Vacuums That Sold Poorly & Died An Early Death

[human]

Yeah, I've got a couple of Hoover QuickBrooms from the late '80s and early '90s. The earlier design is much better. It's bagged, has reasonably good suction and its open nozzle design allows it to pick up debris effectively without clogging. Before I got an Electrolux Discovery II upright, it had regular duties sweeping up cat litter in the hall bathroom. The QuickBroom Supreme, with its two-speed motor is also good but I'm not fond of its bagless design and perpetually nasty dirt cup. Also, its nozzle design is inferior in that it is more prone to clogging, requiring periodic dismantling and cleaning. As a result, it remains hanging in the laundry room.

 

[icee]

Not a new observation, but

Hoover z and the Lg kompressors. I just got a hoover z today and my lg kompressor died a few weeks ago, so basically traded one for the other lol. Still kinda sad, I really liked my Lg.

 

[ultralux88]

LG Kompressor

A good performer, but definitely a monstrosity!

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[tolivac]

There was an LG Kompressor vacuum traded in to the Sew&Vac place here-it was a wreck-the ONLY thing that worked on it was the musical tune when you plugged it in-the motor was blown-this is the only vacuum cleaner that has a "paddle packer" like in some auto-side load trash trucks.On "Classic Refuse Trucks" they show paddle packer trucks in use----one fellow even rode in the trash compartment while the packer was working----VERY DANGEROUS-he got the drivers permission and the driver was careful what was loaded into the truck hopper-anyway the action inside the truck was interesting-also the person that filmed it had a light with him.

 

[rugsucker]

Tolivac

"very dangerous"Yes!!!

Death in a trash truck was one of the events that brought M L King to Memphis in April 68.

 

[ultralux88]

[COLOR=#000080; font-family: terminal, monaco]That compactor paddle thing is what gives the machine its name, it, "Kompresses" the dirt so you don have to empty it as much, or so they say... Its very gimmicky.[/COLOR]

 

[oldskoolguy]

Oreck

I think a machine that died an early death was the oreck radio vac. It was basically a yellow oreck XL with a radio. I don’t know much about it, but I do remember it from my childhood when my dad would connect to the internet and show me pictures of vacuums. I can confirm its existence with the way back machine’s snapshot of the oreck website from the 2000’s, but I can’t seem to find any info other than that on the old oreck website. It’s possibly so rare that we may never come across one ever again. I did, however come across a YouTube video of it, and the title actually gives us the more number: XL2800hay. I also managed to find a newspaper ad for it via a google search. As for why it sold badly, my guess is that the radio feature was not really popular or was faulty. Besides, who would put a radio on a vacuum?

 

[tolivac]

Did anyone mention the Royal Powercast of several years back?Have a couple in my collection.NOT used-The Metal direct air Royals and my Kirbys do better-and use less power.

 

[tolivac]

In older days trash trucks didn't have the safety features as the ones have today-but still folks that use them-like other machines--take their chances!A compactor-either in a trash truck or stationary is nothing to fool with!And users are being better educated about the trash industry dangers-not so in MLK's days.

 

[eureka89]

Innovation and emperor

The eureka emperor, those are as rare as hens teeth. It was a 70s machine with a vertical fan, eureka wouldn't attempt that set up again until the bravo. Also the Hoover innovation failed in the states, but had great success as the turbomaster in the UK. A real power house.

 

[thecarolinaguy]

How did the Innovation fail in America?

 

[rugsucker]

Hoover Innovation

This seems to have been a case of a good vac with bad sales.It was at Sears with an exclusive cordwinder and tool rack when they stared selling appliances with other than the Kenmore name.It may be that Hoover dealers didn't feel they needed a new and different model.After it was dropped the last of them was a close out at Big Lots.It did clean well but among the few problems could be a broken handle assembly at switch or near rear wheels.
Carolinaguy,
I am sometimes in Asheville area & further south and will always stop for a good thrift store.Last time I found a new one and then found a Celebrity with Electronic nozzle at one I often stop at.If interested call and next time we might find twice as many thrift stores and vacs.Also I am an easy drive over the mountain with LOTS of vacs that need new homes(as well as 2 Innovation att kits).
Jimmy
423-268-4841

 

[panasonicvac]

Alot of Panasonics in the US market also didn't sold much and were later discontinued.

 

[carolinaguy1996]

What Panasonics didn't sell well in the US? Why would they suffer death? I mean, you're the Panasonic expert, you might get those for your collection.

 

[carolinaguy1996]

What Panasonics didn't sell well in the US? Why would they suffer death? I mean, you're the Panasonic expert, you might get those for your collection.

 

[ultralux88]

Rugsucker

You’re talking about the Sovereign, it was the hard bag version with the cord winder, the innovation is a soft bag with cord hooks.

 

[rugsucker]

Ultralux88

It was a Sears only version of the Innovation with cordwinder on back and rack for small attachments at top rear of bag compartment.I have found some of my catalogs that may show it.

 

[panasonicvac]

Reply #72

Panasonic was mainly sold through vacuum stores and online. Besides the Panasonics that were sold under the Kenmore brand through Kmart and Sears, they were rarely sold through department stores. I've only seen maybe three of them through the isles of Target and Walmart but it was very uncommon. Panasonic was very popular through the late 80's to the mid 90's until Panasonic got more competition with other brands such as Sharp, Sanyo, Bernina, Riccar, and Simplicity. Alot of dealers back then preferred other brands particularly Riccar or Simplicity mainly because of their quality and performance. And not alot of consumers back then bought Panasonics online because they were wanting other popular vacuums like the Hoover Windtunnels for example that were heavily advertised.

Also to answer your other questions. Pretty much any of the newer Panasonics that were ever sold after the mid 90's like the Performance Plus line ups, the Cord Reels, the Dual Sweeps, the Optiflows, or the Quiet Forces for example.

And lastly, I would only collect the Panasonics that matter to me the most which there's actually alot that I would love to find unless if there are some that are not on my list which evidently I could just grab if I ran into some. But what I think would be really cool is if I could get a photo collection and have all the pictures of the Panasonics that were ever sold here.

 

[rugsucker]

Turn to pages 1008,1009 in the Sears 1989---

---Annual Home Catalog and you will see--"Hoover's most versatile upright vac"(Innovation)with"7 amp motor with Power Surge--Quadraflex Agitator--24 foot cord and cord reel with rewind control for pushbutton convenience--Lighted 4 position-adjustment--air freshener system--built in carrying handle--check bag indicator--high impact plastic housing."Picture caption-"Only at Sears will you find this Hoover vac with the added convenience of rear tool storage and attached hose."Price--"Thru 7/31/89 $349.99 After 7/31/89 $499.99"
I have only seen the one I sold years ago on EBay.
This seems to be the beginning of Sears having appliances other than Kenmore name.The vac pages also introduce blue/white Hoover Convertibles,show a self propelled Eureka Precision,Black & Decker cordless vacs and many KM including built-in.

 

[ultralux88]

Interesting, was it a hard bag machine? Unfortunately I don't have the 89 catalog myself, so I'll ave to rely on someone posting a scan. Definitely a version I am not familiar with.