the rise in popularity of cylinder vacuums in the UK

[vacerator]

two vacuum pairs

True, sounds like it works well for you.
I use a central vac for both.
The Miele uprights have hoses and plenty of suction power. Their canisters with elelctrobrushes also. Light, maneuverable. Follow close to you.
However, one advantage for you is if that Hoover goes caput, you replace only one machine at half the cost, roughly.'
Same for my CV system. Power units, hoses, and power nozzles are mainly interchangeable. I spent a grand on everything. Installed it myself.
A Miele S7 electronic costs about $800 ish. A C3 Kona $929 with the good power head. For $1049, you get the Marin with Led headlight and the best nozzle.

 

[Mike81]

Oreck XL suction fan size

I have always liked the Oreck XL design. I mean lightweight, low profile, large bag and nice wooden brushroll.
But what I have not liked is that it is VERY loud and suction fan is tiny.
So my assumption is that the airflow isn't very good at all.

 

[vacerator]

Bag sizes, Oreck

Right Mike in Finland. To me, that tiny fan makes it a carpet sweeper only.
Alex, you should see a Eureka B, or S type bag. At least 6 litres.
I saw a pick up truck yesterday with two tennis balls hanging in a mesh "bag" from the trailer hitch.

 

[eurekaprince]

Truth is, the fan of a classic, fan-first upright is so close to the carpet surface that it does not have to be that powerful to remove the dirt deeply embedded in deep carpets. Most of the dirt is removed and disconnected from the carpet fibres by the action of the brush roll.

 

[sebo_fan]

Yes but if the dust channel from the floor head to the bag is hopelessly narrow then it doesn't make for an efficient vacuum.

 

[vintagerepairer]

All very interesting and much food for thought.

In the UK, the Oreck was only ever sold direct via mail order. Adverts were shown in magazines and on TV. There was also a money-back in-home trial.

This is all very important, because when people can go to a shop to buy anything they can afford, why would they need to send away for it? People who bought via mail order (and I don't include modern online shopping in that) were often in a whole different mind-set. They bought-in to whatever it was they were looking at from the comfort of their own homes. Anything which was sold mail-order had to be unique when compared to the mainstream, and I think we can all say Oreck ticked that box, with a lightweight cleaning ensemble that resembled nothing like one could buy in the shops.

The fact that the Oreck was noisy and not especially great at cleaning would have been neither here nor there to the purchaser who liked it for what it was. They were sold in the UK for decades, in fact I see they are still for sale online., but I am sure I heard that Oreck themselves had sold the company.

 

[alexhoovers94]

Well said Benny, I agree.

 

[vacerator]

Benny,

Yes, Oreck was sold to TTI floor care in Ohio. They also own Dirt Devil and Royal.
All from China, except the old style metal uprights if those are even still being made by Royal. Nice machines, but a step below the Kirby, made not very far from there also. Cleveland also turns out the worlds most exspensive blender, the Vita-Mix. Our daughter just got one. It cost about $400. It makes hot soups from the heat of the friction from blending at high speed. Peanut, cashew or almond butter, no problem.
Then of course, Greenville Ohio turns out eh world renouned Kitchen Aid stand mixers. Even Jaime Oliver uses one.

 

[turbo500]

They also own Dirt Devil and Royal.

They also own Hoover US and Vax in the UK. Our Vax uprights are usually rebadged US Hoover and Dirt Devil.

 

[vacerator]

I have not seen a Vax

product in the states since the Thermax by Vax hot water carpet extractor.

 

[vintagerepairer]

Vax

Is a British brand that took the UK vacuum cleaner market by storm during the 1980's. The original 3-in-1 cleaner was launched in 1978, and from 1983 it was heavily advertised, promoted, and demonstrated. Sales peaked around 1988 and from then on declined steadily. By 1993 Dyson had moved in with the latest 'trend' for consumers to buy.

Vax as a company and brand name was eventually sold off, and I have read with interest on this website the comments that the quality of today's Vax is nothing like it used to be, and what a great travesty this is. But what is never acknowledged is the fact that Vax as we knew it was going to go out of business unless it changed direction from making 3-in-1 cleaners(which was practically all it made), or was sold off to someone else to do as they pleased. There were not enough consumers buying the old Vax products to keep the company going.

Were it not for the fact that the Vax company was bought by another (presumably because the name Vax by then was so very well known and trusted in this country), there would be no discussion on the quality of the product, more a simple reference to another brand that had disappeared.

 

[sptyks]

if those are even still being made by Royal.

Royal is owned by TTI Floorcare who build an exceptional all metal cleaning machine.


I have a Royal Everlast 8300 and it is extremely well built even though it was made in China. Built as well as any of my Kirby's. TTI is capable of building an exceptionally well made machine, contrary to popular belief.

 

[sebo4me]

For once I agree with Stan the man

 

[sebo4me]

They are capable of building quality in China but rarely do.

 

[vintagerepairer]

"good quality" anything can be built anywhere. It comes down to what those who commission the goods want to pay.

 

[sptyks]

Marcus, Thanks for agreeing with me. 


Yes Benny. I agree with you 100%.


 

 

[vacerator]

I agree,

and second, or third Benny and Marcus!