The first USA Miele

[vacuumdevil]

I thought you might all enjoy the intimate look inside the first US Miele.
Fun conversation
I really think back then it had no advantage over its competitors other than possibly filtration and maybe a step up in quality over the Kenmore at the time.
But really was it any better then the Eureka or TriStar at the time?

 

[luxlife]

Thanks for sharing!

I remember that one well from my part time job at a vac shop in Raleigh in 1985. These arrived one day from Germany. The owner’s wife asked “how are we going to sell this?” The owner replied “first we better learn how pronounce it”.

I was intrigued by its suction, full size tools, the myriad of available colors and just the sheer exotic look it had that made American brands appear so pedestrian. It was just so refreshing to see something that looked so different. They really took off when Miele began to have better power nozzle options in the next decade.

I never encountered a Miele again until 1991 when I bought a traded in s126 Electronic with the power nozzle. I got it cheap because the shop owner had never heard of Miele. After I told him what I witnessed and knew about the brand, he placed a minimum order and started carrying it and now he’s one of the biggest Miele Diamond dealers in Texas and still remembers that conversation we had way back when. I’m still intrigued by the brand but I just wished that Miele hadn’t made their vacuums so darn “bougie-bougie”. Nowadays, anyone who gets a Williams-Sonoma catalog or shops at Bed Bath & Beyond knows what it is. Kinda makes me cringe a little and I can imagine it’s also headache for any shop to handle what they didn’t sell.

 

[tolivac]

I have a Meile vacuum similar to this.Even came with the original multilayer paper bags.Was a trade in to a new Meile vacuum.Just needed a cleanup-and its fine.Does not come with a powernozzle.There is a connector for one.

 

[eurekaprince]

I remember the first time I ever heard of a Miele vacuum was in Consumer Reports. My memory could be deceiving me, but I seem to remember that a Miele model topped the ratings for canisters one year. Really can’t pin down the year, but maybe early 1980’s? I seem to remember that CR tests showed it excelled in filtration and sound reduction. Would be great if someone has that edition of CR magazine and could post it here.

 

[kirbylux77]

Brian, I think you're thinking of 1996. That's the year Consumer Reports tested allergy vacuums, and pitted a Miele S444i White Pearl against a few other vacuums for the first time for dust emissions ratings. I remember distinctly that CR actually had the nerve to say that a Hoover Dimension 1000 upright with paper micro filtration bags out-filtered the other vacuums - even against the Fantom Fury with a HEPA filter! Boy was that ever a joke. First time I remember ever hearing of Miele.

Rob

 

[eurekaprince]

Could be, Rob. But I think the first time I heard of a 120volt Miele vacuum in the USA was much earlier in the 1980's. At the time, CR's tests were divided into three categories: canister, power nozzle canister and upright. The Miele topped the suction only canister category...if I remember correctly.

 

[vacuumdevil]

@uxlife wow what a great story! I really appreciate you sharing that I've always wanted to imagine how they were first received on the American Market.


As far as their distribution these days they do distribute some of our lower end models to box stores. However it's really not a problem for the independent dealer as most people need a model they can't get at a box store. I would say their biggest downfall right now would be low margins and lack of availability due to pandemic policies.

@tolivac I have the power nozzle with mine. It was actually made by a Swiss company for Miele. I have an extra PN as well if you can find a electric hose let me know be happy to work something out.



@eurekaprince that's interesting to know about that communist reports article. I'll have to try and find it archived on the internet somewhere.

 

[luxlife]

Vacuumdevil, true about the availability issues….

I gave up on trying to get a C3 Brilliant from my dealer because he gave up on trying to obtain them. Some dealers are resorting to buying or trading from one another’s inventory, but I’d question whether or not that affects the warranty registration for the end customer.

 

[panasonicvac]

The very first time I've ever heard of Miele and what really got me into them was from watching these two YouTube channels (From the original creator, not these channels that eventually reuploaded these two videos).