used that to get into corners to clean dust out of and at times the cuffs get bent, making it impossible for the other pipes to push back in.

I can sympathise greatly that no tool storage would be required on commercial versions of Henry etc as tools could get lost over time, or the things that hold them in would break easily.

SEBO's Professional D series has only 2 cleaning tools as opposed to the standard 3 on the domestic version, and a pigtail type connector cable should it break in use.