Trash-picked Rainbow

[texaskirbyguy]

While out on a bike ride this evening, I found this in a trash pile, along with some other neat stuff.
Anyone know anything about it at first glance?
It looks cool, there are no attachments and the cord is all taped up where it enters the housing. The decal on the back with model & electrical specs is missing.
Given the color scheme, I would guess it is from the late 70s.
Motor runs but I have never used a vac like this.
I will look at it more tomorrow to see if it is worth keeping or not. The last thing I need is more vacuums... )

 

[lesinutah]

Nice

Nice find. Ds5 is what comes to mind. I'm not an expert on rainbows except for the 2 speed versions. This would have a seperator dark in color.
If you can find a hose it would work quite nicely.
Les

 

[electroluxxxx]

That is a D4 SE, made from About 1991 up until 1997 before that was the D4 which came out in 86. If you can get some of the attachments it is a pretty good machine. I have worked on hundreds of them.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Knowing how expensive they are,

it is shocking to see one end up at a curb! Things like that should be repaired, and missing hoses and tools can be replaced!! wow!

 

[jo]

Not shocked to see it on a curb

Most people are a combination of ...they don’t know what they have or that things can be fixed and or they want new and different and some laziness. You never know where that rainbow came from, perhaps someone gave it to them and the intention was to fix or perhaps it was replaced by something else and they stuck it in the garage or basement then on a clean out decided it has to go because the cord is bad. Perhaps it’s a child cleaning out a deceased parents home and just doesn’t want to deal with it as they have so much to deal with so out it goes to the curb...Any combination of these reasons is why repairable vacuums get put out on the curb.

I’ve met at least two people that disliked Electrolux canisters and either gave them away or threw them away after just realizing they were either overwhelmed by all of it and just preferring a simple upright. If one finds an Electrolux overwhelming, the rainbow is certainly then not just overwhelming but confusing too with its water filled dirt collection tray and array of attachments and multiple hoses facilitating both dry pickup with a power nozzle and wet pickup.

 

[rdwdcp]

Nice find

 

[gottahaveahoove]

It's all true.

I must admit, though, that any time I had to clean out a home, or was given a non-Hoover item, I always offered it to someone. I never put a machine on the curb.

 

[huskyvacs]

@ gottahaveahoove

You have a good heart - I thank you for that.

 

[huskyvacs]

This is a Rainbow vacuum - it uses water to filter the dirt instead of bags. Must have the basin rinsed and the vacuum left apart after every use to keep it from rusting/molding so it can ventilate and dry. There is a lot of diehard users of this vacuum that love them to death, and old models can sometimes sell close to what a new one will.

The model tag actually should be on the inside of the machine near the bottom on the inside curve. The label on the outside I think is just a warning about the power nozzle or not storing it with water in it.

A Rainbow is a vacuum you honestly want to keep. You are lucky it has the caddy and basin. All you need is the powernozzle, hose, and tools. Assuming the motor is good and not rusted or dry, it should be all ready to go. The cord is no worry - the rubber likely cracked apart from stress and they thought it was bad.

I seen a rainbow before in 2015 but it was so gross i almost vomited in the store - it was like mice died in it or something nasty.

I got another Rainbow just recently off eBay for $18 from a professional go kart racing garage (weird place to find a rainbow). It's a total wreck and missing mostly everything but I didn't want to see it tossed out - it was relisted about 5 times and it was so cheap I figured it would be no trouble to work on and save.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Its a D4S!

Electoluxxx was darned close!
I took a further look at it and it is in good shape. Clean inside but no filter. Motor runs well and has strong suction.
Cord has damage in two places and cord hook is broke (thanks to my clumsiness).
Has copyright date of 1986 in the molding so has to be from around there.

When I rode by this trash pile there was a lady stacking up a couple Casio keyboards and that was what drew me there. I asked her if all that was trash and she said yes and that I could take what I wanted. My eyes were on the keyboards but she also pointed out the old Rainbow. She said it worked but the cord was bad. I told her I would be back for them with the truck.
I should have asked her about the attachments, but it did not cross my mind. There were 10 big bags and they could have been in there. There was also a TV, step ladder, play table for kids, car seat, lawnmower, and some other stuff.

