Vintage European machines..

[sebo_fan]

VR - also in support of Henry - the vacuums can take a lot of abuse. This isn't a vac that is made to be coo'd after, or treated with kid gloves. The bonus with Henry is that although he already has a long cord, the boy is well endowed with a long hose - so you're really pulling just the hose for more access half the time than shifting the tub around.

A fleece washable cloth dust bag is also available. I've used it and it isn't as messy to empty as bagless only with Henry - dump the dust and throw the caked fleece bag in the washing machine. Simples!

 

[collector2]

Hey Dave:

Interesting - I havn't seen very many of those under the National name that I can remember. I know they were made in Scotland by Vactric - I have one in my collection that was sold in Canada by the State Vacuum Stores under the name President. (Says made by Vactric Ltd, Lanarkshire, Scotland on the name plate). Wasn't National one of the electric board's house brands over there?

President PW

 

[kenkart]

Love!

The Canadian machines, My Green Electrolux you helped me fix is a great favorite QUIET!!! I love that red swivel top you found a while back.I have a Gem which is basically a chrome plated Water Matic.I also have that nice Coronado , Its fun to see all the different stuff that has been made!

 

[chestermikeuk]

National....

Was indeed a local Electricity Board model made by Vactric, very popular cleaner of the era, solid and heavy, the hose has one of the most heavy screw-in adaptors out there...sold with an array of accessories - even the ubiquitous moth ball crystalizor..

 

[chestermikeuk]

Brand Vactric

very sturdy cleaners, still many about and easy to service and repair!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

The Dudley Junior

Heres one of the older models from the 50`s, always supplied in a wooden box, compartments for all the accessories...surprisingly the braid cable is usable,and the little details and instructions printed on the box..it has lovely chrome ends and a "Snakeskin" effect on the body..

 

[chestermikeuk]

And the Bylock

Table vac for those apartments, flats and maisonettes where space is of a premium

 

[chestermikeuk]

Bylock Tablevac

In use...very quiet and uses the "See-Thru Hygienisac" from the Lewyt range!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Of Course

Not forgetting the "Oovah"...

 

[chestermikeuk]

And the

"Lux"...classic cylinders and later the uprights!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Not Complete without

the Hanging Bracket!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

And

For every vac repair shop, you would need one of these...

 

[chestermikeuk]

The Most Modern Available

Vacuum Repair Carbon Brush Kit!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

Carbon Brushes

Identifying Sheets

 

[chestermikeuk]

LHS

Carbon Brushes....which come in handy when trying to catalogue past vacs..

 

[davetranter]

General reply

Collector2/ChesterMike.. Mine says 'National Utilities, Manchester, England'.. But, of course, that may mean nothing (it says 'Oxo' on the sides of 'buses, but they don't sell them.. ).

Mike... Does the mains lead unplug from that 'Dudley Junior'??? It looks as close as anything that I've seen to the first vacuum cleaner that I remember from my childhood.. Including dark casework and chromed ends, but I seem to remember that the mains lead plugged into ours.

All best

Dave T

P.S. I have a spare motor for the 'National'..... And possibly a hose in very poor conditon, but with good ends....

 

[vacbear58]

National Utilities

Dave T

It may say National on the label, but they WERE manufactured by Vactric in Scotland - they are absolutely identical to the Vactric machines apart from the body finish and the floor nozzle - Mike's picture above shows both types - the metal one is the Vactric the one on the wand is the National style. I think they were also sold as Viscounts as well.

It always amazes me how many of these national turn up on Ebay for, at least in the Vactric version, they were by no means cheap.

I have only seen one other National cleaner and that is a tub style, based on an Apex (US) design I think so probably manufactured by Bylock

If you look very carefully at the blower end of the Dudley you will see the cable receptacle on the top

Al

 

[chestermikeuk]

Dudley

Hi Dave , heres another pic, the mains adaptor plugs into the top of the vac chrome end, large black right angled plug like you get on the coffee percolators, does it look familiar, cant find a pic of the plug at mo..

 

[davetranter]

Dudley Junior

Thanks for the info/pics Vacbear/ChesterMike.... Still can't be sure, but certainly looks very much like it (as 40 year old memories go) :-(

I have a small, round, wooden bodied brush somewhere, but that wasn't from my mother's cleaner, it was from an old cleaner from a G.P.O. Telephone Exchange, and IIRC, just has the Govt. 'arrow/crowfoot' and a 'type' number. I'll post a picture, as and when I next come across it...

All best

Dave T

 

[dysondestijl]

As of today, I have become quite fond of this one...