Thrifting and Gifting in North Canton, Ohio

[aeoliandave]

Today on the second of four days off work Tom Anderson and I went out on the Hunt for Wayward Vacuums.

I hit the road at dawn on Saturday, making my around Toledo toward farmland nestled in the crook where 71S meets 271E between Medina and Akron, to pick up an eBay win in person. There was a 35 minute wait in line to get across the Bluewater Bridge but having prepared myself for this the time passsed quickly. Then I hit 11 miles of I-90 reconstruction before Detroit. Then I got suddenly off-ramped & totally lost and confused in a nasty section of SE Detroit because half of I-75 south of Detroit is closed!!! argh. So rather than a leisurely two lane back road cruise to my first appointment I had to hightail it down the Ohio Turnpike 90, arriving at the first appointment at 3:30. Turned out to be another vacuum (and farm machinery, Chevrolet, kerosene two lung engines and so on based on a lovely isolated farm property in an idyllic valley so of course much jolly time was passed on all these subjects.

The lovely couple Debbie & Carl Stauffer did not know about VCCC or the forum! They sure do now and I hope we will see them at the Convention.

Having missed Tom at the Historical Center on his volunteer Saturday I checked into my sweet little North Canton motel room in the Big Box Mall Land shadow of Interstate 77, had a hearty Friendly's dinner, played some with the new vacuum(s) and went out to see Raiders Of The Lost Ark 4. Luved it...and Harrison Ford in a shower scene - worth the price of admission.

 

[aeoliandave]

More on that turquoise drum thing later...

Carl & Debbie & I had so much fun. Carl insisted I take along this Premier Duplex. Here's some shots in the motel room after I shook out the bag in the parking lot...and vacuumed it clean.

All the parts are there, it simply need tender loving care to come back to the Land of Useful and Purty.

 

[aeoliandave]

This 3 wheeler's motor runs nice and smooth, as Tom can attest.

 

[petek]

Oh darn I wished I knew you were heading thru.. I'd have given you some stuff to take. I've been out of touch sorta because my older sister has taken a bad turn on Friday and is in the hospital so I've been back and forth visiting, to and fro'ing mom home and back etc. etc.

 

[aeoliandave]

Sunday morning after a hearty breakfast it was off to see Tom, Heather and Glenn. Tom & I headed straight for the basement where I peppered him with the usual questions he can so readily answer.

Goodness, we read about and see pictures of Tom's Total Hoover display but to see them in person!!! Oh, you most fortunate Convention attendees...

Noontime and off we go a-thrifting...

Long story short, the trick is to look under tables and inside furniture drawers. And anything that resembles a hose at 100 paces is usually attached to something of interest. Get digging!

 

[aeoliandave]

Very alarming to hear about your sister, Pete. The trip came up so fast I had to move fast. You'll have to go to the Convention now. Tom is expecking you...and Dean would love the Stan Hywet Gardens & many other sites while you indulge in Vacuum Camraderie.

I'm planning to cross back by the ferry on Monday morning and will naturally veer toward Sarnia. Don't have the cell phone with me so I'll call and if you're in, you're in. I'll keep you informed of itinerary timing with fast notes here rather than email.

http://www.stanhywet.org/

 

[aeoliandave]

Yikes, it's 11PM and almost bedtime!

So, without further ado...the thrifting finds.

Yes, that is a second Roll-Easy!!! Tome hailed me to the back of a room to see an Airway 55 and something else. I spotted this in the darkl shadows under a table. I let out a whoop and swung it up into view. Be still my beating bursting heart!!!

A Hoover Auto Drive and a GE Electric knife in box.

I'll let Tom tell the Playskool lawnmower tale.

 

[aeoliandave]

Tom admiring the Roll-Easy in the back room of the store having plugged it in.

Stickered at $24 ( a steal!!!) it became $17 at the register on half price Sunday. Somebody pinch me.

 

[aeoliandave]

The Auto Drive back in the motel room. I like it! Needs a little tlc to tune up the transmission engagement lever and new belts.

I think this was a Goodwill find. While there we engaged in conversation with Elfrieda/Elthena (? Tom?), who noticed these two fellers practically dismantling the vacuum on the floor at the back of the store. A retired lady of some 25 years service at the Hoover Company who has so many stories to tell as well as confirming factory insider things Tom has deduced over the years.

