There’s a “Thunder” Storm in my Collection!

[gj3476]

So remember the post I made yesterday about the Fantom Thunder I saw at the Salvation Army and mentioned that there’s no suction? Well I went back there this morning and checked the clean out port and sure enough it was clogged! So I asked a worker to lower the price and got it for $16! So I brought it home and use one of my jet flos to vacuum up all the crud out and it now has great suction! Plus it needed one new spare lightbulb that came with my Fury and a belt of course. This works like a charm and all it needs is a dusting brush, floor tool with holder and a good clean up!

 

[gj3476]

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[gj3476]

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[gj3476]

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[gj3476]

This was can be removed or connected to the handle. Why? And is this rare?

 

[gj3476]

On/off switch and hose button.

 

[gj3476]

Here’s all the dirt that clogged up the vacuum. Now you see it.

 

[gj3476]

Now you don’t!

 

[gj3476]

Thunder in action. Works so amazing! What do y’all prefer the mysterious handle part on the handle wand or the handle wand itself?

 

[gj3476]

Picks up a great amount of dirt!

 

[gj3476]

What year was my Thunder made in?

 

[ultralux88]

1997

 

[gj3476]

Ultralux88, thanks. I just saw the date part on the sticker and it said 9714, which I guess it means the 14th week of that year.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Nice find, hopefully you can get the other attachments for it. Fantoms seem to be really rare in my area, I saw one at a flea market (11 amp I think but didn't seem to be for sale) and years ago I saw a Fury at Habitat. But that's all.

 

[gj3476]

Thanks fan of fans, luckily for me the only attachment it has is the crevice tool. Another thing, do you get about the odd looking part for the handle wand?

 

[ultralux88]

The were everywhere around here back when they were new, and up until maybe 10 years ago. They just seem to have died out, but a lot of machines of that era are getting less common than they once were, and that is making me feel old...

 

[myles_v]

I used to have one of those little handle things, not sure where it went. I always took it off my Thunder while using it, the extra handle thing felt flimsy.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I seem to have a vague memory of hearing about the handle extension but never seen it.

I still see Hoover Elites and Eurekas from that era a good bit here. But they aren't as common as the newer bagless vacuums.

 

[broomvac]

I love Fantoms. The Thunder is better than their Fury, IMO.

I’ve never seen nor heard of that handle extension, but it looks to be just that. The original Thunder handle wasn’t exactly at the most comfortable angle, so I’ll bet that was an option they offered to people if they found the vacuum uncomfortable. I wouldn’t mind finding one of those attachments for my Thunder simply so I could preserve the original handle grip.