The late, Great Stan Kann

[dysonman1]

Stan thought the world of his Ohio Tuec. He used to have two of them, until one of them was stolen. This one is in the safekeeping, and has been for years. I cherish his collection and show it off every day.

 

[caligula]

Ohio Tuec.

Remember the one Dave Watters used in the clubhouse of the V.C.C.C. in May of 1993.

 

[electrolux137]

 



Tom keeps trying to pull this thread back on-topic, and it keeps getting pulled back out into left field.

 

 

[electrolux137]

"A Visit With Stan Kann"

See link...



http://1377731.com/stan

 

[dysonman1]

Charles

Thank you for posting the link. Stan was also incredibly funny. I laughed out loud at his jokes many times.

Stan gave me this Singer many years ago.

 

[luxlife]

Keeping history alive….

Tom,

You’re such good steward of this collection. So much history in one room, certainly more than what remains in a defunct vacuum factory which is still struggling to reinvent itself as an office complex. I look forward to seeing these in person someday.

 

[dysonman1]

John

I agree. Walking around an empty factory and posing like a model for the elderly, is the result of drinking poison tea.

This is a General Electric from Stan‘s collection that he used to clean the vacuum bags out with, as they were all cloth bags except for the Air-Ways. I spent every other Sunday morning with him, and wouldn’t trade those experiences for all the “Tea” in China.

 

[kirbyklekter]

May I just say

This thread has been so enjoyable to read and I continue to check back every day for more comments to read. The interview with Mr.Kann was the best ever. I saw him maybe three of the 77 times he was on Carson's Tonight Show.

If I had met Mr.Kann and lived near him I would have offered to work on his vacuum cleaners with him or clean his house,take out the trash, anything just to be able to spend time with him and listening to his many many stories of his past. He seemed to have a great memory for details.

It's easy for me to see why those who were blessed to know him are still sharing memories of him and his many qualities and in a way "keeping him alive!" Thanks for sharing with the rest of us!

 

[dysonman1]

In 1932, Hoover celebrated their Silver jubilee, 25 years in business. This is Stan’s Hoover 425. The only coffee can Hoover to take a flat belt. By the way, the Hoover elite belt works perfectly. This bag is extraordinarily rare and Stan was quite proud of it. He has a story about how he came to obtain it from the Hoover engineering department themselves.

 

[electrolux137]

 


 


Bill C. Kinder: Thank you for your kind remarks about my interview with Stan Kann. When transcribing the tapes I made with him, I'd sometimes get to laughing so hard that I could barely type. He was indeed a "National Treasure" and one of the most interesting, sincere, kind people I have ever had the pleasure to meet.

 

[dysonman1]

Stan was so proud of his silver jubilee Hoover model 425. Of all his vacuums in his collection, I think he used his 425 to clean his house the most. I never saw it downstairs with the collection. It was either on the second floor or the third floor, plugged in, ready to go at a moments notice. In the many years that I’ve had his collection, I’ve turned this one on twice. It always brings a tear to my eye from the memory of him.

 

[dysonman1]

Every time Stan would get this one out, he always made a little joke about the fact that this is a General Electric model 69.

 

[dysonman1]

He was one of a kind.

 

[dysonman1]

The Premier duplex on the left and the GE on the right. Both of these old ladies are still running. They were both some of the first motor driven brush vacuums that General Electric built. Stan used the Premier a lot more.

 

[dysonman1]

Still around. The public can actually plug them in. I love them. And they're not in someone's damp, cramped, moldy basement. Pictures are one thing but being able to actually vacuum with a Hoover Senior - priceless.

 

[dysonman1]

Stan’s Singer R1 from the early 30’s. With the backwards revolving brush. If you push the machine onto the rug from the fringe side, because the brush rotates backwards it does not seize the fringe. I love having such a wide variety to the collection.

 

[kirbylux77]

Reply 34 & Reply 35

Luxlife & Tom Gasko, Dysonman1 - What's up with you bashing & making negative comments about John Long, Gottahaveahoove?

