Well, I did it again...

[ultralux88]

I should learn not to tempt myself by even walking into a thrift store. Feels odd posting this in the vintage section, I remember this machine when it was relatively new. My great Aunt Esther and great Aunt Marty both had this model back in the day, wore them out and replaced them 10 or so years ago. This was the first thing I ever saw with a switch on the hose handle, blew me away when I was 4 or 5.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

I have the MOL Model, it was purchased new by my Grandparents. Rob W from this site sold me a replacement hose for it. Very Powerful machines! Congrats on the find.

 

[ultralux88]

These single layer hoses didn't age well at all, its rare to find one that hasn't dried out and split at the handle. I also find many of these with the housing broken through around the front wheel. Years ago I saw this nearly mint looking peach colored machine similar to yours, was about to buy it when I realized the housing was busted, that was depressing!

At least you have the one you remember! Both of my Aunts wore out and tossed theirs, replacing them with newer Kenmore that I never felt were as good. For the longest time I thought I was just remembering it being better than it was, but after using this thing I can safely say it was that the newer machines weren't as good!

 

[vacuumlad1650]

They have an earlier version of the same model/style that is all busted around the front wheel. Its been glued a multiple times...Its the workshop vacuum. I know it had survived a few floods.


I got the one in the Picture I posted above in almost unused condition. 

 

[ultralux88]

NICE! I had been hoping for years now that I'd find one like I posted in such condition, as that is how the one was the first time I saw it. Plus its just much easier than trying to find parts to fix up a trashed one. Patience and pickiness often pay off in the world of vacuum collecting!

 

[vacuumlad1650]

If you need, I should have plenty of brush inserts, or even complete brushroll assembly's with he beater strips.

 

[ultralux88]

Well, today it got a good blow, luned up the brush bearings, a wipey-dipey, and one of these numbers!

 

[ocscott3085]

Wow! That's a blast from the past! My parents had one of those from around 1987 until at least 2003. That thing was awesome and I don't know whatever happened to it. I remember my mom preferred the central vac but my dad only used this machine when he cleaned. We were one of those crazy families that had a central vac AND a machine on every level of the home.

 

[fan-of-fans]

I had that 3.9 model above that a neighbor found in the trash and left on my front porch. All it had with it was the hose, I kept it in the garage but the bearings were bad in it so out it went.

My aunt I has what I think was the TOL version she bought in 1993 that was dark gray/black with variable speed slider on the handle. She might still have it, I know she still did a few years ago.

And yeah, I think these were better than the later. My mom has two of the 1999 Whispertones, more MOL and they still had the Ametek motor but single stage. Most of the vacuums my mom had were Kenmores.

 

[ultralux88]

Scott, what sort of central vac was it?

 

[ocscott3085]

My parents built a home around 1987 and it came with a big Nutone unit. I was only 6 at the time so not sure of model #'s or anything. It got used fairly frequently on the main level of the house but I think my parents just used whatever vacuum they had upstairs to clean the bedrooms or the vacuum in the basement. When we first moved in they purchased the Kenmore Powermate canister above because I don't remember the Nutone coming with a powerhead. They had their Electrolux Olympia 1 in the basement (that thing's powerhead was always broken) and a 1980ish Kenmore Powermate upstairs on the bedroom level. They had that Nutone unit until around 2002 and it was replaced with a MD Silentmaster.