wstonehockertv
Well-known member
Back in 2017, a guy named FantomTechGuy set out to revive Fantom. I'm led to the belief that he abandoned that journey for something different.
What Happened To FantomTechGuy
- Thread starter wstonehockertv
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So Fantom Technologies went bankrupt back in 2001. It was then purchased by Euro-Pro. Most likely any patents and licensing would most likely held under Euro-Pro.
Trying to revive an old company like this would be next to impossible. The money and legal process would take years to complete. or an agreement might never be made.
Trying to revive an old company like this would be next to impossible. The money and legal process would take years to complete. or an agreement might never be made.
Umm
There was a poster that claimed he bought owned the rights to the fantom.
I've not seen him post on here in forever. I do believe if u look up old threads you could I ld find a website or email on how to contact him.
There was a poster that claimed he bought owned the rights to the fantom.
I've not seen him post on here in forever. I do believe if u look up old threads you could I ld find a website or email on how to contact him.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
Honestly
There's no way he'd be able to revive the original Fantom company, I simply chose to not say anything until now. Even if he was successful of doing so, Fantom would've quickly went bankrupt all over again. But he should be grateful that WMJ Refurbishing is still making and selling the Amway ClearTraks, they're the closest you'd ever get to buying a old Fantom today and that company is apparently doing really well so supposedly they shouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.
There's no way he'd be able to revive the original Fantom company, I simply chose to not say anything until now. Even if he was successful of doing so, Fantom would've quickly went bankrupt all over again. But he should be grateful that WMJ Refurbishing is still making and selling the Amway ClearTraks, they're the closest you'd ever get to buying a old Fantom today and that company is apparently doing really well so supposedly they shouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.
mark40511
Well-known member
In the late 90s around thanksgiving my grandma bought me a phantom upright...because I had told her I had been watching the informercials and it would be amazing to not have to deal with bags... because back then, finding bags were so difficult.. and even though the internet was a thing I didn't do much ordering online in the early years of the internet.
I HATED that vacuum with a raging passion. I would use it and I could literally see dust collecting slowly on the outside of it.. when taking off the dust cup to clean it and put it back, it felt like it barely made a seal..I hated everything about it... emptying it...I dealt with it for 2 years. Did I miss something? What was so great about this vacuum?
I HATED that vacuum with a raging passion. I would use it and I could literally see dust collecting slowly on the outside of it.. when taking off the dust cup to clean it and put it back, it felt like it barely made a seal..I hated everything about it... emptying it...I dealt with it for 2 years. Did I miss something? What was so great about this vacuum?
wstonehockertv
Well-known member
I think FantomTechGuy is a liar and needs to be cancelled for trying something so unrealistic. If it was up to him, he could sell all of his Fantom products for the Amway ClearTrak and say that his attempts at reviving Fantom were all for nothing.
I'll give him this, at least he wasn't trying to revive other dead vacuum names like Singer or Regina...or Royal.
I'll give him this, at least he wasn't trying to revive other dead vacuum names like Singer or Regina...or Royal.
huskyvacs
Well-known member
I wouldn't say a liar per se, just making a bunch of ambitious dreams. All kids do that. You get passionate about something, set out to do something about it, and find out it's way bigger than you and you move on to other tasks in life eventually.
@mark40511
The appeal in them is purely because they are rare and hard to find. Many models take several years for someone to find. They have a following among people that their parents had them when they were kids and they grew up with them, or they seen them in the store and wanted one, or who knows what. Early bagless vacuums are fascinating to study anyway. Also people love things because they are so bad, as well. I have that godawful Shark monstrosity that looks like a Bionicle figure, and it is so horrible in every sense of the term, but I love looking at it and having it, because you look at it, and you are just in awe at how something like that could be made, and virtually none survive either. I had a search saved for 5 1/2 years before one came up for sale.
