THE VACUUM CLEANER COLLECTOR'S CLUB TURNS 27 TODAY!

[caligula]

Happy anniversary everybody!

Our club officially began on January 2, 1983.

I want to thank JOHN LUCIA, he worked his fingers to the bone to help me put out our first newsletter.

Our original members were MIKE PUPEK, CRAIG LONG, and TOM SHEMMICK. Our helpers were 'club secretary' ANNE R. TABER, and 'assistant editor' NORBERT MILLER.

Special thanks to both STACY KRAMMES, and her daughter LIZ KRAMMES. Stacy was the director of the Hoover Historical Center. She gave me a personal tour of the center in 1980, and forwarded a letter from John Lucia to me in 1981, then gave us both a tour of the center and of the Hoover factory in September of 82. She also gave us the names of the people on our contact list. Her daughter, Liz Krammes was a graphic artist and the one who designed our first logo, 'The Baby Daisy'. A non electric canister style pumper of 1890.

I also want to add a word of thanks to Mike Pupek. In the fall of 1984 he suggested a meeting of the club members. This was held the first weekend of May 1985.

So with great pride I lift my glass in thanks to the people who got this club started. I also extend a warm hug to those who kept this club going, especially CHARLES RICHARD LESTER.

I am truly blessed for knowing ALL of you, thanks for keeping the dream alive.

With deep respect,

Alex Taber

 

[kenmore81]

Happy Anniversery Everyone!!!!

 

[rainbowkid107]

Happy Anniversery!!!!!!!!!!



-Josh

 

[electrolux~137]

A Brief History of the Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Club

The following was part of the original VCCC web site but got omitted when the new site was created. I think it would be nice to have this on Vacuumland as it tells how and when the Club was started and how it has grown over the years.


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A Brief History of the Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Club

John Lucia and Bob Taber, the VCCC co-founders, started corresponding with one another in 1981. They met in person in 1982 when, together, they made a pilgrimage to the Hoover Historical Center and factory. That was the first time they ever saw "The Vault" where Hoover kept the competitors' models and their own early machines.

After their meeting at Hoover in 1982, they decided to see if there were other people interested in vacuum cleaners. They officially founded the club in 1983.

Over the next five years or so, the Club grew to about 10 people through word of mouth: primarily via the Hoover Company. Eventually, however, John and Bob decided to let the club lapse. This was due mainly to inactivity, but also because of some embarrassing mishaps involving a couple of the more "colorful" club members.

When Charles Lester first met Stan Kann (R.I.P.) in 1991, Stan told him not only about George Bourhill (R.I.P.), but also Alex (Bob) Taber, John Lucia, and Mike Pupek, all of whom he had known for several years.

Charles first met John and Bob in 1991 by telephone. Stan had given him their names and phone numbers along with George Bourhill's and Mike Pupek's info.

Charles heard the very thrilling news from John that there was a Vacuum Cleaner Collectors' Club. Then he heard the very disappointing news that the Club was "in limbo" as Alex Taber put it.

Well, of course, Charles suggested getting the Club going again! However, John and Alex both were rather lukewarm about the idea. (Well, that is, John was "rather lukewarm" but Alex was "vehemently opposed" to the idea!) However, after much prodding and urging by Charles, they finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to do so.

So, the three them were the first members of the "NEW Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Club," with Charles serving as newsletter editor and publisher. They also invited Stan Kann to join, of course, which he did. George Bourhill joined soon thereafter.

Then, other collectors came out of the woodwork in 1992 and 1993 for a whopping total of eighteen - count - em - eighteen members (some of whom are still in the Club today). Who would ever have imagined there were SO MANY sweeper nuts loose on the planet?!

And, now, with, what, some 200 hundred members ... Well, as the cliché goes, "the rest is history!"



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A Chronological History of the VCCC's Annual Conventions

1993 - Naperville/Chicago, Illinois. The first convention after the club was revived and reorganized; held at co-founder Bob (Alex) Taber's home where we toured his collection and enjoyed a tremendously fun vac-swap!

1994 - Allentown, Pennsylvania at the homes of Bob Kautzman and Mike Pletcher. Bob demonstrated restoration technizues, and Mike showed us his extensive collections of vacuums and literature.

1995 - North Canton, Ohio, at the Hoover factory and Historical Center. A highlight was Mike Hays getting us into the incredible Models Vault!

1996 - Festus, Missouri at Tom Gasko's home. This was the first time that contests for cleaning efficiency and restoration were held.

1997 - Cleveland, Ohio, where we visited the Health-Mor (Filter Queen) and Kirby factories.

1998 - Lenoir, North Carolina, Elizabethton, Tennessee, and Bristol Virginia. Dennis Cox and Clay Floyd hosted the meeting at the store in Lenoir. Saw the collection of Hans Craig in Lenoir, traveled to Elizabethton, where we visited Jimmy Martin's store, then to Bristol where we toured the Electrolux factory.

1999 - St. Louis / Festus, Missouri. Visited Stan Kann's and Tom Gasko's collections; toured the Fox Theatre where Stan Kann is the House Organist.

2000 - North Canton, Oho, where we re-visited the Hoover Historical Center. Did not tour the factory this time, as our group had grown too large by this time. Some members went to Cleveland before the meeting and re-visited the Kirby factory, arranged by member Jim Kirby (no relation to "THE" Jim Kirby).

2001 - Portland, Oregon, with a tour of Stark's Store/Museum and John Lucia Collection.

2002 - Louisville, Kentucky / Clarksville Indiana with guest Bill Geist and cameras from CBS Sunday Morning.

2003 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- visited the collections of Fred Stachnik, Tania Voigt, and Stan Hagen.

2004 - Chicago/Itasca, Illinois. Visited the collections of Jeff Parker (the incredible Hooverland) and Fred Nelson. Fred hosted a fabulous dinner in his fabulous home.

2005 - Los Angeles, California

2006 - St. Louis, Missouri

 

[caligula]

Thank you Charles Richard.

Great bit of info, but here is the back story.

A buddy of mine told me about the Hoover HIstorical Center. I went there alone in September of 1980. However, I never expected anything more than seeing a few vacuum cleaners. As fate would have it, I was really laying the foundation for our club. It was Stacy Krammes who got the ball rolling and that is why she forwarded John's letter to me.

The rest as they say is history!

Thanks for sharing the important date with the club. I said it before and will shout it from the roof tops, you are a major part of the club, and the one who kept the club going when you contacted me and mailed out that questioneer. So you are also a part of the team.

With deep respect,

Alex Taber

 

[caligula]

A minor correction

I saw the models vault when I went to Hoover in 80
Alex Taber