Rare Shark Vacuums?

[eureka1998]

With all of the Navigators and Rotators today, barely do I ever find any from their original run in the mid 2000s. Came across this photo on Amazon of this nice hunter green Shark Spectra, and the review was about how its lasted for a good number of years! Unheard of to me! Never knew these existed in these colors either, have there been any other rare 2000s Sharks?

 

[panasonicvac]

There's a couple of rare Sharks that I'd love to find for my collection someday like this red bagless Limited Edition for example. I don't know who made these for Euro-Pro, might be Sanyo if I were to guess.

 

[eureka1998]

panasonicvacs

That red one is really nice, and I'd probably say you're right conisdering Sanyo did make a few of the Euro Pro Fantoms as well as Sharks like the Spectra. THE ONLY THING stopping me from actively looking for an older shark is that I kept seeing reviews many of them had overheating flaws.

 

[huskyvacs]

This stupid monstrosity in my opinion is the rarest of all Sharks and would be the king of the hill in a tier list of all their models. I've got one.

 

[eureka1998]

The Multi Vac

Yes ive seen those! One was at the thrift store awhile back. The infomercial has also been up on YT for a while now. Another Sahrk rarity would be what was essentially their "Oreck". With the weirdest bag door i've ever seen.

 

[wstonehockertv]

All I know about Shark's run in the early-to-mid 2000's is how they had crappy filtration and overheating issues. But that also applies to the Euro-Pro Fantoms.

 

[eureka1998]

wstonehockertv

Its almost like its a completely different company now. But the strange thing is it isn't. Euro Pro was just renamed to Shark Ninja. They stepped up their game tenfold. Of course maybe they have different companies manufacturing for them, but I have to say unlike companies like Hoover or Dirt Devil, Eureka etc. they never got bought out. Its still Mark Rosen doing all their presentations and still the CEO!

 

[kirbylux77]

Eureka1998

I picked up the silver version of that exact Shark Spectra vac, it was junked at the side of the road. Dismantled it and saved parts for a friend who had a similar vac. It had a nice double stage chinese motor in it, was actually big and well built for a budget vac. The silver Spectra was a popular model, as it was sold in Canadian Tire. Still worked, but needed repairs and parts were likely NLA.

Also, that same vac was sold in the same green colour as a Lewyt at Zellers stores here in Canada for about 1.5 years before Lewyt went under. It had a different filter setup in the dirt cup though, not a pleated filter like the Spectra had, and unlike the Spectra it had a pleated HEPA Filter on the exhaust.

Also, that silver upright you posted wasn't their only attempt at a Oreck-style direct air upright, they also had a red soft bagged direct air upright that sold at Canadian Tire. That model had issues with the fan breaking prematurely on them though.

 

[panasonicvac]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe the Spectra was made by SMC. From my understanding they were sold for not only as Shark but also as Lewyt, Regina, Dirt Devil, and Oreck. I don't think I ever saw one as a Sanyo.

 

[eureka1998]

SMC?

As in the ceiling fan guys? Never knew they manufactured vacuums! But that kind of makes sense now. Other Shark machines might've been Sanyo, I know the Fantom ones were. Shark also had the Pursuit and the OTHER Spectra, which definitely kind of screams Sanyo. Im kind of curious if THIS ONE was ever in that metallic ruby color? I know the Roadster was.

 

[amtraksebo1997]

The infomercial has also been up on YT for a while now

Does anyone have a link? I'd love to watch it!

 

[eureka1998]

AmtrakSebo1997

Here you go!!!!!

 

[panasonicvac]

These are probably worth mentioning, Infinity Navigator. The original Navigator and probably the last vacuums used under the Infinity name. I don't see very many of these and I recall one collector has or had one before.

 

[eureka1998]

Infinity Navigator

The green one looks really nice. Absolutely crazy that that one vacuum cleaner alone started the big Shark phenomenon. Company skyrocketed with it. STILL making newer updated navigators to this day! I just got one for Christmas and the suction is INSANE. Just putting the head on the carpet and a dust cloud already filled the bin. Its the Navigator 3XL, the true successor to the old non lift away navigators.

 

[amtraksebo1997]

Eureka1998

I thought that was for that bagged shark, but thanks anyway, I'm sure someone will enjoy it. Also, what was the bagged shark called?

 

[eureka1998]

AmtrakSebo1997

This Shark was called the Superlite Professional. Models Ep700 and EP701. I think this was their fray into commercial units. There are old screenshots from a HSN promotion however. THAT I wish someone would uncover!

 

[amtraksebo1997]

Eureka1998

Thanks! That'd be a cool piece in my collection. Also, on that note, I've kinda had a nostalgic bias towards Shark. This is because I remember watching some of the Shark informercials in the early to mid 2010s. I remember watching the ones for the Rotator, the Powered lift-aways, the first version of the rocket stick vac (I think), and one of their floor mops. However that doesn't mean that i think they're the best vacuums, I think they're pretty cheaply made, and don't last that long. But hey, that's my opinion, and I would like to have one or two in my collection.

