SUPER RARE VINTAGE COLLECTIBLE

[toddk13]

Can anyone define "rare"? (alternative "super rare")
Can anyone define "collectible"
Can anyone define "vintage"

I am so tired of searching antique (defined as at least 50 years old) vacuum cleaners with wildly over optimistic statements of uniqueness.

 

[dysonman1]

There are many people who troll Vacuumland and never post. They wait for collectors to discuss their hard to find 'dream' vacuum - then put a cootie-infested model on eBay, trying to make a buck off someone's interest.

Generally, the most laughable examples are called out by people in the SuperMarket section of this forum.

 

[toddk13]

Rare Vintage Antique Collectible Hoover Senior

I am looking for a perfect condition Hoover Senior, or Model O. I am willing to pay up to $100.00 USD for the right one.

 

[real1shep]

<a name="start_34945.376958"></a>I am so tired of searching antique (defined as at least 50 years old) vacuum cleaners with wildly over optimistic statements of uniqueness.


 


When I was a kid, 'antique' was stuff 100yrs old and older. Then when that supply depleted or got too pricey, 'antique' was stuff 75yrs old or older.


 


Has 'antique' really degenerated into just 50 yrs old?? If so, I got a lot of 'antique' junk!


 


'Collectible' and 'vintage' are almost interchangeable. You could say for example in a sentence, "I have a lot of vintage stuff that is now highly collectable." Collectable implies a desire to own by interested parties. Vintage tells you it's from a bygone era.


 


'Rare' by definition as applied to collecting are things of very low production or a low number of actual survivors. Might have been 200,000 made of a certain toy in the 50's, but only a thousand or less survived etc.


 


Darrel, Darrel and his other brother Darrel are throwing out 'rare' when it should read vintage or collectable. They're not doing any research...they have no idea how many surviving examples there are thought to be.  


 


Kevin

 

[TheSpiritOf76]

I think.....

The term "rare" is neither here nor there. What could be rare to one person (abiding to the correct contexts of the meaning of the word), may not be rare to another. Especially when we are talking about us, and vintage vacuum cleaners. Where one model, may be well sold, or often seen in one area, then may not bee seen at all in another. So that is a HUGE factor on the label of "rare".


 


Now, when I was a kid, in 1995- 2000, this is what I was told once about the meaning of the word Antique, versus Vintage and collectible. I was told by a dealer, that something that is Antique is indeed 50 years or older, keeping in mind, this was almost 20 years ago, and then 50 years was basically the early 50's. I was then told that the term "Vintage" gives the general understanding that we are talking about either kitchy types of things, and such from the later 50's and on through the 70's.  The "Collectible" meant that age is not always, and is very seldom a factor. Because a collectible can be a brand new item. It is just often a special series of something that is marketed toward that particular type of person.


 


Now I will say, going back to the fact that was 20 years ago, things have changed a lot. People tend to use what ever term they think will make them more money, not what term would be correct for said item. That is a fact of greed and or ignorance. But that is how the general public is becoming, because of Ebay. No one wants to listen to a expert, or a dealer, or read a price guide to obtain correct, concise information. They think because someone is selling something on Ebay that they somehow know what they are talking about. I don't really understand how that is conceived, but seems to be how it is.

 

[real1shep]

The fact that the term 'antique' now indicates just 50 yrs, plays into the greed theory. I don't see how that could change three times in my lifetime. True, a 'collectable' could be a modern item but low production...or even something intentionally made to be 'collectable'. But generally, it's used today to indicate an older item that has significant appeal to a group of people. In cars for example, the "experts" say there has been nothing 'classic' made since the '57 Chevy. Instead they deem cars after that as 'collectable', such as muscle cars etc. 


 


It's all just semantics anyway as most sellers aren't following any kid of specific guide. And yes eBay has certainly ruined any kind of standard there might have been.


 


Kevin

 

[toddk13]

Feedback from friends

"Antique" = my grandmother had it in the attic and it wouldn't sell at her estate sale.
"Vintage" = my mother had it and wouldn't sell at her rummage sale.
"Collectible" = please somebody take this junk off my hands.
"Rare" = this was so bad that most were thrown away.

Here's a tough one:

"Original" = Does this mean "as delivered from the factory". Does it include period correct accessories that were not originally packaged together. Does it include NOS factory replacements - especially wear parts?

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Don't forget cars. For some reason they are "antique" at 35

 

[s31463221]

toddk13

I like your breakdown.....don't you just love running across listings that go along these lines: "I have for sale an original, RARE Antique........"

 

[toddk13]

Off topic for vacuums but I just have to share this

I belong to a "german brand" motorcycle forum. A guy is trying to sell an 11 year old bike with 85,000 miles. He wants top money. His bike is not selling. He's mad because "nobody understands that having 85,000 miles is fine for this bike". He drops his price to about 20% more than it's worth. He states "It's a steal". He keeps complaining about people not calling him up because of the miles.

Someone politely let him know that he can't expect top dollar with an enthusiast group. They either already have one, or know how to get one for less money.

My point is that our vacuum connections (pun intended) gives us a big advantage to find special vacuums. We generally don't, however, expect to pay market value. Nothing wrong with that. Those that sell or give away (HI TOM!) know that the things they part with will go to a good home.

 

[real1shep]

That's......

true. Never expect hobby enthusiasts to pay market price (or above) for what they have in a club or forum. We can actually be pretty cheap bastards at that. Very hard for someone without deep pockets to pay market price for each item while building a collection. Destroys the whole concept of finding things on the cheap or discovering that someone's trash really isn't trash to us, but diamonds...lol.


 


There's guys in here that won't pay over $15 for any vacuum.....I admire that, though it doesn't always work for me. I think the most I ever paid for a vac was $75 at a thrift store and the store operator wouldn't budge....talked about that incident in here. But then I'm not at a level where I'm looking for really esoteric stuff.


 


They used to tell us with MC's that you double the odometer mileage to compare to cage mileage....apples & oranges.


 


Kevin


 

 

[eurus]

Antique: 1950s and earlier.
Vintage: 1951 to 1989
The terms can also change depending on the item.

 

[real1shep]

But 'classic' cars used to have their own designation/rdefintion.  Unless things have changed, the '57 Chevy was begrudgingly voted into that category I think back in the 70's.....with a lot of arguing and posturing at that time. Formally the territory of Packards, Pierce Arrow, Cord, Duesenberg and the like.


 


'Antique' auto is just a term used to designate a certain age automobile,  not the build quality, style or market value.


 


Kevin