Sad Vacuum Horde

[bvac6]

When I do post pics brace yourself as they are in a sad state. The location is in Fort Wayne, Indiana but as of yet I'm not permitted to disclose the exact location. But, I am going through them and rescuing what absolutely has not been destroyed by the roof leaking. I've pulled out two and even though the motors have gotten wet and the bags moldy a good wash and dry has rendered them in full working order. I will post pics ASAP. From what I can tell they are mostly newer plastic vacs but the more I dig the more I have been finding older machines like a convertible model 70.

 

[bvac6]

Pics

 

[electrolux137]

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I see massive patches of mold and mildew on the walls in there -- you really should protect yourself and only go in there wearing a protective respiratory mask such as the one in the link below. Certain types of mold -- especially black mold -- can be very harmful to your health, producing volatile organic compounds, allergens and mycotoxins.

A couple of years ago I brought a couple of Hoover Convertible vinyl bags from an eBay seller. The bags looked in the photos to be in perfect condition. However, when they arrived, they stunk to high heaven of mold. Nothing I did to remove the smell worked -- dousing them with bleach and (alternatively) vinegar, soaking them in a baking soda solution, hanging them out in the sun for more than a week. The stink just wouldn't go away.

I got so concerned about them that I ended up throwing them out, lest the mold invade my other bags (or my home) -- which could easily happen.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Remediation-Respirator-Respiratory-Protection/dp/B00AR63SQA

 

[bvac6]

Mold

Thanks for the info! The weather has to allow for any further digging but I will wear a respirator when the weather does permit. This Sanitaire was in there and it runs great!

 

[tolivac]

Former vacuum shop??Trade in pile from a former Kirby,Rainbow,TriStar,FQ dealer??Indeed the building is in bad shape-and yes as other members say-WEAR A MASK!!!!Yes,the machines will be contaminated with mold spores,too-so you may have to bleach EVERYTHING that comes out of that place.

 

[bvac6]

Disinfect

Yes! Bleach, Borax, Medaphene Spray, and dish soap works wonders lol!

 

[delaneymeegan]

 


Dishwasher too!


 


I've seen several warehouse situation in Indiana, like this.  Places like Gary just seem to attract things.  It's like people need a place to dump stuff, so lets find one of the numerous decaying buildings. 


I saw one video where there were pallets and pallets of recyclable clothing, from like Goodwill.  But it's like they had so much stuff and didn't know what to do with it, so they put it in a musty warehouse and then it got ruined. 


Then of course there's Elkhart.  I think between Chicago and Elkhart's bulk buying, all the superfluous stuff has to end up somewhere.

 

[tolivac]

Often abandoned buildings have worse stuff dumpted in them-like hazardous wastes!So urban explorers have to be careful.Other hazards-hostile homeless people and animals,and even devil worshippers.

 

[stricklybojack]

.
Nice Vac save. I have that same exact model/vintage Sanitaire, gets a lot of use cause it's easy and effective. It was a thrift sore save. Spent a little time outside after the belt broke, apparently by the looks of it when I got it. Now not a sign of it's past brush with death.
Looking forward to Vac number two.

 

[dysonman1]

I went there ten years ago with Tania, Jimmy Martin, and Mike Pletcher. Mike found a brand new Lewyt Electronic power nozzle and a Rexair model 3 Rug tool in plastic. Tania found a Model LXI which she inadvertently left behind. We were covered in dust when we left. The roof is actually open to the sky. They even had a Lux model 1 (the very first, Swedish built Electrolux) which the guy wouldn't sell.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Reminds me of the old Mercy Hospital

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Say, if there is a Kenmore Upright there, could you nab the filter door cover off it? id pay shipping! Provided is isnt moldy or mildewy. Thanks!!!!!!
Andy Rousonelos
[email protected]

 

[sharkcar19998]

That's sad in pic 1 I saw a progressive handle on the side by the other guy that sad please rescue that progressive !

 

[brando_husky]

Oh remember my adventures years ago at the Omaha vacuum shop? Probably 3 or 4 times as many vacuums in several rooms. Lots of very old and rare stuff. Mostly in sad state. Place is sill there. Haven't been in a long time. Should go back some time. Need to look at more Hoover coffee can stuff.

 

[vacerator]

Old Mercy hospital, Sanitaire;

I passed up an identical blue Sanitaire last week at the Salvation Army store for $5.
I didn't need it.
Hoarding is never a good outcome.
Where is that old mercy Hospital at? It doesn't look that old, but even some built in the early 70's still have asbestos in them.
It makes remodeling dangerous. Sometimes it makes more fiscal sense to build a new one.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Laredo TX; hospital built sometime around 1950s closed around 2002

There used to be a Federal Signal 2001DC Civil Defense siren on the hospital's rooftop

 

[huskyvacs]

This was likely a illegal scrapping center. During the economic crash of 2008 and 2009, lots of places like this popped up in abandoned buildings. They would advertise a removal service for whatever they were looking for, collect it all up, and then dump it in the abandoned building for later stripping.

There was a lot of this mainly with TV and computer recycling, you'd go in an abandoned warehouse, and its just full of monitors, TV sets, printers, stripped of their copper and circuit boards.

Businesses also did this with their waste so they didn't have to pay for removal fees. Tire shops in Detroit do this so much that nobody can even keep track of all the tire piles all over.

Wear a paper mask, but do not fear too much unless you see black mold. And do not worry about mold on the vacuums, mold does not feed on plastic and metal, it cannot spread any further once its removed from that environment. It will go into dormancy and eventually die out. Barbeque charcoal will remove odors from things as well.

Also never use bleach on mold, that's an old wives tale, and you are just adding unnecessary noxious vapors to the problem. Soap and water works just fine. And the motors getting wet has no affect on a vacuum, as long as you let it fully dry before powering it on.

If it was me, I'd have a big UHAUL backed up in there and about 10 guys. Load them all up on the truck in about 10-20 minutes, and get out of there.

So don't be afraid, it's just your basic damp mold, not uranium waste, no need to go all out in hazmat suits and be so paranoid about it. I've got mold in my basement right now, and asbestos tape on my ductwork, there is no danger from it once you understand how it works.

 

[tolivac]

OH!!!Mold does not grow on plastic or metal-guess we have to tell the BLACK mold at the old A plant that it is not supposed to grow on the metal parts in the old transmitters and plastic parts,too.Under the right conditions--mold can grow on ANYTHING!Last time I was there to get parts for transmitters still in use at B plant-mold was growing on ALL surfaces in that building!and paint peeling in huge strips off the walls!No heat,or AC,light-perfect setting for molds of all types to grow.
There are many of those abandoned buildings full of scrap products collected for recycle-but they languish in the old buildings-until the building is torn down.You can see many of them on YouTube from various urban explorers.Some of these the TVs and computers were just dumpted there and nothing taken from them.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Not scrap yards, there were actual vacuum store basements. There are MANY still around. In Mo, Ks, Ok, NB, and many many more