Trash Found Triple S Versamate (Sebo 350/1st Gen Windsor Versamatic)

[vacuumchannel6]

Me and my friend decided to go dumpster diving on the weekend the other day and we were checking out dumpsters thinking I wasn't going to find anything but lo and behold I found this, such a rare machine to find in the dumpster and a hose seems to really good condition along with rest of the vacuum just a bit scuffed up. Bits of this were posted on my channel and I still haven't tore into the machine cuz I have to find parts for it but I did get the power head working one of the blue wires was split so I redid that. The note that's posted on the vacuum is what it needs and what I haven't done to it and it's been such a long time since I've had a windsor style vacuum I haven't had one since my childhood and I'm so thankful to have one of these again. 10 plus years ago I went dumpster diving as a kid and I found two Windsors in the dumpster one old one and one new one and I combined the two together to make one working one and the old one had the same problem this one had being the powerhead not working. It seems where the nozzle and air duct pivots is where the wires come out of which created the problem where the wire gets cut from wear being released and put into upright position time and time again and I'm sure that was a common problem on these machines which caused the wire to be cut apart. But I will keep this thread updated on what I do to this machine. Cheers!

 

[cheesewonton]

What an amazing find ! Why would anyone throw something that valuable out ? There is literally nothing you cannot repair on it. Even that old it is better than 95% of the new vacuums you can buy today. While they were sold in the US most often with Windsor branding this is a Sebo product I believe called the BS36 ( someone more knowledgeable correct me if I misspoke ). Pretty much the original Sebo vacuum from 1979 that has carried forward over the years now sold outside the US as the Sebo 360. The upper body has grown a bit to accept a big HEPA exhaust filter but the basic bones of that original Sebo is still being made as the 360. Great designs never really die. Your dumpster diving session was productive indeed. Amazing.

 

[human]

I can't say I'm really familiar with these machines, but it amazes me someone would take the time to print, not just hand write print out, a detailed list of what it needs. That's just crazy. Anyway, nice find.

 

[cheesewonton]

I can't say I'm really familiar with these machines, but it amazes me someone would take the time to print, not just hand write print out, a detailed list of what it needs. That's just crazy. Anyway, nice find.

Sebo was formed by two engineers from Vorwerk who wanted to design a commercial upright vacuum. Vorwerk wasn't interested so they left and started Stein & Co dba Sebo. Their very first vacuum was pretty much this upright you see.

 

[cheesewonton]

A little primer on this old Sebo design.

 

[vacuumchannel6]

I can't say I'm really familiar with these machines, but it amazes me someone would take the time to print, not just hand write print out, a detailed list of what it needs. That's just crazy. Anyway, nice find.

I did hand write a note on it at first but then we just got a printer and I decided to test it and make it look a bit nicer lol

 

[human]

I did hand write a note on it at first but then we just got a printer and I decided to test it and make it look a bit nicer lol

Oh, I thought that was on it when you found it. I thought it was strange once when I picked up an Electrolux Discovery II from off the curb a few years back and found it had a brand new genuine Electrolux bag inside. It was still folded flat, indicating the vacuum had not been turned on after the bag was inserted.

 

[vacuumchannel6]

Oh, I thought that was on it when you found it. I thought it was strange once when I picked up an Electrolux Discovery II from off the curb a few years back and found it had a brand new genuine Electrolux bag inside. It was still folded flat, indicating the vacuum had not been turned on after the bag was inserted.

That's crazy, it's insane some things that people will throw out. I thank the Lord that I was able to save this machine from the crusher.

 

[cheesewonton]

That's crazy, it's insane some things that people will throw out. I thank the Lord that I was able to save this machine from the crusher.

And the fool who tossed it out probably "replaced" it with some bagless pos Shark or similar. One of the all time best upright vacuums ever made still in working order tossed in the trash. Amazing.

 

[panasonicvac]

They are one of my all time favorite designs ever. If I were to buy a new upright today, that or a Lindhaus similar to it would be my first choice. You know where they say if it aint broke, don't fix it. Well, I'd say there's always room for improvement. And they did just that over the years. The newer version they sell today under the Windsor Karcher brand is the best one yet. My friend John who's the CEO of SEBO USA and I are trying to get a residential model to be sold here in the states as the 370 COMFORT has since been discontinued. But, you can get a SEBO FELIX or a DART that's basically similar.

 

[cheesewonton]

I have a 370 Comfort. The Felix and Dart are nothing like a 370. Not even in the same league. The only aspect they share is the brushroll has its own motor but even that feature is implemented very differently in the Felix / Dart thing and the 370. On the Felix Dart you have an on-off switch for the brushroll and can vacuum hard floors with the ET-1. On the 370 the brush roll is always powered unless you tip the upper body into the full upright position, which engages a switch that shuts off power to the brush roll for above floor cleaning. To clean hard floors with a 370 or the Versamatic ( which is sold in household form as the 360 in other markets ) you have to use the extension hose, wand extension and a parquet or other hard floor brush. Unlike the Felix / Dart thing at least the 370 manages to remain upright and doesn't immediately fall over ( on something breakable ) when you use the hose. You can pretty much use the 370 like a good canister vacuum to clean hard floors. The Felix / Dart things are cheap and nasty compared to the 370 blowing hot quasi filtered air all over you, tipping over easily and the poorly secured hose flopping around on top of the vacuum.

But ask your friend at Sebo why in the name of love Sebo cannot give us a switch to shut the brush roll of the Versamatic / 360 off so we can use the vacuum to clean hard floors without having to break out the extension hose, wands and such. Even Lindhaus gives you that option.

 

[panasonicvac]

I didn't say they're the same machines, you're correct they do have some differences. I say similar because they both do share some things that are alike with each other, even that Triple S really does remind me of a FELIX/DART. L shaped nozzle, brushroll indicator lights, manual height adjuster, microswitch for not just turning the brushroll off in upright position but also for taking the hose out, pre motor filter, now the Versamatic uses a single fan Ametek motor kinda like the FELIX/DART and the canisters use, and tool storage where not all attachments would fit on-board (at least not on the BS360).

You're also correct that Lindhaus does have a model with a switch to turn off for bare floors. Maybe for the next facelift the Versamatic would have a switch for barefloors, if there is enough demand. My only criticism right now is they're still using paper bags which I'm hoping that'll change eventually, Lindhaus does offer cloth bags which that's another advantage over SEBO.