Scored a second Royal 501 hand vac

[human]

I really need to say off eBay or find an 'eBay Anonymous' meeting. But darn it, I just keep finding these deals I can't pass up. Today, the postman dropped off a Royal 501 "Prince" hand vac that I scored for the princely sum (sorry, bad pun) of $7.50. As you can see from the photos, it's in clean condition and has seen some use but not abuse. The inside of the bag is much cleaner inside than the one I picked up at the thrift store last winter was. The main reason I got it, besides the fact the bids were definitely going way below the radar, was that I like that red and gray bag. The brush roll is a bit soft but the belt appears to be in great shape and the motor is smooth and quiet. I think this is a fairly early example because the the brush roll plate is of the same minimalist design that went on the earlier model 150 hand vacs. The serial number decal does not show a zip code and the serial number itself does not appear to have any additional data, such as manufacture date or location, encoded into it. I'm pleased with this acquisition, even though i needed it like I need another hole in my head.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Edgar,

It's nice to see that you can get good deals on eBay if you try very hard.

Going by the rug plate design, this appears to date from before 1966.

~Ben

 

[human]

Older than I thought

I knew it was older than the other one I have but I didn't realize it was that much older. The funny thing was I didn't try that hard to find that one. It sort of found me when I was searching for paper toss out bags for the one I already had.

 

[human]

So I cleaned up the new 501—not that it needed much cleaning, it's in excellent condition for being about 50 years old—and put a paper throw out bag in it but I couldn't quite twist the bag back onto the motor assembly. It's tight on my newer blue 501 but at least I could fully twist things together. This one only goes about halfway. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

The older ones weren't designed to take paper bags, that's why. I hope that helps.

~Ben

 

[human]

That makes sense

I just wonder why the ones that can take a paper bag didn't have a different model number. It's kind of confusing when the package says the bigs will fit model 501. The logical assumption is that it would fit all 501's and not just some of them. Oh well, I guess it doesn't make a difference now. It's all ancient history.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Edgar,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Royal-Princ...541?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35eaab393d

Newer style bag with "H" type paper bags included - I wonder if your machine will take the paper inserts if the blue bag is used?

~Ben

 

[human]

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately, I missed the auction. I'll test fit the blue bag from my other 501 onto this one, just to see if it fits.

 

[human]

I just tried the swap and believe it or not, the 1980s vintage blue bag actually fits onto the 1960s vintage motor more easily than it does on its own motor. There is just a very minor difference in the shape of the slot that allows it to accommodate the cardboard collar of the throw-out bag. I'm thinking just a tiny bit of work with a rat tail file would allow the older hand vac to use the toss-out bags. Now, I've just got to decide whether I want to modify mine that way.

 

[human]

Turn it upside down

After the swap, I was putting the bags back on the proper motor units and made an odd discovery. In both cases, the bag assembly, with a toss out bag in place, goes on much easier UPSIDE DOWN!

I did it to the newer blue-bagged vac first. I wasn't paying attention and put the bag assembly on with the "Top" sticker on the metal collar facing downward. Everything snapped together like butter. When I realized what I had done, I tried it on the older machine. With the cloth bag's printed logo facing downward, there was almost no resistance in snapping it together. Unless I'm missing something, I don't see any other problems other than aesthetics with putting it together that way.