Thrift Find

[s31463221]

I don't know what it is about this area, but finding vacuum cleaners at thrift stores/flea markets just doesn't seem to work out for me. I have been stalking every thrift/junk store in the area for a long time and lately all I can come up with are vacs that I don't particularly think of as something I would collect. I expected yesterday to be no different.....BUT lady-luck was smiling down on me.

I was out on my lunch break yesterday perusing the local flea market/peddler's mall and was super excited that I found a gigantic bunch of Christmas lights for $4, all working! I thought I had hit the jackpot at that point, but I rounded a corner, and neatly tucked away under a shelf, there sat a lonely-looking Electrolux Olympia One vacuum. It was the tank, newer vinyl hose, and power nozzle. I practically jumped in that booth to check it out, expecting to find a massive price tag.....that's typically what I run across, the last metal Lux I had found there was priced at $299, needless to say, it's STILL sitting there.......when I found the card, I had to do a double-take to make sure I hadn't mis-read it....the tag said "Vintage 70's-80's Electrolux vacuum, works good....$5.00........without taking a second thought, I scooped it up and headed for the checkout. So for less than $10, I made it out with a massive wad of Christmas lights, AND a functional (dirty, but otherwise in very good shape) Electrolux O-One......I don't know how I'll top that find of the week! I will take photos of the Lux and post here shortly, I didn't get any yesterday, I was too excited to even think about a photo!!!

 

[marks_here]

I've been donating my high end vacuums to Habitat For Humanity over the year. They really do appreciate the brand new condition I get them them back to, they even give me the ones that have been donated not by me to recondition them for the sales floor. This year they were top sales in TN which I was glad to be a part of. I wonder how much my Kirby Avalir will get when I decide to take it in. I've only used it once so far heck it only cost me $350 fully kitted out.

 

[dartman]

I have a alert set on Craig's List for my favorite Royal cannisters and that's how I found my 4650 with a bad wire in the hose for 25 bucks.
Nicer vacuum then my old 413 canister. I spent more buying a older working hose from eBay to get everything working like it is supposed to even though I could set the power switch to blower and it bypassed the bad wire and everything worked. The Panasonic powerhead is way better then the older one that I really liked too except the plate on the bottom is plastic and both deviders on the brush slot
broke out, will never happen with the metal one on the older one.
I like to check garage sales too as you never know when you'll find a smoking deal on anything you might like, like that cheap vacuum you found.
The first vacuum I got when I moved out was a beat Kenmore with a nice powerhead for like 10 bucks or less.
Finally replaced it with the Royal I bought from a Kirby salesman as a almost new trade in about 90 and paid 200 for it.

 

[s31463221]

Photos as promised!!!

They're not the best photos in the world, but here's the vac as I pulled it out of my truck! I hooked it up, and indeed the motor sounds great as does the power nozzle! Very happy with my find!!

 

[human]

Nice find!

 

[super-sweeper]

Nice!

I saw one of these in a trash heap once, decided to grab it in the way back from the store. Came back only to find some scraper throwing it into his truck! I even tried buying it off the guy, but he didn't seem to speak a lick of English!


 


.....I still have nightmares to this day.....

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Good Fine! If you ever want to sell it, i might be interested...

 

[fantomfan57]

Congratulations

Nice machine, I have a few including one of those that HAS to use genuine Electrolux vacuum bags. I have lots of genuine bags and this is the one I want to keep.