this year's convention

VacuumLand – Vintage & Modern Vacuum Enthusiasts

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HI Todd:

We have about sixty people so far who have made verbal commitments to come to this year's Convention at the Vacuum Museum.

What we hope you bring most, is a smiling face, ready to meet folks who also enjoy vacuums, and an open mind ready to learn all about the ones you currently don't know about.

If you have a personal favorite that you would like to show to the assembled group, please feel free to bring it. We would all enjoy what you have to say about that machine.

In addition to the Vacuum Museum's collection of approximately 800 cleaners, we are showing off Water Filtration vacuums this year. The Delphin with power nozzle, the Pro-Aqua, the Ocean Blue, and the Sirena will all be demonstrated, and everyone will get a chance to use and try one of these 'odd' Rainbow-like machines. Was hoping to get a Rotella (made in Lebanon), but no such luck this year.

The Baymont is a nice place. For the economy minded, the Economy Inn in St. James has many folks staying there - after all - it's only a place to sleep and shower.

Since you'll be arriving Thursday evening, if you email me privately I'll give you the address of the restaurant where we all go to eat after the Museum closes at 5:00 for the day. After dinner, it's back to my home for a cocktail party if you're so inclined. Friday is very fun filled, it's a caravan of cars to the homes of friends in St. Louis with nice collections. It's Saturday, back at the Museum, that has the repair clinics, as well as a barbecue lunch (free) for everyone. We spend the whole day Saturday at the Museum, out to dinner later on as a group, then to my home for a 'final goodbye' to each other.

You'll enjoy it very much.
 
convention two weeks away, getting excited

A bit more than two weeks to go and counting, should be an awesome convention this year. Tom, think I'm going to stay at the Super 8 again this year since that's where I stayed last year and that hotel is really easy to get around in. Do you knjow if anyone else is staying there since I will need a way to and from the museum each day and I don't think Uber or Lyft are available there yet. So, what is everyone going to bring? I've decided to bring my power nozzle collection, we can hook them up to different vacuums and have a power nozzle shoot out, and I will have a cord that will allow them to be hooked up to vacuums without electric hoses. There are some particular vacuums I want to spend some time with this year. I'm a big canister fan, not really in to uprights, of course, I want to see the Eureka canned ham again, actually I would love to see all of the vacuums the museum has that use the Ametek motor that I am so fond of from that time period, I know it was used in lots of different vacuums. I would also love to see the G.E. canisters, I don't think I have seen those yet, and since G.E. made their own motor, I want to know what it sounds like. And, if the museum has any, I would love to see any Eureka power teams from the 1970's. I ended up bringing back three vacuums last year, we'll see what happens this year. If anyone has any canisters you want to part with, bring them and I may be interested.
Mike
 
machines

I can't wait to see what machines are available, at least the canisters. I'm just not an upright person, Tom, any idea what canisters will be available? That compact you said you have for me sounds like a dream come true! And I may have a look at getting the Immaculate or Impecable as well. The three vacuums I got last year from the convention are running great and are very happy here.
Mike
 
hotel

Ok, reservation is booked. The super 8 in Rolla was full, so I decided to try the Baymont in Rolla, it actually sounds pretty similar, just have to figure out how to get transportation to the museum now. One week to go, so excited. Tom, got any ideas on the transportation issue? I'm hoping to bring back that compact you got for me, a Riccar immaculate or Impeccable, and who knows what else, always looking for more canisters.
Mike
 
Hey Mike:
There are so many people who have confirmed they care coming, we should have no problem getting you from the Baymont to the Vacuum Cleaner Museum. Worse Case Scenario: I pick you up on my way to the Museum since I live in Rolla.

I'll be quite proud to present you with your Compact C6. I know you'll have fun and enjoy it.

There will be a good number of canisters either for sale cheap, or free, at the convention. I know Luke Gebhart is bringing a bunch this year. He even has a purple Air-Way (with the GE motor) for $15.

It's about a week away, can't wait to share with everyone. Fr. Bruce brought the rest of his collection to the Museum yesterday, so we have many things to show and share with everyone.

Can't wait to see you again.

T.
 
airway

Oh wow, an airway for $15, I definitely want to look at that. I just hope I don't miss the opportunity to see what's available, I wonder if the G.E. motor sounds similar to that Ametek motor. there's nothing like adding new vacuums too your collection, my goal is to get as many canisters as I can, everyone else can have the uprights, lol. Actually, I think I am one of the few collectors who only prefers canisters, not sure though. Wish I knew how to contact Luke to get more info on that airway.
Mike
 
Luke has a thread on the vintage section about machines he is bringing to the convention. Why don't you consider sending him a private message about it. I think Luke and Norm will be arriving on Thursday. The purple airway is not only very rare, it has a unique sound to the general electric motor that I'm sure you will like.
 
The purple Air-Way was made before World War II, approximately 1939 - 1940. They were the first canister vacuum ever with a disposable bag, a swivel hose connection, and on-board attachment storage. It's an awesome machine. I have the same model in the Vacuum Museum and it's one of my prized pieces in the collection.

Luke should be arriving at the Museum on Thursday, so we'll have time to go over it and clean it up for you.