@mark40511
The appeal in them is purely because they are rare and hard to find. Many models take several years for someone to find. They have a following among people that their parents had them when they were kids and they grew up with them, or they seen them in the store and wanted one, or who knows what. Early bagless vacuums are fascinating to study anyway. Also people love things because they are so bad, as well. I have that godawful Shark monstrosity that looks like a Bionicle figure, and it is so horrible in every sense of the term, but I love looking at it and having it, because you look at it, and you are just in awe at how something like that could be made, and virtually none survive either. I had a search saved for 5 1/2 years before one came up for sale.
huskyvacs
Yes, I am one of those individuals who greatly understands the appeal of Fantom vacuums. My parents had a 10 amp Fantom Fury (likely purchased through the infomercial) when I was a kid, so I grew up with it in an apartment. Watching my mom vacuum with that Fury, I admired the design of it, as well as seeing the dirt spin around in the translucent, dark green bin. Due to a damaged cord, we ended up getting rid of that vacuum in the summer of 2001 prior to buying our first house.
It took me YEARS before I could find another Fantom Fury. I had a 12 amp one that I purchased, refurbished (with a BRAND NEW motor), in early 2018 off of another user here on Vacuumland. I made the mistake of using that as my daily driver. As a result, the motor died on me after a couple weeks. Whatever happened to it was rightfully described by the seller as "pretty unexplainable." Eventually, I got that motor issue taken care of. In early 2021, I resold the vacuum on eBay because I wasn't quite satisfied with it compared to my childhood one.
So, I wanted to find the very original Fantom Fury model. Finally, in the summer of 2023, a good collector friend of mine came across a 10 amp Fury on eBay and sent me a link to it. This one had very low mileage; the seller had purchased it new in 1997 and put it in storage shortly afterward. I ended up winning the vacuum for a rather expensive price. So I got it in one piece, although the vacuum only came with two attachments (crevice tool and bare floor nozzle). However, I was able to buy a dusting brush separately off of a different seller on eBay. This 10 amp Fury even came with all of its original paperwork, not to mention the how-to VHS tape.
Learning my lesson with the 12 amp Fury, I will NOT be running my current 10 amp one into the ground, due to its rarity compared to the more common 12 amp models. I just love looking at it and being in awe of what an early bagless vacuum was like. I haven't seen many 10 amp Furies survive. I do take mine out and run it every now and then, just to verify that it still works.
Yes, I am one of those individuals who greatly understands the appeal of Fantom vacuums. My parents had a 10 amp Fantom Fury (likely purchased through the infomercial) when I was a kid, so I grew up with it in an apartment. Watching my mom vacuum with that Fury, I admired the design of it, as well as seeing the dirt spin around in the translucent, dark green bin. Due to a damaged cord, we ended up getting rid of that vacuum in the summer of 2001 prior to buying our first house.
It took me YEARS before I could find another Fantom Fury. I had a 12 amp one that I purchased, refurbished (with a BRAND NEW motor), in early 2018 off of another user here on Vacuumland. I made the mistake of using that as my daily driver. As a result, the motor died on me after a couple weeks. Whatever happened to it was rightfully described by the seller as "pretty unexplainable." Eventually, I got that motor issue taken care of. In early 2021, I resold the vacuum on eBay because I wasn't quite satisfied with it compared to my childhood one.
So, I wanted to find the very original Fantom Fury model. Finally, in the summer of 2023, a good collector friend of mine came across a 10 amp Fury on eBay and sent me a link to it. This one had very low mileage; the seller had purchased it new in 1997 and put it in storage shortly afterward. I ended up winning the vacuum for a rather expensive price. So I got it in one piece, although the vacuum only came with two attachments (crevice tool and bare floor nozzle). However, I was able to buy a dusting brush separately off of a different seller on eBay. This 10 amp Fury even came with all of its original paperwork, not to mention the how-to VHS tape.
Learning my lesson with the 12 amp Fury, I will NOT be running my current 10 amp one into the ground, due to its rarity compared to the more common 12 amp models. I just love looking at it and being in awe of what an early bagless vacuum was like. I haven't seen many 10 amp Furies survive. I do take mine out and run it every now and then, just to verify that it still works.
panasonicvac
Well-known member
I like Fantoms more as a collector but not as a consumer. They were very cool and interesting looking machines when I was younger. I still stand from my other post that Fantom would've easily gone out of business the second time because overall, they really aren't good machines. Personally, I would've bought a Regina Housekeeper over a Fantom instead if I had a choice between the two.
huskyvacs
Well-known member
Also as collectors it is our job to preserve and maintain these machines. I mean who else is gonna take care of and shine up Garry Vac. lol 
fantomtechguy
Well-known member
Greetings.
