Today's thrift store finds!

[blackheart]

Ever get that feeling that something you'd want is out there? Almost like it's calling to you? I got that feeling today and decided to hit my usual rounds.

Here's what I came back with, I debated putting this in the vintage forum but there's 2 new and 2 old, and i'm more active on this forum anyways *shrugs*
First was Dakota's boy ranch where I found the Decade 80 and the Dirt Devil Brum.

I've been wanting to find a cheap decade 80 to test it's flow, I'd imagine it'll be like Bill's U4007 but perhaps a tish stronger due to it's 6 amp rating.

The dirt Devil brum was a neat looking little thing, and with it being 75% off I figured why not. It does have a very odd airpath to it though it comes around to the side of the machine in a narrow tube, it was clogged when I picked it up.

The next stop had one vacuum, this lovely red Oreck. with the sale price of it I figured pick it upm clean it up, and flip it. It's running well definitely needs a belt and a clean up as it has somewhat of an unpleasant odor to it. The original puchase order was in the back pocket. It was purchased 12/26/07 for 476.99 after a $50 off credit and tax. It even has a ticket for a ten year service agreement. The last visit was on 1-31-12, and at some point after that the local oreck store closed down so the rest are blank

I went to the next stop and On the miscellaneous electronics sat a Compact... I was like what? it's an oddity to see one around here. I checked the bottom and it's apparently a C-8 though I've learned it's a private labeled machine that carries the Sir Thomas Anthony name which was a brand of sewing machines. It does have a hose but It's not pictured.

 

[lesinutah]

Nice

I was thrifting today too.
They had a 10 year old Kenmore progressive upright, Hoover windtunnel cannister, a riccar 8950, newer lux with dust bin, a dirt devil like late 80s early 90s 3 amp vacuum stick vac, mid 90s Hoover, early 80s Hoover(it was thrashed), couple Bissell carpet cleaners missing entire water assembly, a steam vac, a shark cyclonic lifttaway shark.
I almost got the Hoover windtunnel cannister it was 12 amps and it had serious power. I did clog the hose on purpose because I may just pick it up tomorrow.
The shark I bought. I wanted the riccar but I have the same model.
I do like sharks. In last week I've gotten 2 liftaways and a rocket. I'm in $27 combined. I'm going to sale the rocket and one lifttaway if not both. I think $30 for rocket $50 to $100 on liftway. I'm not sure but the cyclonic lifttaway is one I could get $100 for. It also probably could rival Dyson I sold before I was impressed with.
If I got windtunnel I don't think I could sale it. It's not that it's not a good vacuum. It's people are idiots and want crap vacs.
I already have a riccar cannister I have to sale. If I were to guess the Hoover would outperform my riccar 1500p. The riccar filters better but airflow was impressive.

Les

 

[superocd]

I know what feeling you're talking about...

I really want to find a Classic 1-CR/Omega or a really old Kirby (pre-Sanitronic, maybe even the 1-C thru 3-C, though that might be stretching it -- I doubt I'd find something that old at Goodwill or Value Village). I have had that "gut feeling" that I'd find one of those at a thrift store many times before, but have come up short. Haven't went in a while. I had a close call a while back when I saw pieces (including the brushroll nozzle) to an Omega, but no motor unit.

I wouldn't turn down a Royal, a Hoover Convertible or a Sanitaire/Eureka F&G either, even though I already own an example of each. Alas, none of those are ever around as well. Just the stuff that one would see on the shelves at Walmart, Target or Best Buy, and maybe an older (late '90s - early '00s) plastic vacuum.

Come to think of it, it would be really cool to find a Bison too. Almost "winning the lottery" exciting. I wouldn't be able to fully restore it -- parts availability is long gone, I'm sure -- but it would be awesome just to have a decent-looking and running example hanging around as a conversation piece. Still, I'm almost positive I will never see one at a thrift store.

 

[fantomfan57]

Les....

I noticed this part of your posting concerning the 12amp Hoover Windtunnel canister:
"I did clog the hose on purpose because I may just pick it up tomorrow."

Do you plan to unclog it if you decide not to buy it?