 

[aeoliandave]

Back home we headed down to the basement again, this time with the Vac-O-Meter I had brought along. We tested suction -the Roll-Easy pulls 59" - then Tom figured out how to use the electrical testing section of the meter.

You plug the vacuum cord into the lower left receptacle and turn on the vacuum - tho it does not start up - which completes an internal circuit and the test lamp lights up. Flipping the toggle switch to TEST starts the vacuum and the amp meter gives a load reading as the motor runs. very cool. So we tested out a few vacuums...

 

[aeoliandave]

In the Gifting Department Tom generously assembled a TOL Hoover 28 aluminum tool set and hose (still passes the palm thump test!) and an extra set of wands for my Canadian 281. If you recall my Mrs. Townshend 281 has all Bakelite tools and a petrified hose. Awwww shucks, what a guy.

 

[aeoliandave]

The Hoover Building perfectly sunlit as sunset approaches on my way back to the motel to play with vacuums and prepare for whatever Monday holds for roving Dr Davy.

First thing after breakfast I'm heading to an open air flea market Tom has told me about on my way north to Akron to Stan Hywet and thence to Sandusky and Cedar Point Roller Coaster Park.

 

[petek]

Are you gonna be coming this way on Monday or Tuesday, I'm cornfused now if you're going to Cedar Point on Monday etc.

 

[aeoliandave]

Purty!

Back in the motel room, the $17 Roll-Easy version 3 augmented with aluminum wand, late double action floor nozzle. Note that the Hoover Hose has at least the authentic aluminum Roll-Easy ends and not the chrome Swiveltop ends. Well, we are in Hoover Country, after all.

We think the gray cord is a GE replacement as I usually see Roll-Easys with blue/gray or turquoise cords. This gray one is in excellent supple condition.

Beside other notable differences stemming from the GE Bean Counters, Version two/three is definitely narrower between the wheels than the convex barreled version one. I deduce that this was another material fabrication cost cutting measure allowable because the hose socket was re-positioned to the center. The bag clamp inside fitting to the left required more drum depth to accommodate the bag. The vacuum trails after you now instead of being canted and dragged as in the first version with the off center hose attachment. But it's still a heavy li'l sucker to be dragged up & down stairs and over thresholds; no wonder that original turquoise hoses are not to be found and no wonder the ends were simply swapped to any vaguely blueish colour matched available woven vinyl hose stock at the Repair Shops.

So, being introduced in 1957, does anyone know how long into the 1960s Roll-Easys were in production?

 

[aeoliandave]

Today is Sunday. Traveling to Cedar Point for Monday. Monday night motel somewhere in Michigan or Toledo. So I can thrift my way north to the ferry Tuesday morning. Unless the weather goes all to hell and I beadle back Sarnia way Monday night...

I'll check the weathercasts Monday morning before I leave.

Now its midnight and I wanna be up early to hit the flea market. Maybe Sandusky won't require as much time as I imagine. It is a summer Monday and I may find Cedar Point too much bother. Regardless, I intend to take the return trip wandering scenic two lane blacktops along the Erie shoreline to Toledo, at least.

 

[aeoliandave]

Oh crap. 80% thunderstorms for Tuesday beginning Monday late late night. Pete, since I'm only 6 hours from home at this point I'm leaning now toward making my way all the way to the ferry by sunset tomorrow - Monday. Stay tuned...

 

[normvac]

Dave, You have had the scenic and the lucky tour of N.E. and
Northern Ohio. Love your G.E. find. You are a dedicated
collector and lover of the thrill of the find!
It's always a good time visiting with Tom and family. I'm hoping to head that way again before the first of Aug.
So I'm taking it by your writing that you will NOT be able
to join us in Aug. for the convention?
Stan Hywet hall is awesome, have been there twice for Car Shows. It was one of the First homes that had it's interior
designed by an interior designer. Like the Ford and Dodge
homes in Gross Point Mi. Neat and fun place to visit!
Norm Brown

 

[camelotshadow]

You went to visit the Holy Hoover Grail!

Way to go Dave

That roll easy
Wow, bet your eyes lit up
I know mine sure did!

What a trip
& you got to meet Tom!!!!

Wow

Congrats

 

[arh1953]

A $17.00 Roll-Easy in a thrift shop?? Somebody kick me!

I got my convex Roll-Easy for free!! Of course, I had to pay the delivery costs, which was still a good deal for me. Now I'm waiting for two surprises in the mail, I can't bear the suspense! The side trips and the historic sites are something I would love to see in person. Maybe someday...