Time.
It's the only factor between success and failure. Learning from past endeavors, and understanding what's truly important.
"We all want to make our mark. We all want to make beautiful things and a little money. We all have our own ideas about how to do it." -James Dyson
Time.
It's the only factor between success and failure. Learning from past endeavors, and understanding what's truly important.
"We all want to make our mark. We all want to make beautiful things and a little money. We all have our own ideas about how to do it." -James Dyson
wstonehockertv
Well-known member
fantomtechguy
Where have you been all this time?
Where have you been all this time?
huskyvacs
Well-known member
...and when the world needed him most, he appeared.
vacuumchannel6
Member
Possibly? But i do not know it is just an idea!
A guy could perhaps (if he knew what he was doing) Redesign the old domestic chassis for regular and OR commerical use considering the first Fantoms were desgined for commercial use under the S.C Johnson name nor did the Fantoms or the Vectrons never had a pre-motor filter, only a fluff trap, hell even the Vectron had NO fluff trap at all! Literally just pure cyclones and air were at the motor's mercy hence why many didn't last especially the Vectron. A pre motor filter could be added probably by designing/integrating a tray were the fluff trap would be and tweaking the whole back part of the airway making it more durable and also user friendly but would probably interfere with the handle hose mechanism valve which would also have to be sorted. It could be marketed similar to the Amway Clear Trak which some were talking about in this thread, they are still buyable and useable to this day! Maybe with just a bit of tweaking the Original Fantom could be held up to modern standards and or commercial use with still retaining the same look! And could also be competition to WMJ's Workhorse? But what do i know im just a guy that doesn't know much about these things. And, that would take alot of drafts, paperwork, money, thousands of blueprints which would have to be intricately mathematically accurate, you name it! But i could see in a way if the original Fantom was tweaked it could possibly be revived given there would be different marketing strategies. You probably could point several key flaws of the original Fantom and list how they could be fixed or done differently. There could also be two versions A commerical version with a pigtail and no headlight taken from the Vectron chassis and a Normal household one with a headlight obviously taken from the Fantom chassis. However i just couldn't see the modern day consumer buying one of these in this climate today, They would probably think its ugly and outdated compared to the rest of the vacuums on the shelves today! Or it could be the next ground breaking comeback for those who do know it and it could probably generate a bandwagon, perhaps its all in the marketing! But i really don't know its just a thought. I think it would be quite or next to near impossible to revive Fantom. I could see it being marketed in competiton with the WMJ Workhorse but to be honest the Amway/Workhorse is more superior compared to the Fantom and funny thing is it came before it! Unless some design changes were made to the orginal Fantoms, I couldn't see the Fantoms lasting longer than the Workhorse considering it has no pre-motor but a guy could fix that, change the materials, flaws, and it could be the greatest comeback next to Hostess (well for vac collecters atleast) Take everything i say with a grain of salt though i don't know what all it takes to revive a company from the dead and OR market! What i do know is you'll probably need to get an aray of licenses, need to spend money on warehousing which also requires wavers AND licenses, any little thing you'll need to change in the warehouse will probably have to be wavered and get permission from big brother (the goverment). Money for machinery, Obtaining the types of moulds that were used to create the Orginal Fantoms and if you wanted to redesign those like i was talking about eariler im sure it would cost even more money to have them edited! And it would be easier if you just obtained the orginal Fantom moulds. Getting premisson from a long dead and gone company to use there outdated blueprints and quite possibly trying to get permission to Tweak those or just buying the blueprints and owning the right to them!. You'll have to hire people that want to work and given this day and age some of these people wouldn't last a day granted though that they have experience with factory work and can do it but its all dependent on and where its set up at perhaps! you'll have to get motors ordered, plastics ordered, an aray of the materials that were used for the Fantoms? All gotta get ordered! Firing people! Looking at resumes and applications! you name it! Probably all these things is what you'll run into in order to revive Fantom! Needless to say its for sure not a one person job. So most likely you'll have to get into contact or hire business men that are on board with your idea to get it into orbit! But at the end of the day i am on board and supportive of the fact FantomTechGuy wants to revive Fantom technologies and it would be interesting to see how they could be made better and be sold in the future God willing! I just think if the original Fantoms were to comeback they should be designed differently and take hints from the DC01 and Workhorse in terms of filter placement and dustbin design.
