To the no-good rotten, rat-fink creepy, lousy EBay-er who done stole this Universal upright from me..

[crevicetool]

Congratulations!!! I really have no idea at all if the person with the winning bid is a vacuum collector at all, or if they are a poster here on the forum or not. Just thought I'd say...good job and enjoy.

I had my limit on this item and was surpassed by someone who wanted it more than I did!

Below is a picture from the New Britain Library. I didn't look at the original paperwork that Terry and I collected yet, but I think this machine is from the early 1930's. It's a model 585A

Have fun with your new machine. It's gonna look great all spiffed up! There's another one waiting somewhere with my name on it.

Rick

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290407958958&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[crevicetool]

Whoops!!!!

I guess it would help if I posted the picture huh?

 

[crevicetool]

Alex......

BTW, I fixed the "C"


Rick

 

[electrolux~137]

Ohhhh Rick, what a bummer. I think everyone here knows you're "Mr. Universal" and I doubt any of us would have outbid you.

But as you say, there's another one out there with your name on it -- just believe that. One day when you least expect it, you'll walk into a thrift store or yard sale, and there it will be standing, waiting for you, all original and sparkling. Stranger things than this have happened -- just believe it. The power of the mind is far more awesome than we mere mortals can comprehend.

 

[luxg]

Charles is right, there will be another one! I am guess that this machine would not accommodate any type of attachment set. Now I'm wondering if any of the Universal uprights did?

 

[hooverbaby]

cough, cough

What a nice machine; I wonder where that went...

 

[crevicetool]

tehehehehe......

Good for you Stephen! I know you had shown an interest in that machine! I'm glad it went to a collector. I would have been disappointed if it had gone for some "other" use.

Trust me, the real reason for this thread was NOT to show ill feelings toward the winner of this machine. It was to show that - with EBay, we can all still get along. There have been so many disagreements about this subject.

When you get a chance, do post some pictures of it!

YAY!!!!

Sincerely,

Rick

 

[crevicetool]

BTW....

When we saw this machine in New Britain, it had the ORIGINAL original bag on it. They were brown, with gold lettering in the form of the picture above.

Rick

 

[hooverbaby]

It's on its way...

Rick, I did indeed win the machine and it's on its way, though I missed the courier whilst at work. I'm expecting to get it on Monday.

I didn't know that you were interested in it, though Charles said he'd emailed you about it. It was relisted after the seller pulled the original auction, due to a death in his family.

I know that not everyone agrees on this but I have bid against friends before, mainly at traditional auctions eg vintage rallies. There's one guy in particular from the mower club who I have bid against in the past. Things can sometimes get heated...but we're still on talking terms, you just have to put your business clothes on!

Usually, if I see something I want I don't tell anyone else about it. If I know someone who also wants it and they know I'm interested I usually have a word with them before the auction starts about how I'm going to play it. Sometimes I'll keep out of it..but I don't do it all the time otherwise I could end up keeping out of it all the time! It also depends on how badly I want it. Sometimes I'll let it go to the other guy...but not for nothing...I'll make him pay for it!

Anyway, sorry for you that you didn't get it...but like you say there's others out there. I was recently outbid on another Universal that made even more money - not sure who got that.

Stephen

 

[crevicetool]

EXACTLY!!!!!!!

The whole point of looking through auctions, going to thrift stores, etc., is to find these machines and keep them from becoming thrown on top of the junk pile. You don't have to apologize for having done your job.

I had been watching that item originally after getting heads up on it. I thought I had gone crazy at first when it ended before the auction time was up. I wrote to the seller and, like you said - he explained the circumstances for pulling the auction.

Then Charles' thread talked about how it had been missed. That's when I knew you were interested in the machine too.

We are all in this together. I have had more than my share of good luck when it comes to acquiring machines. I have, to me anyway, the most coveted Universal and a display stand to go with it!!! (Picture below) The others will come along in due time.

Let me know if there is anything I can help you with your new machine!

Rick

 

[hooverbaby]

Nice picture!

Nice picture Rick, the blue cylinder appears to be in excellent original nick.

You're quite right in saying that, by running the prices up, we help to stop these machines ending up on landfill sites. Whilst would-be buyers end up paying more we're doing a favour for the sellers...and most of us have sold machines as well as buying them.

Stephen

 

[hooverbaby]

oh and thanks BTW!

Thanks for your offer of help...though I'm hoping not to need any with this machine!

It's interesting how you talk of the original bag being brown with gold lettering. The advert above mentions a maroon and gold-coloured colour scheme. Are you implying that the seller swapped the bag on this machine (the one you saw in New Britain) after he bought it?.. or was that another machine of the same type?

Stephen

 

[crevicetool]

Perhaps it was maroon originally,

then it faded. This is the machine at New Britain. After seventy-some years, it may have lost some color over time. It looks brown to me. The "original" bag that the seller is sending along with the machine, doesn't look like this bag at all.

 

[hooverbaby]

looks like faded maroon

Yeh, that's kinda what I was thinking; that bag does look like a maroon colour that's faded.

Presumably, the item on the right is an old washing machine with mangle. I have one a bit like that.

Stephen

 

[hooverbaby]

Here's one I robbed earlier...

Is this what you were looking for?!

Then look no further; what a beauty, purring away...shall I go on?

Needs a good clean and polish...and a cloud of dust blew out when I first plugged it in..but it runs and picks up well.

Stephen

 

[hooverbaby]

Another view

Here's another angle, must clean the camera lens!

 

[hooverbaby]

I've cleaned it a bit!

Here's another picture of the machine after a little cleaning..

 

[hooverbaby]

Another view.

Another view from the side..

 

[hooverbaby]

a view of it working on the bed..

Here's a view of the cleaned machine working on the bed. I had to take it somewhere out of the way, since I've already had a warning about Hoovers today and didn't want to create any more tension!