Vintage Commercial Vacuums!

[vac_whisperer]

I wanted to start this thread so there was a place to talk about ALL VINTAGE COMMERCIAL VACUUMS! Kirby Janitronics, Super Sweeps,American Lincolns, and ComVacs. Talk about 'em here! Vintage-looking 1980's Hoover commercials- Talk about 'em here! NSS Pigs-Talk about 'em here!

VW

 

[brandon_w_t]

Well I posted my thread about my friends kirby comvacs, so wont repost them...


But here are some of my vintage commercial vacuums.



First a picture of an American lincoln I found in my fav vac shops basement. (my friend has it now)

 

[brandon_w_t]

Next, what I would consider the first commercial vacuum.

The spangler suction sweeper.

 

[vac_whisperer]

That Model 0 is a commercial? I thought it was just an ordinary Model 0 with a paint job.

VW

 

[brandon_w_t]

And now for some of my vacuums that I have in my possession.

First my 2 hoover 913s. One all original.

 

[brandon_w_t]

Well, as I would call any model O, it was really intended for maids and cleaning services to use. Not many were really sold to the regular home. The commercial model was so heavy and big that most people just bought the model O.



Here are my 2 commercial convertible 344s.

 

[vac_whisperer]

Sorry if this is a bit confusing

So, youre meaning to tell me,

1) That in the picture is a regular Model 0- Just a paint job on it? And Model 0s were mainley only commercial vacuums, and not many "regular homeowners" bought them? And what would the commercial version look like?

OR:

That IS a commercial Hoover Model 0.

VW

 

[brandon_w_t]

Actually....


The vacuum in the picture above isn't a hoover at all.


It predates the entire hoover companies existence by a few months. The vacuum was created by a guy named "Spangler"


I keep improperly naming it. Its technically not called a model O at all. Its just a Spangler suction sweeper. There was no other models with it, and no other models to follow it.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Who Has Any Old Royal Commercial Vacs for Show?

I wonder how many of you on this board have any one of the following pre-1990 Royal Heavy Duty Commercial vacuums for show?

These include models:
606 (1966-1980)
606A (1966-1976)
607 (1985-1987?)
608 (1977-1987)
611 (1977-1987)
618 (1985-1987) (first Royal with an 18" wide nozzle)
654 (1987-1989)
655 and 7500 (1989-1993)
660, 662 (1987-1990) and 7600, 7620 (1989-1990)
661, 663, 7610, 7630 (1989-1990)
680, 682 (1987-1990) and 7800, 7820 (1989-1990)
681, 683, 7810, 7830 (1989-1990)

~Ben

 

[vac_whisperer]

I know the whole thing about James Murray Spangler- When I was a wee little lad, my aunt bought a book about vacuums for me. It talked ALL ABOUT HIM! Ill scan in that book sometime and post pictures.

And YES- there were a few different variations of the SSS. (Spangler suction sweeper.)

They were mainley just differences between the top- (Motor.) There were som pictures of these in the book. Like i said, ill scan it in sometime.

VW

 

[brandon_w_t]

Just an FYI,

There was no variations on the Spangler.

The original one built by spanglers hand was slightly different. It used a different desktop fan motor to power it, and a real pillow case on the outside.

When they manufactured them, they changed it a bit, to be slightly better designed.


Soon after the machine was rebadged and repainted and sold as the Model O. No structural differences made to it.

 

[vac_whisperer]

And did the Model 0 actually SAY "Hoover Model 0" on it? I dont think it did. And by variations, wht you said is exactly what I meant.

VW

 

[brandon_w_t]

Ok.


Sorry for the confusion! LOL. Would love to see some picture/scans of it.

You know, I dont know if the model 0 said hoover 0 on it. I believe it was just designated model zero as it was the initial machine for the company, which had been designed prior to the formation of Hoover Co.


Here is an all original model 0.

 

[vac_whisperer]

Thats a neat pic! And sorry for getting a little "snippy".

VW

 

[portable]

<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first, and successive, Hoover-made vacuums, were marked as Suction Sweeper Company. I believe the HOOVER name was not applied to the machines for at least 3 or so years. In about 1919, the company name was officially changed to The Hoover Company, and the "Suction Sweeper" part was dropped.</span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span>


<span style="font-family: tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">According to Jack Copp's website, a commercial machine, Model 18, was made concurrently with the Model 0, in 1908 and 1909. Here's a link to Jack's excellent site, to the section on commercial Hoovers: http://www.vintagehoover.com/commercial.htm</span>

 

[tolivac]

On commercial vacs-have my NSS PIGS,several commercial metal Royals,couple of Kirby Comvacs-1600.also have a "Soot Vac"trying to remember the exact brand name-used by HVAC,and chimney services for cleaning out furnaces,woodstoves,and chimneys.Have an industrial 16Gal SS Shop Vac,and an Ext filter Wet-Dry Tornado vac.Two commercial type vacs on my "looking for" list-Certified Pile Lifter-or Brush vac-discussed in another thread,and an NSS "Bronco" ext filter wet-dry vac.and it has to have the "Horse" logo blue bag!

 

[djtaylor]

By special request, a Commercial Royal

Here is my Royal 606A. It has a newer bag, the one it came with was in tatters.
Justin

 

[djtaylor]

Super Vac 180

And my Commercial Kirby, the Super Vac 180. I just love it.
Justin

 

[vac_whisperer]

That SuperVac, is that the original bag, or a Trad bag?

VW