 

[panasonicvac]

The original Navigator or Navigator swivel with the 21 cyclones (I think the blue Walmart NV22 from the original Navigator and the green NV27 from the Navigator Swivel are my favorite ones) were probably the only ones I thought Shark got right. I don't get why those aren't still being made today while the original Navigator Lift-Away and those similar to it are however. Those are in my humble opinion WAY better machines than anything else that I've used from Shark (Though I think the Spectras from SMC I would've liked more). Even better than the one my work has, I actually hate that machine. Those are much more simpler, they filter better because of their 21 cyclone set up, they clean better, they feel more maneuverable, they seem to hold up longer, and they don't tip over while you're using the hose especially by how long the hose actually is.

But if I had to buy a Shark, as of today at least, the original Navigator Lift-Away or those similar to it is what I'd get. Preferably the white XL Professional version. I like how simple they are, they clean better, I like that it'd come with accessories that I'd find useful like the Dust-Away attachment for wood floors, the dust cup is much bigger, they've been around for over 10 years now where I'd be lucky enough to find parts for, and I remember it was one of the two Sharks that got the silver rating from the CRI.

 

[eureka1998]

Pansonicvac

Yeah thats the problem with the new one is the thing tips over when it stretches far out but other than that it seems solid!

 

[niclonnic]

panasonicvac

It's funny you mentioned the Infinity Navigator yesterday; I had been contemplating posting about another rare Shark - one simply called the "Infinity."

The Infinity was released in late 2006 and featured 24-cyclone technology. I myself have never seen one in person, but my late great-grandmother made mention of it back in late 2007 when my family was researching new vacuums. We did not end up buying the Infinity; my dad bought a Dyson DC07 Animal instead. In retrospect, I'm glad he did, as I found out the Infinity had received mixed reviews on sites like Amazon. Only a few videos exist of the Infinity on YouTube, including some commercials. And, just a few (former) members of this site have made posts about this vacuum.

 

[kirbylux77]

Reply 12 & 19

I had the vacuum in reply 12, but it was a Shark. Got it for free. Nice machine, I liked the hose setup, wasn't too heavy, easy to use. However, you had to empty the top cyclones every month or 2, tools weren't that good, only so-so suction and airflow, and no HEPA Filter on the exhaust, only a washable micro filter. I eventually sold it to a neighbor who had a Kenmore upright that burned through belts and wanted one with a geared belt.

I also had the Infinity in reply 19. Found it for free, and had to fix the wand as it was broken. Had really good suction and airflow, cleaned well. But it was very heavy and clunky to use, plus the brushroll was just like a Dyson DC07 brushroll...., thin, sparse bristles, the same shape as a Dyson brushroll, didn't groom well and got tangled in hair and debris easily. Also had to clean out the top cyclones monthly. I donated it to a soup kitchen who needed a upright for black rubber mats, worked well for their needs.

 

[panasonicvac]

I remember those vacuums. I've never used an Infinity before but always wanted to add one to my collection. Interesting looking machines. Although, it would've never lasted me because Euro-Pro doesn't sell parts so that's another good thing you went with the Dyson. I would've done the same thing if I had to choose between the Dyson and the Infinity.

 

[fanofvacuums2]

One of those 24-cyclone Infinity Sharks came into a vacuum cleaner shop local to me a couple years ago with an owner dead set on not giving up on it. Everything you can imagine would be broken on it was broken, but it still worked and managed to hold together through delicate use. I can see how somebody may have been attracted to the Infinity back in the day, but it did not hold a candle to the DC07 or really any of the Dyson uprights at that time. The build quality just was not there and the bin was not too effective either. Switching to the more simplistic but versatile lift-away Navigator models was most definitely a wise move.

 

[oldcrankman]

This oddball shark handheld that's clear.

 

[huskyvacs]

Wow! Nice find! Any pink vacuum is rare itself, let alonw that Shark. I wonder if it was some special promo edition for breast cancer research or something perhaps, like the pink Oreck editions.

 

[powerstarenergy]

Forgotten Shark Products.

I believe that this thread will count as the Forgotten Shark Products thread.

 

[eureka1998]

This is unusual

I think in the UK they sold most of what we knew as Shark in the US under other brands. Don't know what the brand is but it is the same exact machine as the OTHER Shark Spectra in a ruby red. This IMO looks better than the silver.

 

[evolutionclean1]

I keep looking at this

And wondering if it's worth sending a best offer. I don't remember seeing these, but I'm a sucker for a cheap canister with variable speed and what looks like a long hose!

If I were to get it, can you still get bags? And belts?

 

[huskyvacs]

That is a rare one. Shark canisters sold poorly and virtually nobody bothered with them because canister vacs were long since out of favor in the US market by the time this came out. The plus side is it is bagged.

This doesn't look like an in-house design so you should be able to find bags and belts if you can figure out who they copied it from. (ie Aldi supermarket vacuums are old Kenmore molds, so can be fixed with Kenmore parts)