vacuum collectors convention at the museum

[n0oxy]

It's still three months away, but already getting excited about the vacuum collectors convention at the museum in St. James Missouri, June 14, 15, and 16. This will be my third one, hopefully we will have a good turn out. For those who are coming, are you going to bring anything? I plan on bringing several of my water vacs, the Quantum if Tom does not have one by then, the Hyla GST, the Ritello and the Roboclean which I am hoping to receive tomorrow! Perhaps we can have a cleaning comparison with all of the water vacs, that would be awesome. It's like vacuum paradise for those few days. I've invited a distributor for the Hyla and Vivenso as well since those water vacs are not as well known as the Rainbow, the Vivenso is an awesome machine.
Mike

 

[huskyvacs]

If I was able to go I'd bring my Air-Way, oldest vac I have.

 

[lesinutah]

Missouri

Missouri mainly branson is museum capital of us if not world.
I'd love to be close to all those museums. I wonder if people load u hauls to bring vacuums or how it works.
What does convention have reps from main distributors of vacuums bring models for people to try. Im guessing it's at tti museum. If anyone could fill me in it would be appreciated.
Les

 

[dysonman1]

The Vacuum Cleaner Museum is located at #3 Industrial Drive, St. James, MO. The Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 9-5. Admission is free.

The Vacuum Collectors Convention this year is June 14, 15, and 16. Since the Vacuum Museum has over 600 vacuums in its collection, most people only bring one special cleaner to show everyone.

We have TWO themes this year. One is the Water Vacuum displays. In addition to Mike's awesome collection of water vacs, we have all the rest. Delphin, Sirene, Big Power, etc.

Our other theme this year is Stan Kann's collection. The Vacuum Museum was recently given Stan Kann's entire collection for display. We have special tags on the machines that were Stan's. If you don't know who Stan Kann was, look him up on Youtube. Every collector should know his name, he was the grandfather of the vacuum collecting hobby.

It's always a great time at the Conventions each year. Good food, good friends, and lots of humor are the trade-marks. The convention has no fee to join a club and no 'fee' to be paid by convention-goers.

 

[n0oxy]

stan's collection

How many vacuums did Stan actually have, canisters, uprights, or both? I know we did some things with the water vacs last year but we can expand on that this year. I should get my Roboclean today, so excited.
Mike

 

[dysonman1]

Stan Kann had almost 100 vacuums. After he died, some unsavory types of people took a few of his machines (like his Kenmore Bugeye and Singer R1), but the vast majority are still here. His Hoover 425 with the Silver Jubilee bag is stunning, as is his Aunt Cora's MINT Hoover 541. He had a few canisters, to clean the cloth bags with, but the majority were pre-world-war-II uprights. I'm so lucky to be able to display his beautiful collection to the world.

 

[toddk13]

Who is attending

My first trip to the museum last year was a BLAST. I'm leaning towards taking another trip this year. My wish list is finding a decent Airway 55a, nice connie, and maybe a Shark. Scratch that. No Shark.

 

[dysonman1]

Todd:

It was great meeting you at last years Vacuum Collectors Convention. I never know a total count on the people coming. I meet collectors throughout the year who come to the Vacuum Museum (they don't know about this website nor do they know about the old VCCC). Like with you last year, there are always new smiling faces to meet and begin friendships.

As always, the convention is FREE. I can't begin to think about charging anyone a convention "fee".

The photo is from a few years ago. It was taken at the end of the Convention of our Kirby enthusiasts standing with their favorite Kirbys.

The theme this year is Water Filtration Vacs, Mike is bringing a Ritello, Hyla, Quantum, and Vivenso. I have all the Rainbows, the Ocean Blue and the mighty Delphin, along with the Sirena.

Also, Stan Kann's collection will be on display along with watching some of his appearances on various tv shows (we'll watch that during the cocktail party at my home on Saturday evening).

 

[ultralux88]

I see David Watters there!!

Water filtration vacuums. Now we’re talking! Next year central vacs?? LOL!

 

[crazykirbydude]

It's in St. James this year? I thought it was in Washington or Oregon!

 

[dysonman1]

It's in St. James every year. At the Vacuum Cleaner Museum. This is the convention with NO registration fees and NO membership fees. Where there are over 600 vintage vacuums to explore and clean with. You should join us, we have the full collection of Kirbys, including this year, the Avalir 2 brought to us by our own Adam Mercer (the ultimate Kirby fan). Want to run a model 1C? Come on to the Vacuum Collectors Convention.

The picture is Adam Mercer with the model 1C in the 1930's room of the Vacuum Museum at last years Convention.

 

[westinghouseman]

Heading to St. James, Mo!

I will be attending the vacuum gathering again this year! Had, a wonderful time last year seeing old friends, and meeting new ones! Tom, a wonderful host!!

 

[n0oxy]

water vacs

Actually I was planning on bringing the Ritello, Quantum, Hyla and Roboclean, I think Tom already has a Vivenso. A central vacuum theme at some point could be interesting, if you have several power units like I do, bringing a few of those could be interesting. I use all of my central vac units free standing, no pipes, just connect the hose to the in-take and you have a very powerful, super duper canister cleaner, and I am a canister only person, for those who love uprights, that's fine, it's personal preference but an upright will never match the flexibility and versatility of a canister cleaner.
Mike

 

[ultralux88]

Should I bring my chrome BigPower?

 

[dysonman1]

Oh Reggie:
Please do. I don't think anyone has seen a chrome Big Power. Thank God they use a separator now. The "old" Big Power was a horrible mess, kind of like some of the gurls we know.

 

[luxlife]

"kind of like some of the gurls we know."

LOL!

Tom: That reminds me that it's already been over 10 years since my first online dialogue with you. I think it's high time I try to make my way over to the museum.

