Older riccar brilliance vs new Maytag m1200

[gmarquez]

Ok so I’ve decided to sell off my rainbow and replace it with one of the tandem air uprights. Now for the dilemma I can get a used riccar brilliance from 2008 for about $250 or a new Maytag for about $150 more. When I worked in a vacuum shop one of the first things I noticed was a lot of early model radiance’s where none functional so I’m wondering if the early model brilliance also had the same common failures.

 

[panasonicvac]

The M1200 is 10 times an improvement over the older Brilliance/Synchrony models. It's definitely worth the extra for. I would grab one as soon as possible because Tacony no longer manufactures for Maytag and there aren't very many new ones left.

 

[blackheart]

Spend the extra

I'd go for the new machine especially if it's through a dealer, you'd get a warranty at least.

 

[honestjoe68]

I own a 2017 Riccar and a 2018 Simplicity Tandem Air so I can’t attest to the reliability of the older models, but I do know I feel they are great vacuums that are made well and perform well. But I too would also recommend you buy the Maytag M1200.

I also own the Maytag M1200, M700, M600 and M500 and Love them! I started with the M1200 and was so impressed I wanted to have all the different models. I don’t use the M700 much and I have the M600 cordless in it’s box as a collectible just for my own reasons.

So I highly recommend the Maytag M1200 and I hope they do NOT start making them in China if Tacony really no longer owns them.

One last thing to show the quality and power of the Maytag M1200, I have experienced it sucking fine powdery dust all the way from under my area rugs and seen it “agitate/vibrate” dirt out of my thick area rug and then suck it up. It’s great to use for attachment cleaning too as mine came with a Pet Fur Tool that is excellent at removing my Chihuahua Corgi’s short hair off of everything. Maytag also has the high end quality natural bristle dusting brush and quality things like the top Cord Winding Hook is made of metal as well as the vacuum handle. Just an overall well made, excellent quality and high performing vacuum cleaner.

Either way they are both great, I’m just sorry I can’t help you with older models as the majority of my collection was purchased from 2016 to now.

Best of Luck and please post pics if you decide.

Patrick

 

[tolivac]

I have the Maytag and Simplicity "Mustard Yellow" machine that is similar to the Maytag.I do like the Maytag better-even though the workings of the two vacuums are the same.I DON'T like the hoses on board-they make the machines more awkward.And what is with that USELESS to me pet tool? one came with the Maytag and another came with the Tandem air Simplity canister vacuum I have.Guess somone will need to show me how that attachment is supposed to work.Since I don't have pets of course the tool is useless to me.

 

[dysonman1]

More than 80 percent of the tandem air vacuum cleaner is made in China. The only thing American made about it is the injection molded plastic. The motors, cords, switches, brush rollers, bags, in fact everything except the plastic parts all come from China. The hall sensor, the circuitboard, those parts fail commonly. I spent 10 years repairing those machines. I wouldn’t have one. That’s why the Made In America sticker had to be removed from the boxes.

 

[sharky]

After recent developments threads like these are even more fun to read:
https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?27291

Best quotes:
reply #7: "Will clean rings around any awful-wreck ever built. Congratulations on a GREAT vacuum. Glad you like it. The 216 Americans with a JOB making them, will be happy that you are so satisfied. " -dysonman

reply #11: "The fan material on the new models was changed to polythalmide, just like Kirby fans are now. The Quality Control department runs 100 quarters through one motor out of each pallet of motors, to test the fans." - dysonman

reply #18: "I sure hope these employees are well taken care of because their products are outstanding! I don't want to get bogged down about "globally sourced" vs "American Made"[...] What matters most is that products like Tacony's are well made with pride and that there are jobs created as a result." - luxlife

reply #22: "
Fan case of new Premium ultra light. Engineers really do study history. " - dysonman


reply #29: "Since the awful-wreck existed before the design of the Simplicity, we were able to ask owners of 'wrecks' what they didn't like about the machine - and proceeded to design a truly great cleaner based on their feedback." - dysonman

reply #46: "These machines are destined to become tomorrow's classic collectors item. Awesome performance and craftsmanship!" - luxlife


Not to mention all the hoo-ha about the Riccar Wonder/Prima when they first came out, and all the zillions of satisfied customers and collectors Tom G. was able to help with the masterpieces of workmanships - MADE IN USA.