"You’re such good steward of this collection. So much history in one room, certainly more than what remains in a defunct vacuum factory which is still struggling to reinvent itself as an office complex. I look forward to seeing these in person someday." "I agree. Walking around an empty factory and posing like a model for the elderly, is the result of drinking poison tea."

What exactly does this have to do with the topic at hand, talking about Stan Kann? So you may not exactly be fond of John or be friends with him, and vice versa. Is that sufficient reason to subtly attack the man in this thread, just because he so happened to visit the Hoover Museum, the former Hoover factory grounds and friends who share his passion for Hoover recently and documented his trip? And exactly how is talking and criticizing how the former Hoover factory is trying to re-invent itself as a office building, or referring to someone's homemade iced tea as poisonous part of constructive, positive conversation that is relevant to Stan Kann? I hardly think so.

In fact, if Stan Kann was alive, and a member of this forum and reading this, I don't think he would be impressed with either of your comments. And I also think he would praise a member on here that has that much of a appreciation for the Hoover brand to the point where his entire collection consists of the brand and he regularly pays homage to it. After all, Tom, you have shown many photos of Stan's favorite Hoovers, and the comments you have made in your other posts on this thread seem to suggest it was one of the brands Stan favoured owning and using.

I personally admire John's love of the Hoover brand - it's refreshing to see someone who has a favourite brand and is that loyal to it. Neither of you have to like Hoover, or John, but maybe we should be positive and appreciative of the fact that John did visit a vacuum museum recently, even if it's not the one you would have him visit. It's about time we start respecting and supporting each other and what specific aspects of collecting we like, rather than tearing each other down.

A recent comment Vacuumdevil, Alex, aka Performance Reviews, made here on the central vac thread, 43546, is spot on: It seems the admin on this site is hardly paying attention to this site, and there are way too many members that are toxic, full of drama, and like to stir the pot. I will go as far to say that I have to wonder if it's the perfect time to tear this ENTIRE SITE down and it no longer exists....yes, it has gotten that bad. I personally can't be bothered, considering I have a job, home to tend to, a partner, my hobbies, etc. Life is too busy and short to put up with a bunch of toxic drama queens arguing on a site about vacuum cleaners!

Rob

 

[electrolux137]

 


 


Here's one of Stan Kann's appearances on the Tonight Show, maybe the funniest of them all!

 

[dysonman1]

Many people had no idea that Stan wrote a book or recorded a CD. Such an immense talent. Although he was no good at cooking. Ask me how I know.

 

[luxlife]

Stan Kann on the organ

I just found quite a few videos on YouTube of Stan at the Fox Theater. He was fantastic! [this post was last edited: 8/12/2022-10:16]

 

[luxlife]

Tonight Show appearances

Those are PRICELESS!!!

 

[dysonman1]

The reason Stan was on the Tonight Show in the first place is because Phyllis Diller, his neighbor, told Johnny that he "Must" have Stan on the show because he was crazy. Johnny asked why he was crazy? "He collects vacuum cleaners" she said. "No one collects vacuums, I must have him on". And so he did.[this post was last edited: 8/12/2022-12:37]

 

[dysonman1]

Stan had his own talk show, for a year. Filmed in Canada. Dom DeLuise was his first guest. Stan had notoriously bad cooking skills. Dom showed him how to make spaghetti. Dom and Stan remained friends, and Stan always had outrageous stories about his Hollywood friends.

My favorite Stan story was set here in St. Louis. Stan had purchased a huge home with three floors and nine bedrooms. There was "The Hoover Room", the "Eureka Room", etc. There was also a Spencer central vacuum. Spencer's have no real filter, they are vented (in this case, to the roof). Most of the dirt falls into the dirt bucket from gravity, but any dust left entrained in the airstream goes harmlessly to the roof and out into the atmosphere.

Stan decided to clean out the fireplace ashes in the spring. His next-door neighbor had their windows open. Stan was bent over sucking up the ashes with the hose, when all of a sudden, the front doors burst open and about 10 firemen were standing there yelling "Your house is on fire". Of course, the neighbor called the fire department because black 'smoke' was coming from Stan's roof. There was an insurance claim and much hilarity ensued. He always referred to that day as "the time those firemen broke my front door".