 

[crazykirbydude]

So there are no fees to attend? Neat!

 

[dysonman1]

Nope. No fees to attend.

It works out well for everyone. No schlepping of machines from home (unless it's so rare no one has ever seen one). The Vacuum Museum has over 600 vintage machines already.

Lunch is always at a local buffet restaurant. That way, everyone gets fresh food without overloading the kitchen, or a waitress.

Dinner is normally at a restaurant that can accommodate our large group easily, like a Colton's Steakhouse.

I encourage people to get the best deals on a room - Super 8 in Rolla, MO has great deals. The Greenstay in St. James, MO (the town the Museum is located in) also has great deals.

It's the last day of the Convention that's most fun. There is a store room full of vintage cleaners and parts, we go through them and find out what people need. Attachments, hoses, bags, etc.

On that Saturday evening, at my home, we'll have a cocktail party with appetizers provided. It here that Mike will show his never before seen Water Filtration vacuums, like the Ritello and Quantum.

Always a great time to meet fellow collectors from all over the country. Come, join us. No fees at all. You'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about Vacuum Cleaners.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Tom,
Tania and I are working out arrangements to be there. It will my first convention at the museum. I think Tania was there before.

We had so much fun with you and Donnie when Duane, Tania and I were there in September. I love all the vacuums I brought home.

With Ken Wagman there it will be like, "old home week", from days gone by. Will keep you posted on our arrival plans.

Charlie W.

 

[dysonman1]

That's awesome Charlie:
It will be great to see you and Tania. Can't wait to show you Clay Floyd's Air-Way Sanitizor Mark V as well as the All-Chrome model 88. Tania will love it.

 

[dysonman1]

Clay Floyd’s Rexair Model C

Since the theme of this year‘s convention at the vacuum cleaner museum is Water Filtration vacuums, I will be very proud to show everyone the late Clay Floyd’s 1952 Rexair. It is complete with every optional accessory. Included is the original Kaiser hose, the optional four quart water basin, as well as the optional carpet sweeper accessory. The upper curved wand and the middle straight wand were attached to the carpet sweeper to form the handle. The carpet sweeper was for when you did not wish to fill and empty your machine. This machine won a blue ribbon in 2004 at an old VCCC meeting.

 

[huskyvacs]

The sweeper head on that Rexair looks so much like Bissell's old manual sweeper vacuums, kind of a funny coincidence!

 

[toddk13]

I'm in

Looking forward to another trip to the museum. Had a great time last year.

 

[lux14]

I am still planning on attending the Convention. How does one get info on start times ect. I know the convention is June 14, 15 and 16. Is the convention all day on the 16th? Just trying to plan accordingly. I plan on getting in a little early on the 14th and stop by the museum that I could spend days at. Just wondering more about the 16th.

Thanks and looking forward to meeting everyone and making new friends!

Best, Richard.

 

[ultralux88]

I believe the 16th is all day stuff, if I remember correctly Sunday (17th) is usually the day everyone leaves. Im driving out there on the 10th and spending a few extra days just for fun.

 

[dysonman1]

The 16th is Saturday. We start at 9:00 (each day), but Saturday is the day we go through the store room. Most everyone has something (bags, belts, parts, hoses) they are looking for.

The 14th is the day everyone arrives, so it's a fun day at the Museum without structure. People ask questions, turn on vacuums, and look through the old advertisements, instruction books, etc.

The 15th is very special. I'm going to give a detailed Museum tour with each vacuum in the Museum taken off the shelves, and we'll give in-depth details about the history of each cleaner. Also, Stan Kann's collection will be displayed and discussed.

Looking forward to seeing old friends as well as new ones.

 

[n0oxy]

can't wait

It should be an awesome convention for sure. I'm sure many who are coming have never seen a Vivenso, Hyla, Quantum, Ritello or Roboclean. When water filtration machines are mentioned, most think of Rainbow or Sirena which are also good machines. That tour on Friday sounds awesome, of course I've seen a lot of the machines before but I never get tired of going through them again. I'm trying to think of what I would be interested in from the store room. Probably hard floor tools since my apartment has a lot of hard floors. And of course I'm always interested in buying more canisters anyone wants to sell. This will be my third convention, really excited. And I think I may be brave enough to try the zapper although I think I will bring some rubber gloves just in case, lol.
Mike

 

[lux14]

Thanks Tom, Mike and everyone. I will probably plan on leaving the evening of the 16th as I will need to get back. Tom, I am really excited to go through all of the machines in detail. So much to learn! VERY EXCITING!!! I would love to get my hands on a Dail a Matic in really good condition if anyone is selling machines. Have been looking for one for quite some time now. But if not, so excited to be attending!

 

[dysonman1]

Richard:

I wanted to be able to have everyone attending the convention to go home with more real knowledge about cleaners than they arrive with. The Conventions at the Museum are all about learning.

Being able to put everything into its proper time slot is awesome.

I really wanted the folks who attend this year to be able to try and use machines they don't regularly get to see, like the Hoover Senior from 1910 or the Torrington from 1918. How all the Air-Way cleaners evolved (50 years ahead of their time) and the history of Water Filtration vacuums. As well as the Lewyt "Zapper" models that killed people by shocking them. The "Décor Vac" which is an ottoman with a vacuum built in. We'll talk about Backward Revolving Brushes used on a number of uprights in the 1930's. You'll also learn about the lawsuits (Hoover VS Air-Way, Air-Way VS Hoover, Filter Queen VS Lewyt, etc). As always, everyone will have a chance to use these special machines, so you go home with KNOWLEDGE.

While the conventions are fun, and exciting to attend, it's what you LEARN that's the important part. The friendships that you make will last decades. Many of my best friendships with fellow collectors have lasted decades.