Through the years to come.

[luxz80]

I was responding to a post in contemporary section and got me thinking and I thought to myself, How long will these modern vacuums last?? Not just mechanically but physically??

I do love to watch old reruns of star trek next generation which is in 24th century and looked over at my lux 62 and thought, Will an old vac like that survive till then?

I have also seen posts asking, What will happen to my collection after I go?? And I do wonder how many might actually still be around in 100, 500 or even 1000 years? Plus will any still work?? (I doubt it but you never know). These vacs are part of household cleaning history and might only be in museums by then. Hard to say.

Apologies if this is in wrong section but would love to hear what others think about this. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

[luxz80]

This was in reference to old vacs from 20s-60s surviving the ages.

I am sure no modern plasticrap vac will survive that long. Just trying to be creative during these weird times.

 

[luxz80]

This was in reference to old vacs from 20s-60s surviving the ages.

I am sure no modern plasticrap vac will survive that long. Just trying to be creative during these weird times.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I think you're right.

Also, a lot has to do with care/abuse of them. Look at all of the older cleaners which are still around, AND working. Parts, also, are a factor.
As far as what happens to them after us....... that's been discussed a lot.
some of mine are "promised" to others. Some have very careful notes/instructions as to what to do with them.. We just hope they don't just end up "sent to the crusher".
Ridiculous.

 

[luxz80]

It would be nice to think our cleaners will be cared for after us. I just hope a collector in 2220 will have some examples of early to mid 20th century cleaners.

As to weather they work or not is as you said depending on care and use. I highly doubt parts will be available then. But who knows? Safe to say they will not be used much if at all by then.

I think Hoover & Kirby have the best chance of survival. Not so many canister/cylinder models 20s - 80s as woven hoses will almost certainly stiffen and perish over the course of time.

 

[human]

luxz80 wrote: woven hoses will almost certainly stiffen and perish over the course of time.

I reply: I think that's called "rubber mortis"

 

[rainbowd4c]

A vacuum is going to last as long as you take care of it. If you clean it out, maintain the filters and treat it well it will last a long time. Higher end vacuums like the door to door types are built to last even longer.

With that being said... Bissell is notorious for discontinuing filters and making it so that you can't keep up with the maintenance. Hoover and Eureka are doing the same things. I think that's why I will never buy anything Brand New that is a name brand and in a store. I will always go high end door to door.

My 70 year old neighbor has a Hoover Decade 80. Those have been gone for a long long time. Still looks like brand new and going strong.

 

[rivstg1]

I have real doubts that most of the vacs today will be around 30-50-100 years from now....other than a rare unused/barely used model. I think the because fro the most part, they aren't made to be serviced ( on the whole) like the vacuums of the first 3/4's of the 20th century. Most plastic vacuums don't have access to replacement parts.....the old ones made out of steel/pot metal/aluminum were more durable and made to be serviced.

 

[jo]

It will be a mixed bag

Really depends on how much use and abuse these things get. Little of that and they’ll last, more of it and they’ll go to the trash if parts aren’t available and also people just don’t bother fixing things if the whole thing is generally worn down and figure an all new one will be a better investment especially on low priced machines. Also depends on how many are made of a certain model. The more there are the more chances of some lasting. Motor quality makes a difference too, crappy motors will lead to earlier demise. I had a little shop vac that lasted me just under 10 years and it died due to the motor starting to grind and slow and run hot then started smoking. Perhaps the bearings gave out but I chucked it because it was only $20 when I bought it new. It saw a lot of use on remodeling jobs and a lot of use picking up plaster dust but I needed something for this purpose and it probably would have died sooner if I hadn’t mixed in using an Old Electrolux canister for all but the nastiest of jobs on remodeling because I got tired of the messy cleaning needed of the shop vac filters.

 

[gregvacs28]

Even when a product is durable and reliable and can last, that doesn't mean people will want to use it or have the need to use it.

Think about the 1970s Kitchen Aid dishwashers, the 1980s copy machines, the 1990s computers, the 2000s cel phones and ink jet printers, even the furniture from the 1940s that one can still find on the likes of Craigslist or even out at the curb.

The items may still work just fine. They may even still look just as they did when they were new.

But most of the time people either don't want "that old stuff" or it's technologically irrelevant.

Anybody want to buy my old VHS player I paid $800 for it back in the day? It's been sitting in the box for decades. Even has the original owners manual. It's like brand new. Anyone? Any takers? How about my Lowrey Organ from 1980?