Vintage Central Vacuums

[andy]

Look at how big those units are!

 

[andy]

pg 3

 

[andy]

pg4

 

[andy]

note the two different dirt collection pans

 

[andy]

pg6

 

[andy]

inlets

 

[andy]

in use. I always thought that swivel joint set up looked so ackward to use.

 

[andy]

Spencer's had "wall brushes" in addition to the floor brushes.

 

[andy]

dusting tools

 

[andy]

cleaning the stairs

 

[andy]

Tool set

 

[andy]

pg14

 

[andy]

pg 15

 

[andy]

pg 16

 

[andy]

I have another Spencer brochure I will upload tomorrow, as well as brochures for the Sturtevant and Rumsey central systems.

Doug, I've never seen that Goblin before. What's the suction like compared to a regular canister cleaner?

 

[aeoliandave]

Spencer is also justly famous for it's ORGO-BLO series of pipe organ blower units. The multiple stage turbines make it possible to tap wind pressures from 3" up through 50" and 100" for the large installations. My friend Rich in Syracuse has a 'small' 30" Orgo-blo in his basement; it has three 30" turbine wheels. My Kinetic blower has two 24" wheels for 10" pressure at 500 rpm.

 

[collector2]

Hi Andy:

The goblin (model T-2 incidentally) has about twice the suction of a cannister of the time (which isnt saying alot). Wish I could find the rest of the parts but thats all I got with it. The guy that had it was using it as a shop vac and had no idea that it was actually a central (Hence the ugly yellow dolly under it).

Excellent brochure incidentally. Love it and I look forward to seeing the rest.

Doug

 

[briankirbyclass]

WOW,,,thanks so much for posting these, and all the information!

 

[briankirbyclass]

Dont know if this is true or not, but it seems like i read or heard once that there was a central vac system (such as the Spencer) installed on the Titanic. Anyone ever heard of this?

 

[vintagehoover]

Central Vac on Titanic

I've often wondered what cleaning systems were employed on Titanic. I'd love to imagine the area rugs being 'Hoovered' by the stewards, attracting interested glances from the society ladies, but given that construction began in March 1909, and the Electric Suction Sweeper Company had only been founded 8 months previously, I think it highly unlikely that they could have supplied the equipment. Although if they did have a fleet of Model 18s onboard, it could explain why the ship sank so quickly!

Since the Titanic was the pinnacle of modernity, luxury, and a showcase for all humanity's greatest achievements of the time, I would have thought they'd have wanted to include a system more sophisticated than brooms and duspans, and a 'stationary plant' sounds plausible.

There must be people online who would have information. I found this short discussion on a Titanic forum - it's 5 years out of date, though! I also found a few pics of the ship's interior, but none detailed enough to see if there are any wall-ports for hoses. Perhaps they were concealed, anyway.

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/discus/messages/5919/59334.html