Scary Vacuum Cleaners

[electrolux137]

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A memory -- or, rather, a realization -- came flooding into my memory today for some reason.


 


I have always known that when I was a little kid I was afraid of certain vacuum cleaners, most notably early Kirbys and Royals. What just occurred to me is the reason (or one reason, at any rate) why I was afraid of them -- because the exposed motors were scary to me! I was afraid I would get shocked by them.


 


I didn't realize at that young age that even though the motors were "exposed," they were still safe because they were insulated. But I was very afraid, especially when the motor was running.


 


I would probably have gone into hysterics if I ever saw any of the really old machines where you could see the sparks from the carbon brushes rubbing against the commutator through openings in the motor housing back there.


 


I had forgotten all about until, as I said, today the memory of being afraid of those types of vacuum cleaners.


 


Are there vacuum cleaners that any of y'all were afraid of when you were young?


 


 

 

[tylerawells]

Sort Of...

<span style="font-family: book antiqua,palatino;">I was never afraid of any particular type of vacuum cleaner, but Mom would never buy an upright with the hard plastic door because she was always concerned that the bag would bust the door open...strange I know, but it is the truth. So we always had soft-bagged uprights until she got a bag-less machine. Just out of curiosity - has there ever been a case where the hard plastic door came off in the course vacuuming because the disposable bag was too full?</span>

 

[suckolux]

Our babysitter back in the early 60s had an upright with a big black bag, I honestly have NO idea what it was, but that bag was huge and it was loud, that one I did not want to play with

 

[kenkart]

my Mother...

On the other hand, bought a Dial A Matic in 1969 because she said those with bags on the outside surely would.."Blow Dust!" LOL

 

[fan-of-fans]

The only vacuum cleaner I was afraid of were Kirbys. Or at least one in particular. My mom cleaned a building and in the storage room there was a Kirby (I forget what model) and a beige plastic base Hoover Convertible. For some reason the look of the Kirby scared me from trying it, so I would use the Convertible instead. I guess the metal look of the Kirby made me think it would be really loud or something.

 

[super-sweeper]

Sparks flying!

I would LOVE to bring home new vacuums when I was younger, but when it came to see if it would run when I got home, that was another story! I would have to get someone to test it for me while I ran outside to a safe distance! I forget what machine I "ran" away from, I think one was an Hoover Elite II chop-shop special (I put a hard-bag and an older Hoover Qwik-Broom II cord on it).


 


Sparks, I too was scared of sparks! well, not so much the sparks, just worrying that the vacuum was broken, I always had this feeling I could be testing or using a "sparky" vacuum and it'll just explode on me! I had an Red Oreck "David Oreck signature" or something like that, and still do! I stuck it in the garage and didn't use it for years over some small arcing (Well, more of a healthy glow were the carbons meet the armature) from it's motor! it didn't help that I could see it clear as day!


Even worse, We had an Oreck XL that sparked quite a LARGE amount, I NEVER used it or went near it, and was always worried when they used it! ESPECIALLY when they used it near ME!


 


Still today, I use a power strip at the wall to test cleaners, It is a nice, safe way to do it! I remember once testing a Hoover Convertible I had serviced by means of power strip. and I'm glad I did! that Hoover leaped and screeched when it's fan blew!


 


I'd love to hear more of these stories!


-Alex.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Agreed

I was the same way with vacuums that I brought home. I would plug them in on the porch, run out in the yard and make my dad turn them on! I did find a Convertible once that I was just too afraid to try for some reason. It didn't appear to have anything wrong with it, but I never tried it out.

I too do the power strip myself when I test machines for the first time. I've never really had anything too "exciting" happen, they just start up, except for that Room Mate I found a while back that just smelled terrible and ran slowly.

 

[bagintheback]

Alex, I was almost exactly like you. As much as I loved to try new cleaners, I was paranoid one might screech or a fan might shatter. My parents always had to be one to turn it on first. Older models caused me the most anxiety. Kirbys have the coolest looking designs, but a bit of a dangerous scary aura. They have such aggressive lines; it looks like a truck about to run you over when you are five. 

 

[s31463221]

Testing vacuums...

I too was afraid to try a vacuum out when I found one, I ALWAYS made my dad plug it in and turn it on to see if it would run or not! What put the fear in me, I found an old Regina Electrikbroom and plugged it in and hit the switch. Instead of coming to life like my grandfather's did, it made a horrible noise, a loud pop and smoke poured out of it! These days I too like the power strip to test out a new find, and I must say I've been pleasantly surprised at machines I expected to "blow up" run quite well!

