constellation86
Well-known member
I just got this blue C-4 Revelation. All of the other C-4s I have seen are turquoise or pink. What other colors are out there waiting to be discovered.
Unusual Revelation
- Thread starter constellation86
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constellation86
Well-known member
Rating plate
constellation86
Well-known member
Here it is next to my C-6 Compact to show the color difference.
constellation86
Well-known member
It didn't come with any tools, only a newer hose and some bags.
Nicholas
Nicholas
suckolux
Well-known member
Pretty!
Why was the vac made with no wheels on the front?
Gary
Gary
ncovert
Well-known member
Gary. they probably did that to save money. Maybe because it was a lower end model?
suckolux
Well-known member
These were pricy machines,doubt saving money was it, but who knows.
hydralique
Well-known member
Wheels & Compacts . . .
Many early canister vacs had no wheels, even expensive ones often had runners instead. The concept was that you'd place the vac near where you wanted to clean and then use the hose to clean that area, after which you'd move the vac to the next spot.
The Compact wasn't originally designed for residential use but rather to allow for quick cleaning of the new big airliners that began to be produced in large numbers after WWII. Interstate Engineering was part of Howard Hughes' empire and the early vacs were made in El Segundo, right south of LAX and in the heart of the SoCal aerospace industry. For aircraft use two wheels were plenty as the vacs got carried about the cabin as crews cleaned during layovers.
By the late '50s more canisters had wheels so Compact dropped the front skids in favor of a single front wheel with the C-5 introduced about '60. Because Compacts were sold like Kirbys by door to door salesmen, Interstate was careful about any sales by vac shops - these were the machines branded "Revelation" and are rare. Most Revelations are C-3 models, I've never seen a C-4 Revelation. What's odder is that the C-5 was already out with the single front wheel: I have a 24th anniversary C-5. My assumption is that this Revelation must have been a way to use up some old C-4 castings left over once the C-5 came out. It's probably really rare. The C-5 itself only lasted a couple of years before the 4 wheel C-6 came out; that was made for many years.
Many early canister vacs had no wheels, even expensive ones often had runners instead. The concept was that you'd place the vac near where you wanted to clean and then use the hose to clean that area, after which you'd move the vac to the next spot.
The Compact wasn't originally designed for residential use but rather to allow for quick cleaning of the new big airliners that began to be produced in large numbers after WWII. Interstate Engineering was part of Howard Hughes' empire and the early vacs were made in El Segundo, right south of LAX and in the heart of the SoCal aerospace industry. For aircraft use two wheels were plenty as the vacs got carried about the cabin as crews cleaned during layovers.
By the late '50s more canisters had wheels so Compact dropped the front skids in favor of a single front wheel with the C-5 introduced about '60. Because Compacts were sold like Kirbys by door to door salesmen, Interstate was careful about any sales by vac shops - these were the machines branded "Revelation" and are rare. Most Revelations are C-3 models, I've never seen a C-4 Revelation. What's odder is that the C-5 was already out with the single front wheel: I have a 24th anniversary C-5. My assumption is that this Revelation must have been a way to use up some old C-4 castings left over once the C-5 came out. It's probably really rare. The C-5 itself only lasted a couple of years before the 4 wheel C-6 came out; that was made for many years.
suckolux
Well-known member
A friend of mine went to work for TWA in 72 and remembers still seeing them to clean the planes! New at the time I am sure.
Revelations were
Made in the C-4 style longer than the Compacts were...if anyone has a C-3, I would love to see it because as far as I know, there aint no such animal!, it went from C-2 to C-4, C-4s were made in two configurations, first with the flat ld, then they went back to the old style.
Made in the C-4 style longer than the Compacts were...if anyone has a C-3, I would love to see it because as far as I know, there aint no such animal!, it went from C-2 to C-4, C-4s were made in two configurations, first with the flat ld, then they went back to the old style.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2007
- Messages
- 1,701
Wheels vs. Glides
I grew up with a Compact C-2, and I own a TriStar CXL, so I've experienced both glides and wheels.