Just one more week till the Convention - this is the biggest gathering we've ever had. I meet people at the Museum all the time, who collect vacuums but who know nothing of Vacuumland, or clubs, or anything like that. I invite them to the convention too.
 
collecting vacuums

I've always liked vacuums, ever since I can remember, I didn't really start collecting until 2014 and currently have 36, perhaps by the end of the convention, I will have 40 or more. I saw a Central vacuum unit on the Riccar web site that I'm interested in as well, if the outlet store has it, I'm sure the price will be cheaper, the motor in it sounds awesome, 3 stage! If I get it, it would be my 8th central vacuum unit. I love connecting a central vacuum hose directly to a power unit, talk about a powerful canister!
http://riccar.com/premium-hybrid-central-vacuum-rcu-h9
Mike
 
st. louis visit

I think we had talked about going to St. Louis last year to view some collections, but were having so much fun at the museum that we never got around to it. If we do end up making the trip this year, and you want to see my collection as well, you are more than welcome, we can stop by my place and I will show you what I have. I have everything organized by category, backpacks in one closet, canisters in another, etc. I can also show you my central vacuum power unit collection, although I'm sure Evan has more than I do, I currently have 7 of them throughout my apartment.
Mike
 
Thursday is spent at the Museum, with a Factory Tour after lunch at Tuggie & Joe's where I've reserved tables for 40 people. Friday is the day where people caravan to Bob's house, Evan Roger's house (his central vac collection is awe inspiring), and then to Bill Kirby's house. All three have beautiful vacuum collections. As people are arriving on Thursday all during the day - we are expecting at least 60 people to be here by Friday morning.

Saturday is spent at the Museum, where we will go through ALL the boxes of spare parts like hoses, attachments, etc. for vintage cleaners. Fr. Bruce brought a ton of vacuums he didn't sell, and we will be distributing them to collectors as well. At 12:30 we will break for a wonderful Barbecue lunch - pulled pork sliders, beef brisket, pasta salads, potato salads, Louisiana Jambalaya, along with plenty of deserts. All at NO COST to collectors. We are also having a raffle where Tacony Corporation has donated a brand new vacuum cleaner (could it be a Tandem-Air canister?) - someone is taking home a extremely expensive brand-new machine.

For dinner on Thursday, we've reserved tables at Bandana's again (it was so popular last year), and we'll all go to Chico's Mexican restaurant for dinner on Saturday. They are one of the few places that can easily accommodate 60 or more for Saturday's dinner.
 
Fr. Bruce brought three Air-Way cleaners (post war models) that are going in the "Free" area, The other canisters (like the "I Love Lucy" Westinghouse) are on display in the Museum.

The other machines were all uprights.

As we go through both storage areas for the Museum, I'm SURE there will be lots more canisters in the "Free" area, and some others that for sale CHEAP. Fairfax, Lewyt, Compact, etc. Probably close to 100 or more machines either free or cheap.
I'll decide what I want to get rid of from the storage areas on Saturday.
 
Hey Mike:
Fairfax did indeed use Lamb motors, two different types. The early ones had standard two speed Lamb motors (like Filter Queen), later models had a by-pass double stage Lamb motor since the machines came with a water pick-up kit.

Chico's is the Mexican Restaurant that's located, literally, across the highway from the Vacuum Cleaner Museum. Shouldn't take us more than a few minutes at most to get there. About a year ago, the old Mexican restaurant closed (the owners got divorced) and a new one reopened (Chico's). I've eaten there several times, both lunch and dinner, and it was very good food. Donnie loves the shrimp cocktail, which in a Mexican restaurant, is VERY different from what I always thought of as a shrimp cocktail. He's from California anyway, and used to eat in Baja all the time. He also loves fish tacos the way they make them in Mexico. The ones at Chico's are very close.

I'm getting so excited. The Vacuum Cleaner Collectors Convention is just a few days away. It's my favorite time of the year. Frank Morgan is bringing a car full of canisters he rescued from a Kirby dealer going under water (literally). There's a Guardian Platinum Lux with Adam Mercer's name on it when Frank arrives.

People are arriving on Wednesday evening as well as all day Thursday. By dinner time, everyone should be here (except Frank who will arrive Friday). Mike Banta is coming again this year, all the way from San Diego. I think he's traveling the longest distance. Russ Riddering from Florida is driving 18 hours. As you know, we are just one large, happy family of vacuum collectors all in our element with our favorite machines.

You must see my Stainless Steel Hoover Constellation, hooked up to the Volt power nozzle (I put a steel brush roller in mine). Boy that thing can really clean. Also, we WILL have the new Tandem-Air canister power nozzle for everyone to see. Tacony hasn't launched the new Wonder and Prima canister line with the Tandem nozzle yet - so we will be one of the first people to ever see and use it (other than the R and D department at Corporate).

Many pics of the festivities to follow.........
 
I am contemplating the trip!

In light of my health issues at present, I am working on clearing my schedule and heading to St. James. I would be leaving late Wednesday, or early Thursday morning.
Wondering if anyone would be interested in sharing the expense of a hotel/motel room?


Looking forward to seeing old familiar faces and meeting new ones!

Ken Wagman
[email protected]
815 670-3077
 

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