vintage vacuums as daily drivers
Before I hurt my back and had surgery, I was using my lux XXX as a daily driver, but having to use the floor brush on carpet to get out embedded dog hair was just too rough on my back. I broke down and got a Riccar Supralite (which I love, by the way.) The Lux XXX is now being used for bare floors and above the floor cleaning, as well as getting the edges of carpets, something the Riccar isn't the greatest at doing, and gets a workout a few times a week. I picked up some filtrete foam stuff at the store where I bought the Supralite, traced the ancient filter that Mom still had in the Lux when she closed up her house, and made a plastic template to make my own filters. I had heard that old machines put a lot of dust back into the air, but honestly, the Lux is a lot better than an el cheapo Bissell that I picked up one Sunday afternoon at WalMart for forty bucks a few years ago at containing dust and grunge.
After I laid hold of the Electrolux, I picked up some accessories for it. Mom had a crummy plastic hose with a machine end on it, and the metal wands were supposed to friction fit on it, but never did adequately. No wonder she relegated it to the closet and picked up a cheap canister! So I managed to get a woven cloth hose on eBay for about $30, including shipping. It isn't crimped or kinked, and I've not noticed any loss of suction when using that as opposed to the plastic hose. Still, I might get one of the generic plastic hoses just to preserve the woven one from the rigors of life in my house.
The guy at the vacuum store lit up when I mentioned that I had a XXX, and looked at me as a way of getting rid of some old accessories that he had lying around. So, for another $70, I got a new replacement cord, which appears to be Electrolux equipment, a metal wall brush, and a metal dusting brush (the ball shaped variety.) Somebody on eBay was selling the floor polisher, which I picked up for another $40 (including shipping,) and I was shocked to see that the seller also included the brochure for it. It appeared to be totally unused, and even included the lambswool buffing pad as well as two sets of brush inserts. That's been used a couple of times to scrub in dry carpet cleaning powder, as well as weekly to give the kitchen and bathroom floors a good scrubbing.
I'd love to get my hands on one of the metal chamber inserts to be able to use type C disposable bags: If you've ever had any kind of dog, but especially a beagle, those critters SHED! If anyone hears of one that someone wants to get rid of, let me know.
What I really love about this machine is it is easy for me to kick around, and even the air-driven floor scrubber is within my weight lifting limit. Plus, it's quiet: The dog is wary, but doesn't go into panic mode whenever I have it out for doing some cleaning. And my upholstered furniture and drapes have never been cleaner.
The vacuum cleaner itself is in great condition: Mom had the motor gone over in 2003. I think she paid more for that than HER mother paid for the vacuum cleaner itself in 1941! And the vacuum cleaner itself seems to be grateful for being returned to useful life--that motor just hums away as I do my cleaning. These guys were meant to be lovingly used, not stashed in attics or admired as museum pieces. They seem happiest when they are appreciated for their function.
r the Concept 1, in a quick hurry Hoover LiNX.