Fast forward to 2019: now these machines are "chinese junk", unreliable, and Tom G. discloses that he had hundreds of tacony machines brought in for repair.

I know that some folks will once again point out "negativity" on the forum - I just want to share some questions I'm asking myself and everybody can make up their own mind. There is nothing wrong with helping people. There is nothing wrong with recommending vacuum brands - it starts to become questionable when someone is affiliated with a certain company, but hey, everybody knew and could decide for himself if this is "help" or a sales pitch.

What I find a bit irritating is someone talking his FRIENDS and fellow collectors into buying machines, and then eventually disclosing that they are trash and that he knew all along.

And I find it also irritating if he only does so because he is upset with his former employer. It is a bit fishy and inappropriate to finally turn publicly on a company when things turn sour. Behaviour of this kind would make me reconsider a cooperation.

Not intending to stir the pot - just reminding you of certain values that many of yours seem to be so proud of. Peace out.

 

[kirbysthebest]

The Prima launch was lots of fun

I believe this thread was used in evidence when the FTC investigated Tacony for fraud, and mislabeling

https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?28570

 

[kirbysthebest]

Made in America

Got them spanked

https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?32548

 

[sharky]

Oh, I missed the fraud thread - interesting.
Yes, the Prima thread is nice. (btw, someone should dig out all the Kirbyloverdan threads - they were hilarious)

reply #9 - "but trust me - as someone who has helped with the design of this machine from when it was nothing more than an idea on a piece of paper - It's WORTH THE WAIT" - dysonman

I wonder how Tina is doing - the nice lady who did the quality checks.

 

[ralph123]

Sharky - your comments are not an accurate portrayal of what Tom said. You have to look at context.

Your first set of comments (7, 11, 18, 22, 29) are referring to the light weight Riccar and Simplicity uprights. These are very good machines that have excelled in Consumer Reports testing.

The junk comment was referring to the Tandem Air machines. These have been less reliable due to their complexity.

Comments about one product line may not be applicable to another. While the company may have wanted to move production to the US, it is only feasible when consumers are willing to pay the premium for a made in the USA vacuum. When consumers prefer cheaper vacuums from Shark and Dyson, their hands are tied.

 

[electroluxxxx]

Let's also not forget that when one works for a company that has a habit of threatening ones job constantly, and also has a habit of policing youtube and threatening people with legal action for calling out the troubled areas on certain products, that person is going to do whatever they can to make sure their words do not interfere with their job even if it means spilling the truth.

I had a tandem air once before and it was short lived. I wouldn't mind having one again as a collection piece, but I find them heavy, bulky and they are not as good as people make them out to be. I have used the new ones in shops and from other peoples collection and they aren't for me. I tend to really like the Freedom and Supralite as they are better and somewhat sturdier than an Oreck in many ways. However if you had to have a tandem air, go with the new that way you get the full warranty and if there is an offer for an extended warranty, get it so you're protected.

 

[sharky]

1) @ralph, lightweight chinese plastics are excellent, whereas tandem air chinese plastics are not?

2)
@electroluxxxx
Advertising, announcing new products prematurely, spilling internal info and selling/promoting other brands while constantly referring to a museum run by your employer does not interfere with one's job? Did Tacony force him to act that way? Did he ring up his fellow collectors, telling them, "Look, I had to say all this, but steer clear from this junk"?

 

[luxlife]

I’ll concur with Ralph on his comments. My Supralite is still holding up beautifully after 5 years.

 

[ralph123]

Sharky,

The Supralites are very good machines. The early tandem machines had some issues. The later ones were much improved. Context matters.