She was nice, maybe late 20s, dressed in athleisure wear, and seemed a tad tipsy. When I got back over there with the truck, she was gone.

I do not usually follow in the footsteps of 'Mike the Scavenger' on youtube before trash day, but I came back with a truckload for resale. A cherry curio cabinet, a plywood trunk, wood file cabinet, wicker bathroom cabinet, wall mirror, and a big tree trunk carving of a bear - something I do not come across every day...

I sold a bunch of the stuff at work today but am keeping the curio, keyboards, and bear. The TV has a broke screen so it goes in the dumpster.
Still not sure what to do with the Rainbow since I do not have any other attachments. I do adore the color scheme though!

The bear will be guarding the bird feeder here on out.

 

[huskyvacs]

Those were actually very expensive Casios. I used those in piano school. A lot of good stuff is in the trash now, people make more money so they don't bother to try and sell it to a good home - they just keep filling up landfills.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

I know - the stuff people throw out is upsetting. These things work, too!! Why not donate them?
One of the keyboards light the keys as you are supposed to press them so I may keep them to see if I can learn to play when I retire. Only downside is that these are big - the width of a piano.
As soon as I get rid of some stuff, I bring more home... )
Or is it (

 

[rivstg1]

You discovered what it is before I saw your post Rob, that model came out bedore the D4 SE( I have one of those). Keep it & start looking for a hose!

 

[human]

Two of my best vacuums--a Kirby Gsix and an Electrolux Discovery II--were trash finds. Neither needed any extensive repairs. The Kirby was down for a bag and a belt (Isn't that always the case?) while the Discovery II, which I found on the curb beside a senior living facility, just eeded a light cleaning. It even had a brand new bag in it.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I never see any good machines in the trash. Mostly plastic bagless uprights. There was a Hoover Windtunnel SP in a huge pile of trash a few weeks ago. Looked like they literally took a dump truck and dumped it next to the road. It sat for a week or two. Thought about getting it to mess with but no room at the moment.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

This has to be the first indoor vacuum I have ever brought home from the trash pile in over 30 years. I rescued several shopvacs in that time but never a nice indoor machine. I often see the typical plastivacs but never gave them thought.
This Rainbow was just too cool and clean to leave behind.
If anyone local wants this, I am willing pass it on since I do not want to get into the expense of hose, attachments, filters, etc.
If no one takes it, I may keep it for a while while I figure out what the hose and tools cost.

 

[kirbyklekter]

About the Bear

He reminds me of Smokey The Bear a little. Just needs a hat and shovel and the little sign that says,"Only you can prevent forest fires." Is he heavy? The cracks can be filled in with a wood putty you make from powder and water and squeeze a bottle of wood glue in to the mix. Or pick up a gal. of liquid nails or a ready made putty. After fires, termites were the next biggest threat to Old Smokey. My parents had a magnet head of Smokey mounted on the metal dashboard of our car with a hole on top to snuff your cigarette while driving. Have you been able to reduce your Kirby inventory to any extent?

 

[electroluxxxx]

I’m sure If you’d like, I might have some spare straight suction stuff I can send your way...

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Kirbyklekter,
Yes, that bear does remind me of ol' Smokey. He reminds me of coastal Oregon and California, too, as they are sold everywhere along the coast. Not sure what I will do with him yet. I have some stain to touch him up as needed. Not sure what I will do about the cracks. If I do not do it right, water will make it into the cracks and not drain out, causing more rot. I may try to find or make a sheltered area for him to help keep him out of the rain.
Sure don't need another project now...
The Kirby inventory had stopped shrinking a while back. Have had some lookers but no takers. I suppose everyone here is all stocked up on Kirbys... I was really hoping to at least ship out the 2 traditions and the 6 best classics, as those are too nice to throw away.

Electroluxxx,
Please shoot me an email on what you would want for a color coordinating hose, wands, bare floor nozzle/brush (non-motorized), dusting brush and maybe a crevasse tool. All of these would make this a usable vacuum.
What would I use for a filter?
Many thanks!