VACUUM CLEANER COLLECTOR’S CLUB
EARLY HISTORY
John Lucia and Alex (“Bob”) Taber, the VCCC co-founders, started corresponding with one another in 1981. They met in person in 1982 when, together, they made a pilgrimage to the Hoover Historical Center and factory. That was the first time they ever saw "The Vault" where Hoover kept the competitors' models and their own early machines.
After their meeting at Hoover in 1982, they decided to see if there were other people interested in vacuum cleaners. They officially founded the club in 1983.
Over the next five years or so, the Club grew to about 10 people through word of mouth: primarily via the Hoover Company. Eventually, however, John and Bob decided to let the club lapse. This was due mainly to inactivity, but also because of some embarrassing mishaps involving a couple of the more "colorful" club members.
When Charles Lester first met Stan Kann (R.I.P.) in 1991, Stan told him not only about George Bourhill (R.I.P.), but also Alex Taber, John Lucia, and Mike Pupek, all of whom he had known for several years.
Charles first met John and Alex in 1991 by telephone. Stan had given him their names and phone numbers along with George Bourhill's and Mike Pupek's info.
Charles heard the very thrilling news from John that there was a Vacuum Cleaner Collectors' Club. Then he heard the very disappointing news that the Club was "in limbo" as Alex Taber put it.
Charles suggested getting the Club going again! However, John and Bob both were rather lukewarm about the idea. (Well, that is, John was "rather lukewarm" but Bob was "vehemently opposed" to the idea!) However, after much prodding and urging by Charles, they finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to do so.
So, the three them were the first members of the "NEW Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club," with Charles serving as newsletter editor and publisher. They also invited Stan Kann to join, of course, which he did. George Bourhill (R.I.P.) joined soon thereafter.
Then, other collectors came out of the woodwork in 1992 and 1993. Folks who joined included Clay Floyd (R.I.P.), Tom Gasko, Billy Lipman, Don O'Connor, Roger Proehl (R.I.P.), Mike Pupek, and David Watters (R.I.P.).
Other members by 1993 included Chuck Diehl (R.I.P.), Don Emmite, Joe Ferrante, Peter Frei, Bill Voigt, and Gary Wahl ....... for a whopping total of eighteen - count - em - eighteen members!! Who would ever have imagined there were so many vacuum cleaner nuts loose on the earth!
EARLY HISTORY
John Lucia and Alex (“Bob”) Taber, the VCCC co-founders, started corresponding with one another in 1981. They met in person in 1982 when, together, they made a pilgrimage to the Hoover Historical Center and factory. That was the first time they ever saw "The Vault" where Hoover kept the competitors' models and their own early machines.
After their meeting at Hoover in 1982, they decided to see if there were other people interested in vacuum cleaners. They officially founded the club in 1983.
Over the next five years or so, the Club grew to about 10 people through word of mouth: primarily via the Hoover Company. Eventually, however, John and Bob decided to let the club lapse. This was due mainly to inactivity, but also because of some embarrassing mishaps involving a couple of the more "colorful" club members.
When Charles Lester first met Stan Kann (R.I.P.) in 1991, Stan told him not only about George Bourhill (R.I.P.), but also Alex Taber, John Lucia, and Mike Pupek, all of whom he had known for several years.
Charles first met John and Alex in 1991 by telephone. Stan had given him their names and phone numbers along with George Bourhill's and Mike Pupek's info.
Charles heard the very thrilling news from John that there was a Vacuum Cleaner Collectors' Club. Then he heard the very disappointing news that the Club was "in limbo" as Alex Taber put it.
Charles suggested getting the Club going again! However, John and Bob both were rather lukewarm about the idea. (Well, that is, John was "rather lukewarm" but Bob was "vehemently opposed" to the idea!) However, after much prodding and urging by Charles, they finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to do so.
So, the three them were the first members of the "NEW Vacuum Cleaner Collector's Club," with Charles serving as newsletter editor and publisher. They also invited Stan Kann to join, of course, which he did. George Bourhill (R.I.P.) joined soon thereafter.
Then, other collectors came out of the woodwork in 1992 and 1993. Folks who joined included Clay Floyd (R.I.P.), Tom Gasko, Billy Lipman, Don O'Connor, Roger Proehl (R.I.P.), Mike Pupek, and David Watters (R.I.P.).
Other members by 1993 included Chuck Diehl (R.I.P.), Don Emmite, Joe Ferrante, Peter Frei, Bill Voigt, and Gary Wahl ....... for a whopping total of eighteen - count - em - eighteen members!! Who would ever have imagined there were so many vacuum cleaner nuts loose on the earth!
