Vintage machines as daily drivers

[myles_v]

Hello, this is my first time starting a topic. I've read some people on here saying that nothing beats a dirty air upright for carpet cleaning. What's your opinion on using vintage dirty air uprights on carpeting vs. using bypass type upright vacuums? I've been thinking about buying a vintage Hoover to replace my Dyson as my daily driver at my dad's house. I used to have a Concept (1, I think. It was self propelled and had power surge, but it had a different looking handle than other concept 1s. It didn't have a hand vac though, so not concept 2) and it worked well, but the self propelled stuff and the handle messed up and it sat in a closet forever before being thrown away. I really dislike Hoover Convertibles. Does anyone know of a vintage dirty air upright that would be a good daily driver?

 

[caligula]

Hi Myles v

Glad you finally posted, now that you made it here, start a lot of topics, we'd love to know what you're interested in.

As for my daily driver, right now it's a tank, an Electrolux LX, my upright daily driver was a Kirby 517, but it's showing signs of age, so rather than a rebuild, I treated myself to a new to me, Kirby Classic 111. Once it gets here I'll post pictures.

Other daily drivers over the past 50 years, have been the following. A Regina Electrikbroom circa 1945, upright Electro-Hygine circa 1930, Vacuette, first upriight Air-Way from 1920, and a Kirby 512 to name a few. Aside from vacuum cleaners are a Hoover floor washer circa 1950's, Regina twin brush polisher circa 1940, Rlectrolux B-8 circa 1960, and several carpet sweepers pre 1900. These are the only ones that come to mind.

 

[myles_v]

I just don't think I'd feel right using a vintage machine as a daily driver. I don't like many modern vacuums, but it feels like vintage vacuums should be collected, not used a lot. But I do think that I will buy a Hoover Concept or an older Eureka off Ebay to clean up and use as a daily driver. Craigslist in my area never has any good machines.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

I exclusively use vintage machines as daily drivers. The perform better, and can be easily maintained. My personal belief, if something has a purpose, like a vacuum, it should be used for the purpose, even when restored to like new, which I do. I don't like collecting things that have a purose just to sit and look pretty unless that's their intented purpose,like a curio or knick nack. All of my 13 vintage machines run flawlessly, and I rotate them out so they all get equtal use. Use your old machines that's they were meant to do. I might suggest an electrolux silverado or kirby heritage II.

Will Hemb

 

[caligula]

Hi myles v

that's exactly why I use my various machines, I feel good using a bit of history. I also like the sound of the moror, and the smell of the dust bag. But most important is the memory of the person who had it. My Electrolux LX was owned by my favorite childhood friend. She was also a second mother to me, so as I have her Electrolux, it's like she's alive again and with me when I vacuum.

 

[nubz3760]

I almost exclusively collect vintage metal uprights. I use them all, they are so powerful and quiet. I simply do not have the room to collect machines I don't use. I also like that older vacuums are made to be repaired and not thrown away.

 

[compactc9guy]

reply

my dayly driver is my trusty compact electra c9 vacuum that i got on ebay for a grand total of 75 $ canadian all hte attachements VB3 power head im getting the original power head soon ill post pic when i have it but vintages machine should be collected but they work so much better easy to work on and trouble fre most of the time i mean they jsut keep on going on and on vintages machines are my favorites my second dayly driver is my shopvac6 gallons whit the 2/12 inches hose by 16 feet long whit blower

 

[kirbyultimateg]

Hi myles_v,
I recommend these vacuum cleaners:
Sanitaire/Eureka F&G uprights, Hoover Convertible/Decade/Elite/Legacy/Concept/Innovation uprights, Royal All Metal uprights, Kirby uprights.
Rob

 

[kirbyultimateg]

Here is a NIB Kirby Heritage II on Ebay:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kirby-Herit...280781833628?pt=US_Vacuum&hash=item415fe6c59c

 

[compactc9guy]

to caligula

i know just how you feal when i use my compact c9 its like i am back a child using my grand ma C80-2 compact aah the memories that was the first vintage machine i ever touch so its a special one to me when i use my comapct i go abck to the early days you know ? no trouble easy life good vac ect just takes me back so you whit your Electrolux you feal shes there whit you so i guess what im trying to say is vacuum some time hold a special place in our heart and memories which is probably why so many people collect them use them and bring all those wonderfull vacuum to new life to live those tiems again

 

[myles_v]

KirbyUltimateG-I really wouldn't like buying a NIB vintage vacuum and using it. I think I'd feel guilty if I even opened it. I think it'd be cool to buy a NIB vintage vacuum, but not to use as a daily driver.

 

[stricklybojack]

Dirty air daily driver pin-up girl Danielle Fishel...

says, "Kirby!"

 

[hooverboy81]

I only use vintage cleaners. Nothing else touches my carpets! If they are maintained properly and serviced, they will last for another forty or fifty years!

 

[vacuumman206]

I wouldn't call it vintage, but it certainly is rare and delecate, my Innovation. And I know I probably shouldn't, but it is my regular use vacuum. Ranks at the top of my list for performance in every category besides easy manuverability.(At least it doesn't have a huge bag sticking out, like Kirbys that perform equivalently)

 

[filterboy244]

Daily Driver

Soon as i get my Filter Queen off my friend i most likely will use it as my go to cleaner

 

[kenkart]

I dont own anything new!!

I switch my vacs around, but there is always a Electrolux G in the house, Donald keeps a silverado to use as he likes the direct connect hose better, and usually a Filter Queen of some type, right now a 31x from 1984, which is the newest thing I own.

 

[philip0603]

My daily driver is a 1996 Kirby Gen 5, with a Hoover 612 (62 in the US) as back up. Currently I am using the Hoover as the handle of the Kirby keeps unscrewing itself. Waiting for a replacement to arrive.

Love the Hoover, it was my Mothers and I still have all the tools in their caddy, the only down side is you do rather get used to the power drive of the Kirby.

 

[kirbyfan99]

I use my hoover Custom Convertible model U4395 as one my daily drivers; the other daily driver is my Kirby Sentria. here is a photo of my daily drivers. I have included a picture of my 2 daily drivers.

Jack
kirbyfan99
youtube: jedi 725

 

[thermokid]

My Daily Driver is

My good old all original(except brush and belts and lightbulb)53 year old Kirby Model 560. I just don't think the carpets are clean unless I use that old Kirby.There is nothing like the sound of that old Kirby.Yes it doesn't use disposable bags but I am not allergic to dust. And the bag doesn't seem to leak dust unless you bump into something. So yeah I would recommend vintage vacuums over modern ones anyday... Dan