On the C-2, the wheels were at the rear, furthest away from the hose, so what you did was lift up on the hose a bit and that lifted the front off the glides, leaving the rear wheels free to turn as you then pulled the vacuum along.
On the CXL, you just tug on the hose and the machine begins to follow you.
I am absolutely amazed at my CXL, not because of the changes between that machine and earlier ones, but because of how FEW changes were needed to make a 1940s design fully up-to-date in the 1980s, when the CXL was made. The original Compact design was a masterpiece of engineering - strong, light for its time, simple and robust.
I grew up with a Compact C-2, and I own a TriStar CXL, so I've experienced both glides and wheels.
On the C-2, the wheels were at the rear, furthest away from the hose, so what you did was lift up on the hose a bit and that lifted the front off the glides, leaving the rear wheels free to turn as you then pulled the vacuum along.
On the CXL, you just tug on the hose and the machine begins to follow you.
I am absolutely amazed at my CXL, not because of the changes between that machine and earlier ones, but because of how FEW changes were needed to make a 1940s design fully up-to-date in the 1980s, when the CXL was made. The original Compact design was a masterpiece of engineering - strong, light for its time, simple and robust.
hygiene903
Well-known member
Revelation
Here's a pic of my C-2 Revelation. It was a gift from Norm Brown a few years ago when he was downsizing his collection. Thanks again, Norm!
Jeff
Here's a pic of my C-2 Revelation. It was a gift from Norm Brown a few years ago when he was downsizing his collection. Thanks again, Norm!
Jeff
constellation86
Well-known member
Did they ever make a Compact in this blue color?
Nicholas
Nicholas
fantomfan57
Well-known member
My new Revelation
Yesterday I responded to a CL ad for a collection of vacuum cleaners. I wanted the Eureka Empress II so I stopped by after being out of town and to my surprise, a very good condition Eureka and a Revelation. I also had to take the Hoover Port-a-power, a Red Hoover Hand vac, a Eureka Powerline Mighty Mite II and two boxes of attachments.
The Revelation is cleaned up and ready to move inside the house. The hose has strong suction (for a cloth hose).
My question is, what is that cylindrical attachment open in one end and holes punched in the other semi-tapered end. Mine looks like the last picture posted above and that attachment is shown to the front right.
Yesterday I responded to a CL ad for a collection of vacuum cleaners. I wanted the Eureka Empress II so I stopped by after being out of town and to my surprise, a very good condition Eureka and a Revelation. I also had to take the Hoover Port-a-power, a Red Hoover Hand vac, a Eureka Powerline Mighty Mite II and two boxes of attachments.
The Revelation is cleaned up and ready to move inside the house. The hose has strong suction (for a cloth hose).
My question is, what is that cylindrical attachment open in one end and holes punched in the other semi-tapered end. Mine looks like the last picture posted above and that attachment is shown to the front right.
luxflairguy
Well-known member
Pics would help!
compactc9guy
Well-known member
Lovely vacuum i looove my C9 repainted in blue .
hygiene903
Well-known member
Hi Garry,
Congrats on some nice finds! Sounds like the Revelation you got is the same model as mine. The attachment you are asking about is a demother. You would connect the hose to the blower end of the cleaner, fill the demother with paradichlorobenzene moth crystals, and connect it to the hose. Then put it in the closet, seal the door, and let it run for about an hour or two.
Glad to hear the hose on yours is well sealed, mine leaks like a sieve! Did you get a full set of attachments with yours? Mine came with everything you see in the pic, except the dust brush, which I picked up later.
Jeff
Congrats on some nice finds! Sounds like the Revelation you got is the same model as mine. The attachment you are asking about is a demother. You would connect the hose to the blower end of the cleaner, fill the demother with paradichlorobenzene moth crystals, and connect it to the hose. Then put it in the closet, seal the door, and let it run for about an hour or two.
Glad to hear the hose on yours is well sealed, mine leaks like a sieve! Did you get a full set of attachments with yours? Mine came with everything you see in the pic, except the dust brush, which I picked up later.
Jeff
