Salvation Army Thrift Store Red Day

[aeoliandave]

Pursuing close-to-home means to get my boat's engine lift hydraulic pump fixed I was in Woodstock today and stopped by the Sally Ann.

It's embarrassing how little these cost.

Flawless Fairfax with Fax-A-Matic power nozzle. I have an earlier chrome model with no power outlet.

Slightly paintchipped maroon & speckled gray Tristar & matching power nozzle - with the sexy Compact shape before Tristar redesigned it in tghe 1990s. There's no model number (how about C-10?) so I'm assuming it is right around 1986 to 1998 because of the wider bumper band? The paper bag was full to the top with dirt, sawdust and plaster dust that has hardened into a solid mass. Had to chip at it carefully to get the bolus out but all is well. Cloth bag still good and unstained, suction fantastic as Compacts are. Found the red Electrolux floor brush inside the bag compartment, under the bag.

I remember Doug Smith & I saw this colour model in a Regina Vacuum Shop, in for repairs. It was pretty bashed up with an industrial cord and missing wheels - they said it was used regularly on a Canada Forces Cargo Transport, I think. Doug?

 

[aeoliandave]

Additonal treasures from the same Sally Ann

Oh lucky day!

Flawless unscratched or dented two shelf - with shelf paper - chrome breadbox & canister set.

plastic base Sunbeam Mixmaster 5 speed/burst-of-power with beater storage on the handle. Groovey space shape. No bowls - no problem.

Incredible PHILCO dual power portable tube AM radio. Has a roll top type cover for the dials and display. All wood and leatherette. Astounding condition. Also has a plug inside for a portable record player.

 

[aeoliandave]

Radio closed in all it's smooth splendor.

 

[aeoliandave]

Purists, avert your gaze...

Bear in mind that ALL of this, from vacuums to this hideously executed pseudo FLW/Arts&Crafts 4-bulb monstrosity of a table lamp, came to a grand total of just under $50!!!

Now then, I see tasteful possibilities for this lamp base. It is actually pieced together soldered foil wrapped glass, btw. Must have been a pricey item when new.

So, I will remove the ridiculous double shades and the schmancy shade supports and replace them with short square tube. 'Design' an 'appropriated from the FLW design book' new long rectangular shade (made up by a good friend here who can de-construct the octagonal shades reusing the rectangular banding strips as a border under green glass panels) that fits low to the top of the base frame. It'll always be an obvious fake but it will look 'Wright' LOL

 

[camelotshadow]

Still got that horseshow up you butt,
Isee

Lucky you

A Fairfax & a Compact

OOOOh, you just had too

LOL

As for stained glass lamps shades & things
I grew up with early 1900 century period pieces
My parents collected antiques
Gargoyles & leaded glass were the norm

Those are nice lamps even if reproductions
Very deco

 

[countryguy]

My mom had that same breadbox and cannister set!

 

[arh1953]

The vacuums, radio, kitchen items are sensational. That Wright inspired lamp will be a treat when you remove those unfortunate "Tiffany" shades and the little Colonial fittings. I can't wait to see how you improve it.

 

[petek]

Golden Horseshoes with that radio!!!!!!
I've got to get over to Woodstock.. just drove by the other day but couldn't stop with mom and sis in the car, her having spent the week in T.O. hospital.. they wouldn't understand LOL

 

[logan]

Very nice!

Those red Tristars are hard to find. Congratulations. I always thought that was a very "fitting" color for a Tristar. It makes it look very classy.

 

[danemodsandy]

Dave:

That TriStar falls into a "grey" area so far as the model designation is concerned. From 1946-1981, Interstate called their vac the Compact, and used a "C" designation in front of a number- C-1, C-2, and so on.

In 1982, they changed the name of the machine to TriStar, changed the colour to red, and did not give it a model designation. That is the machine you have. It should be a two-speed machine, controllable by means of a switch mounted on the side of the canister, close to the afterfilter.

The version you have was made from 1982-1985. In '86, the colours were changed to silver and black, the two-speed feature was dropped, and a "50th Anniversary" decal added. The decal was something of a scam; it referred to the 50th anniversary of Interstate Engineering, not their vacuum cleaners (the first Compact, which you can see on Charles Lester's site, dates from 1940, which would have put the 50th anniversary at 1990).

Now things get tricky. According to the TriStar site, the 50th Anniversary machine has no model designation, like your machine. But every 50th Anniversary machine I've ever seen, including my own, says "CXL" on its emblem, a designation that TriStar's website says did not happen until 1990. The 50th Anniversary machine is silver and black, and the CXL pictured on TriStar's website is silver with dark silver. Then the TriStar site jumps right to the EX-20, which was all silver, but I have seen machines with a "DXL" designation on their nameplates.

So, your machine has no model number; it's strictly a "TriStar". You will absolutely love the machine; suction is very strong, and if you have to go inside it for service, you will find what you should find inside a vacuum cleaner- a motor, a fan, a switch, and some wiring, period. No hinky electronics, no weird-science suction controls, just the pieces you need to get the job of vacuuming done.

P.S.- Congratulations on those Lincoln Beautyware canisters and breadbox. If you are going to offer those for sale, please feel free to email me off-list. I've been looking for some for a while.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Hloy cow, isn't that the first Fairfax to have pwr head?

 

[vacuumkid3]

What a RADIO! Man, you are lucky! The Fairfax and Tristar look excellent as well! Good for you! (You always seem to get some great finds going thrifting!)

