Vintage vacuum sightings

[justjunque]

Hey all,

This is the first chance I've had to snap a quick picture of these vacuums at a family member's house.
I've mentioned them once or twice in other posts, but I could never get pictures.
They're still not great pictures, but at least you can see them.

They're a small blue Eureka; probably the cleanest of the three.
A Hoover PortaPower.
And an Apex, which I didn't think to check the model number on.
The only one where I could get a picture of the model info was the Eureka.

As far as I know, these are no longer being used.
If the people who own them were easier to talk to, I'd see if they would be willing to part with any or all of them.
I know they had an orange Hoover Portable as well, but I didn't see it this time.
Perhaps that one has already left us.

Barry

 

[gottahaveahoove]

wow!

That Portapower is screaming for a spa treatment. there was a Eureka like that at a school where I used to teach. I think my (cough) sister in law has one , too.

 

[justjunque]

Cleaning the PortaPower

Hi John!

I'm not optimistic about being able to take the little PortaPower home.
But...let's just pretend it were to happen.

Is there a method that you recommend for cleaning that type of hose?
It seems to be the same kind of plastic/vinyl as the hose on my Portable.
Fortunately, the one on the Portable wasn't very dirty, because I couldn't figure out what to use on it.

Also, I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but there's a section of sleeve or something, (for lack of the actual term), at the base of the cord, where it meets the machine.
It's supposed to be secured to the body of the vacuum, but it has come out of the opening.
Is there a way to pop that back in place, or would that require some sort of far more involved process that I'm wholly unqualified to attempt?

Barry

 

[gottahaveahoove]

that is Tufflex hose

one of, if not, the BEST attachment hose ever made. This is how I clean them:
I detach it. Then, I get a nice scrub cloth, maybe an old terry cloth washcloth or towel. I get a pail of warm, sudsy water, slowly slide that cloth over it, (sounds kinky... mind outta the gutter). If it's really dirty, a little Bon Ami on the wet cloth, and rub. Then fill the inside with detergent water, rinse WELL, and hang to dry. It will look/smell brand new. I clean all of my hoses this way.