 

[dysonman1]

Would love to see a close-up of the “Sir Thomas Anthony” label on the side of the compact, because they stole my name. LOL. That’s my first name as well as my middle name. The “sir” part is something I’ve been called many, many times.

 

[blackheart]

Oops!

For some reason I keep making that mistake the Label is Sir Anthony James. I even posted about this on facebook with the correct names just minutes before this post! I think it's due to the Airway with your name on it Tom. Haha, well I've been told this Sir Anthony James was a brand of sewing machines so these were private labels

 

[lesinutah]

Yes

I plan to unclog I just detach attachment and take out what's clogging it.
It near end of the hose. People won't buy clogged vacuums. I'd they took off attachment they could unclog it. I'm about to go there.
I've never ever seen a compact at thrift store. I have never seen a bison in person either. I found original 509. Id have better luck finding a c model Kirby or 505 than a bison or compact. I'd be elated with any of them.
Les

 

[justjunque]

I hit three local thrift stores today, for the first time in a long time.
Didn't see much for vacuums.
One store had two Oreck uprights. One of them was red, and I forget what color the other one was.
Another store had a Eureka upright. Black with gold lettering.
I always say that I'm going to get model names, and maybe take pictures, but I never do.
I almost never see canister/tank vacuums. The one and only time that I found a Hoover Convertible, I bought it!
Same for what I consider to be my best find thus far; a complete Hoover Portable.

Barry

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

I went to thrift store and a gentleman was looking at Hoover. I said can I do something and show you a few things. He said"sure do you work here?"
I am not good at quoting conversations. I took out folded cardboard in the hose. I showed him attachments and how to use the power nozzle. He asked if it was a good vacuum. I laughed and said I put cardboard in machine yesterday so nobody would buy it. It's a great machine and it's a vacuum I'd buy. He asked if I wanted it. I told him no sir I want you to buy it. I just like to help people understand how to use vacuums. I told him I collect fix and sell vacuums. I looked at every vacuum there and told him about each one. I said the one you got is really nice. He was using for his house. He wanted one for his storage unit. I showed a smaller eureka with dust bin. I explained it's good because if you suck up a quarter it won't ruin the motor. He said thank you very much and shook my hand.
I didn't get it but I fixed clog and showed him how to use it. I felt bad for sabatoging a vacuum. I'm glad he understood how to use the vacuum.
Les
The store was restocked but I swear it was like black Friday with groves of people. The only things left were two Bissell shampooers with no water basin and a Bissell with a shot motor.
Les

 

[IECompactfann]

wait a minute didn't another member score a re badge compact C8 not long ago ??
ive seen that vacuum in another tread im sure .

 

[huskyvacs]

Very cool finds! The Dirt Devil Bruum or however they spell it, is a very rare vacuum. They sold very terribly and not many are left surviving today.

 

[superocd]

I kind of did what Les did at Target once...

I was getting some odds and ends at Target walked by an elderly couple in the vac aisle. They were looking and was either confused or didn't like what was available. I asked which vac they were replacing and, IIRC, the husband said it was a Hoover upright from the early 80s, so it must have been a Convertible. They asked me which one I would buy. I told them that I would skip whatever was on the shelves and get a Sanitaire, and that I had one. I told them that many hotels and businesses use them since they're so durable and do an excellent job.

I recommended that they went online to find the SC679J which would have been easier for them to push since the motor is only 5 amps instead of the 7 amp that the other Sanitaire models come equipped with, plus the SC679J usually runs about $120, which wasn't too much more than some of the vacs on display. They were going to have somebody who was computer savvy go online and order it for them. We got to talking about different things and somewhere in the conversation I mentioned that I was an HVAC tech. They ended up booking an appointment with my company for a furnace/heat pump PM check a couple weeks later.

 

[blackheart]

Another find!

I've debated adding this one to it it was another thrift store find, but not on the same day. A hyla GST. It doesn't have anything with it though.

The brum is a rare machine? Huh I was debating taking it to a thrift store but if it's rare perhaps I'd be better attempting to sell it, for a reasonable price of course. I just don't really get along with it. I mean it looks neat but it's not practical the curving airpath cuts down what little power the motor does produce.

 

[vacuumdevil]

You have better thrift stores than I those are amazing finds!