Charles, I was too little to remember, but mom loves to tell me how I would run and jump in top of my bed when she would turn her Olympia One on! Funny thing is, Electrolux is my favorite brand now! Go figure.... . Great thread!

 

[crackerdog]

As a toddler, I was terrified of my grandmothers Kenmore Bugeyed upright. I remember sitting on the floor and seeing this loud monster coming at me with two bright eyes. After the first time she made my grandfather hold me at the kitchen table, while she vacuumed the living room carpet. The connecting door was closed. Also, my aunt's cleaning lady gave me a scare, with an Electrolux. I was sitting in the corner of the living room watching her clean the sofa, when she turned around and started to slowly walk towards me holding the hose end at me. She had a big smile on her face. I thought I going to be sucked up into the bag, so I got out of there. Those were the days.

 

[super-sweeper]

Welcome, Crackerdog!

I see this is your VERY first posting to this site, let me be the first to warmly welcome you to the fabulous VacuumLand!

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I was affraid of my grandma and aunt's Kirby Classic Omegas. I was playing with grandma's kirby one day and my sisiter said it was going to bite my fingers off (I would have been 3 my sister would have been about 25). After that day I wouldn't have anything to do with any Kirby. All other vacuums were fine just no kirby's for little Phill.

 

[craig_1982]

I was quite the opposite with Kirby's when I was little, when I used to play up for my mother, she said she would sit me in my push chair bring out the Kirby turn it on and leave it running at the side of me, apparently it always made me calmer and fall to sleep lol.
Since joining this great site I have come across one Vacuum in particular that I know would have scared me if we had it when I was young, That Vacuum is the Bison Centurion at 31 years of age even today I think it look's creepy but saying that I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to own one, I just don't think it would sit in my room at night lol

 

[tolivac]

The only vacuum that "scared" me as a little child was a Sears Shop Vacuum my Dad had-he used it to suck up hair clippings from the floor and your hair after he cut my hair.The suction of that machine felt like it was going to pull my hair out.The motor was under the drum lid-and it had a fiberboard drum.Now of course shop vacs aren't so scary-have three of them!Guess as we see on here the vacs that scared you when little are now ones you want to add to your collection.Oh yes,on that Sears shop vacuum there was a discharge port on the top of the lid-you could put the hose on it and use the vac as a blower-did like to watch the motor spin down when the machine was shut off.You could see the top of the motor armature.-and the slight sparking,too.

 

[dandagreer]

Even though I always loved Kirby's, my Mom's cousin was babysitting me one time--they had an old, pre-classic Kirby. I used to play with it all the time, unplugged. Her husband plugged it in without me knowing and it (to me) mysteriously just came on. The bad thing was it had a broken fan blade, so it was VERY loud. It literally scared me to death. I ran upstairs in a crying fit. After that, like some others, I was always a little gun shy to turn on unknown vacuums. I used to turn the switch on then run the cord to a far away outlet and plug it in to make sure it was going to blow up or something. I know...kids irrational fears are funny sometimes.

 

[Bagman75]

Any upright with a soft bag scared the heck out of me. I was always terrified that the bag would get really big and explode all over. Crazy, I know. The bigger the bag, the more scared I was. So obviously Kirby's scared me the most. Funny that today its the total opposite. I love vacuums with huge inflatable bags on them. The bigger, the better!!

 

[bvac6]

Kirby

I was afraid of Kirby's, especially the 1CB Omega. When I was very young I used to spend the day hanging around my dads office and the building it was in. His secretary/receptionist one day brought in her Kirby Omega to clean the lobby (she liked to do that herself and insisted the cleaning staff half-assed the vacuuming) and asked if I wanted to use it. No Way I said! The sheer sound of it drove me from the room! Nowadays I love that model of Kirby and I even own one, all original with all the attachments and accessories!

 

[super-sweeper]

Bagman75,

At 6 posts, you also appear new. Welcome! which bag is your favorite? which one do you think inflates the largest? what's your favorite bag material? 

 

[smow69]

eureka vac

when i was young about 8 my mom had a eureka 1405 a it had a broken fan was very loud and vibrated real bad it scared the daylights out of me. she used to have to treaten me to vacuum after that for a while.this isnt it but its identical i still have this vac today.