Vintage Spencer Industries Turbine Vacuum

[spencerb23]

Hi all,
I recently came into possession of a vintage portable spencer industries turbine vacuum. I am not a collector and am trying to find out more about the vacuum as well as sell it if anyone is interested. I could not find a serial number. Only a plate number 149. I am located near Wichita, KS. Any info or interest is warmly welcomed!

 

[huskyvacs]

To my knowledge Spencer made vacuums for only industrial applications. The smaller size of it compared to much larger models suggests it was maybe used at a small service station or car wash.

There are people here that know about Spencer vacuums (I am not one of them), so hopefully someone will come along that knows more than I do. Good luck!

 

[spencerb23]

Thanks, huskyvacs! I hope so too

 

[kenkart]

Spencer

Did also make household central systems.

 

[rugsucker]

Spenser

I have a similar but smaller Spenser that needs a new home along with several commercial/industrial/central vacs in the back room.It is green,good to very good condition,was told it came from an auction of surplus post office equipment.I have very little time for these as I also have a book store and got 2000 plus books in the last 3 weeks.If any interest call--
--Jimmy
423-268-4841

 

[centralvacs1928]

I know I'm reviving a 4 year old thread here, but...

Your machine looks very similar to the portable one shown here in this ad from a 1948 edition of "The American School Board Journal".

These machines had many commercial applications like cleaning aircraft, movie theaters, schools, factories, etc and in general any place where heavy-duty cleaning was needed but installation of a Spencer central system was not feasible.

Basically a big dry-pickup shop vacuum but with more power, dirt capacity/filter surface area, and durability.

If Spencer still made something like this today, it would be a few thousand dollars new. While they still make portable industrial vacuum cleaners, they are all larger than this (5hp/1000lbs and up).

As far as selling it now in its present condition, "it's only worth what someone will give you for it" as they say. Certainly no museum piece, but a cool old machine that should be used and not scrapped.

You'd have to put it on a pallet and ship it truck freight, unless putting up for sale locally. If I'm ever going through Wichita, I'll check in to see if you've still got it. While I'm not on the hunt for this machine in particular, I definitely have a great appreciation for all things Spencer and would find a way to make room for this one. Can never have too many

-Owen
[this post was last edited: 6/3/2023-12:22]