Two true Vintage gems: Sweeper Vac & Universal

[kirbyvertibles]

I had to have these after I saw the beautiful condition they are in. The sound perfect and work perfect. I am guessing they are almost 80 years old??? Don't know jack about them. Any info would be groovy.
I paid $20.00 each for this awesome pair.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

the bags are great.

Love the detail

 

[kirbyvertibles]

other bag

They are a little faded with age but not much.

 

[crevicetool]

Phillip!!!

Yay! Both are great looking machines. Good for you. Can you make out a model number at all on the belt cover of the Universal? Perhaps I could help you out with that one.


Rick

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I believe they are all original

except for the cord on the Sweeper Vac. I think it has a 70's Eureka cord on it.

 

[crevicetool]

Also, Phillip - If you could pretty please.....take a close-up shot of the rug guard on the bottom of the Universal for me??? I am missing that on mine.


Thanks,

Rick

 

[kirbyvertibles]

okay Rick, I'm on it in 5 4 3 2

 

[kirbyvertibles]

The Universal bottom

Still looks great to me.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Sweeper Vac bottom

This one has an awesome metal brushroll

 

[kirbyvertibles]

the Handel grips

I love the wooden knob on the Universal

 

[kirbyvertibles]

model number

The Universal is E580A I think. It's a little hard to see and the Sweeper Vac looks like 22A

 

[crevicetool]

Thanks for the pics Phillip - your a gem. Really. And now that I got what I want from you, I'm just way too busy to find any info on that machine.


Sorry,

Rick

 

[crevicetool]

I will look through my stuff tomorrow buddy....just kiddin'

You can yell at me at the convention if you want - no hitting though. I bruise easily.


Thanks so much!


Rick

 

[portable]

Rick - and Phillip - I'm pretty sure that Universal is THE Model 58. You know, THAT one, Rick?

Sweeper Vacs were pretty interesting machines. They started off as the brand Western Electric. At some point, the name was changed to Sweeper Vac.....I think they were absorbed by a company called Sturtevant.

 

[crevicetool]

It sure does John. If so - we both have info on it!


Rick

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I won't yell at you Rick, i'll tell you what, you service them ( just a nice tune up ) at the next convension and I won't hit or yell at you. I MIGHT even let you play with them.

 

[kubvan1]

Absolutely gorgeous machines!

Those are truly beautiful vacuums. I have to say the machines from this era are among my favorite for the gleaming aluminum and clean lines. Unfortunately, I have never run across any for sale in my area, and the ones on Ebay are usually rustbuckets and much too expensive.

I think this is why I love Royals because they retained the classic timeless look of the early vacuums like this.

Regards,
Doug E.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

Hey Rick, did you find any info yet?

 

[crevicetool]

Why yes Phillip - I think I did.....

Not a whole lot though - wish it could be more. In trying to date this machine. I am going to guess (only a guess mind you) and say approx. 1934-36. Here's what seems to be yours/my machine. Yours would be a little newer, I think because they have done away with the screw terminal wiring and have gone to an appliance plug type connector. Look at the thread posted below of my machine for reference.

Incidentally, and it took me a while to figure this out. The model number is what is shown in the description. The "E" in front of the model number (as below description) is the CATALOG number........

http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?10761

 

[crevicetool]

This is what I am basing the guessed date on. This catalog page that Terry copied had a date on it. 1938. There were no machines resembling ours Phillip. This one has dual rear wheels, a headlight, larger nozzle - less "antique" looking. It says too that it has a "pedal" height adjustment, instead of the cumbersome two-knob thing we've got. It's amazing the similarities of that Sweeper Vac and the Universal nozzles. Although I think the one knob control on the SV is better than what the Universal has. I also know that Mr. George Landers in not looking too kindly at me right now for saying that.....

 

[crevicetool]

1940 page, still offering the 440 and an added "economy model?" You've seen those hand vacs on EBay a lot. I've got two of them. One for parts to make a really good one.

 

[crevicetool]

I WAS going to crush your little feelings

all to smithereens and say that your bag - as well as the one I've got are not original. However, I've changed my mind. You can tell in these pictures what the original bags looked like. Then while I was looking for more stuff - I happened on this. It is a little history pamphlet published by the company for some presentation of some kind. Dated December 1943. Look at the bag on the upright - Perhaps yours is an original replacement huh?

 

[crevicetool]

I know this hasn't been much help. And again,I have no idea on the age of these units. LF&C's first vacuum cleaner - an upright - came out in 1919. Have no idea what model number it was either. Take a look at the pamphlet John Lucia posted in the accompanying thread.


Rick

 

[kirbyvertibles]

well thank you sir.

 

[ohio_tuec]

Universal sales brochure

Just found the brochure to your machine on eBay. I have the same model, rebadged as "The Whirlwind" from about 1929. It has a cloth braided cord. Apparently, the ball-bearing motor was a BIG improvement. I have a straight suction Universal from about 1922 that used zinc sleeve bearings, which had a tendency to swell and seize the motor.

- Karl

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Univers...529?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2560941589