A guy could perhaps (if he knew what he was doing) Redesign the old domestic chassis for regular and OR commerical use considering the first Fantoms were desgined for commercial use under the S.C Johnson name nor did the Fantoms or the Vectrons never had a pre-motor filter, only a fluff trap, hell even the Vectron had NO fluff trap at all! Literally just pure cyclones and air were at the motor's mercy hence why many didn't last especially the Vectron. A pre motor filter could be added probably by designing/integrating a tray were the fluff trap would be and tweaking the whole back part of the airway making it more durable and also user friendly but would probably interfere with the handle hose mechanism valve which would also have to be sorted. It could be marketed similar to the Amway Clear Trak which some were talking about in this thread, they are still buyable and useable to this day! Maybe with just a bit of tweaking the Original Fantom could be held up to modern standards and or commercial use with still retaining the same look! And could also be competition to WMJ's Workhorse? But what do i know im just a guy that doesn't know much about these things. And, that would take alot of drafts, paperwork, money, thousands of blueprints which would have to be intricately mathematically accurate, you name it! But i could see in a way if the original Fantom was tweaked it could possibly be revived given there would be different marketing strategies. You probably could point several key flaws of the original Fantom and list how they could be fixed or done differently. There could also be two versions A commerical version with a pigtail and no headlight taken from the Vectron chassis and a Normal household one with a headlight obviously taken from the Fantom chassis. However i just couldn't see the modern day consumer buying one of these in this climate today, They would probably think its ugly and outdated compared to the rest of the vacuums on the shelves today! Or it could be the next ground breaking comeback for those who do know it and it could probably generate a bandwagon, perhaps its all in the marketing! But i really don't know its just a thought. I think it would be quite or next to near impossible to revive Fantom. I could see it being marketed in competiton with the WMJ Workhorse but to be honest the Amway/Workhorse is more superior compared to the Fantom and funny thing is it came before it! Unless some design changes were made to the orginal Fantoms, I couldn't see the Fantoms lasting longer than the Workhorse considering it has no pre-motor but a guy could fix that, change the materials, flaws, and it could be the greatest comeback next to Hostess (well for vac collecters atleast) Take everything i say with a grain of salt though i don't know what all it takes to revive a company from the dead and OR market! What i do know is you'll probably need to get an aray of licenses, need to spend money on warehousing which also requires wavers AND licenses, any little thing you'll need to change in the warehouse will probably have to be wavered and get permission from big brother (the goverment). Money for machinery, Obtaining the types of moulds that were used to create the Orginal Fantoms and if you wanted to redesign those like i was talking about eariler im sure it would cost even more money to have them edited! And it would be easier if you just obtained the orginal Fantom moulds. Getting premisson from a long dead and gone company to use there outdated blueprints and quite possibly trying to get permission to Tweak those or just buying the blueprints and owning the right to them!. You'll have to hire people that want to work and given this day and age some of these people wouldn't last a day granted though that they have experience with factory work and can do it but its all dependent on and where its set up at perhaps! you'll have to get motors ordered, plastics ordered, an aray of the materials that were used for the Fantoms? All gotta get ordered! Firing people! Looking at resumes and applications! you name it! Probably all these things is what you'll run into in order to revive Fantom! Needless to say its for sure not a one person job. So most likely you'll have to get into contact or hire business men that are on board with your idea to get it into orbit! But at the end of the day i am on board and supportive of the fact FantomTechGuy wants to revive Fantom technologies and it would be interesting to see how they could be made better and be sold in the future God willing! I just think if the original Fantoms were to comeback they should be designed differently and take hints from the DC01 and Workhorse in terms of filter placement and dustbin design.
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