~~K~~

 

[aeoliandave]

pPhillip, you might be right as this Fairfax is all chrome with no vent holes at all in the solid Powerdome, excepting the exhaust port. My other Fairfax has a concentric ring type heat vent slotting in the very top of the dome only and no power socket. I have a manual for the Fairfax with the white tub and scalloped vents around the dome, that shows the power nozzle.

Pete, Logan and Sandy...the very first vacuum I ever paid for - $5 - way back in the 1970s was/is a bashed & trashed mustard yellow flower power Compact (C8?) in very sad condition. I dragged that sorry looking vacuum around everywhere from first rooming house to apartments to lofts to this house as I moved onward and upward as the daily driver, even as other vacuums joined the parade. Back in 1987 I sandblasted and painted that pig Hammer tone gray and it continued as the daily driver, kept at the ready under the ironing board. Man, those Compacts can suck and have been a favorite rugged vacuuming beast!
So yeah, I have a few now all gathered together up in the Pig Pen Palace in the attic with cousins Vortech Force and Halley's Comet. The two turquoise ones are different shades, btw. I agree the red Tristar is a classy colour combo and its the only other one besides the C-8 that takes a flower nozzle.

Kyle, it ain't always just dumb luck - it's getting down on yer hands & knees under dark filthy tables and following that hose.

DSandy, thank you so much for the overview. It is marked CXL and has 3 star shapes printed on the side - the nameplate is infortunately missing, as is usual. I cannot find a two speed switch, tho. On the vacuum's bottom a long metal plate screws on to a channel carrying the power cords to the socket, I expect.

"if you have to go inside it for service, you will find what you should find inside a vacuum cleaner- a motor, a fan, a switch, and some wiring, period. No hinky electronics, no weird-science suction controls, just the pieces you need to get the job of vacuuming done." Quite right, Sandy, and as you know I strip down every vacuum that comes in to this house, give it a good going over and a carwash before it proudly joins VacuumVille's happy citizenry.

 

[vacuumkid3]

Dave,

I know what you mean about following that hose! I do it every time! I guess most people in my neighborhood have disposed of their antiquated vacuums and gotten brand new T.O.L. ones instead.

That radio is an excellent find! Does it by chance work? Do you plan on restoring it if it doesn't work? If you ever dream of parting with it, please let me know via email. I would love to get some more experience with radios...although I suppose I need to focus my energy and time into my Zenith TransOceanic!

Thanks for sharing!

~~K~~

 

[aeoliandave]

Yes Yes yes! All it needs is a hardwax job and an interior d

and vacuuming, of course.

Kyle, I took it into work tonight, checked it over, plugged it in, turned it on and after a 60 second wait the tubes warmed up and it trumpoeted forth! Tuned it to our local Cracker AM station and wow...that's how AM radio is supposed to sound. Full rich warm mono filled the room. You can't turn the volume past halfway 'cause it's too loud for the indoors at that point. LOL but I did and it doesn't distort...it's simply too loud. So this is the perfect beach party/camp ground shindig radio.

It's a Davy Keeper. It'll be fun researching what year it came out and what battery voltage is required...when you route the power cordt hrough the lid slot and close it, it trips a catch that switches the radio from battery to AC.

 

[camelotshadow]

Beautiful compacts
I have a C4
still have to get the bags & filter for it

I got to get my priorities straight

LOL

I just sepnt more money on more filter queen
when I need bags for the others
but truth be I have least 3 dozen FQ cones
So I should be using those filter queens til the cows fly home

LOL

Hey we had one of them tall old radios
you know the wood consoles
about 4 foot high

those were the days my friends

enjoy

 

[danemodsandy]

Dave:

"DSandy, thank you so much for the overview. It is marked CXL and has 3 star shapes printed on the side - the nameplate is infortunately missing, as is usual. I cannot find a two speed switch, tho. On the vacuum's bottom a long metal plate screws on to a channel carrying the power cords to the socket, I expect."

Dave:

That's the second red CXL that I've heard of in two days- someone else wrote me only yesterday regarding theirs. So, it seems that we have a variation that's unaccounted for in the official TriStar history.

You might like to know that TriStar Canada can sell you a new nameplate for your machine. It's now different to the original- the original diecast plastic one had little pegs on its back that fit through mounting holes in the canister body. There were little pushnuts that pushed onto the pegs, inside the machine. The new nameplate is soft vinyl, and is self-adhesive. It's a good idea to do something about the nameplate, because its mounting holes create suction loss if left unfilled. The part number for the nameplate is 70048; you can order one through TriStar Canada at www.tristarvacuumscanada.com .

You're quite right that the metal cover on the machine's bottom is concealing the channel for the power nozzle outlet wiring. It's amazing, but while the power nozzle machines look very like the earlier ones, the parts of the body are actually completely changed, and not interchangeable with those on earlier models.

That's a very nice range of Compacts and TriStars you have there! You have a bit of a fortune in floor tools alone- current list price for those things is nearly $125 USD. Yes, each.

 

[danemodsandy]

Dave: Forgot to Mention:

By going to the TriStar Canada website, you can access PDF parts schematics that you can download and print for future reference. There is also a wiring diagramme on one of the parts schematics- very handy.

I've put a printed copy in the back of my CXL manual.

 

[vacuumkid3]

That's great, Dave! That radio will bring you years of good service! It is very stylish and definitely is a keeper, especially since it works!

Be sure to take some pictures of your cleaned up finds!

~~K~~