What happens to your vacuums ?

[davevac]

I have a very small collection of vacuums that I really do treasure. Also have other antiques, etc. including our Victorian house. My question is: what is everyone doing to help insure that your treasured items will live on after we're gone....I worry that my house will be sold and someone will not treat it with great care and appreciation as we have. I've seriously thought of leaving it to a historical society with the understanding that it will be maintained in the condition we left it. If I knew of a nonprofit museum or organization for other items, I may consider leaving the items to them. Maybe I'm over thinking this...I won't know the difference anyway when I'm gone....I worry about these things though.
I also collect antiques washing machines..I know the owner of the washing machine
museum in CO has a son that is not interested in continuing his elderly father's museum...I hate to see all of our treasured items (and history) fade away.


thanks
dave

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Dave,

Excellent points!
I, too, have wondered about my home and my things when I'm gone. I've worked so hard for them. I've slaved over my home, too.
I actually put some vacs in a trust for a local vac shop owner. My family will unload my house right after my funeral, as, nobody lives near me.
My "brother from another mother", Tom Anderson, might get a call one day regarding my collection.
Some people have already "asked about items" here. I told them, "I hate to break it to you, but, I'm actually feeling fine".

 

[human]

By the time I'm dead, I'll have no interest in anything earthly so it really doesn't matter. One thing's for sure, I'm not going to burden the next generation(s) with all my crap like my late father did. It's the gift that keeps on giving--and taking. I have no children and I'm sure my nieces and nephews have no earthly interest in any of my crap. My best bet will be to have a huge auction or something like that to get rid of my crap and my dad's. Then I'll be able to give the proceeds to whatever nursing facility will be neglecting and abusing me during my waning years.

 

[kloveland]

I know how that is..

When my grandfather passed in ‘08 my mother and I went thru the same ordeal. Luckily my grandmother and step-grandfather had an auction and moved to a small apartment in a retirement community. It can be a big ordeal to go through belongings of our loved ones.

 

[KirbyCollector01]

When I get old.

I am 18 and have my whole life ahead of me. But when I get old, to the point that a lot of vacuums aren’t practical anymore. I will sell, and give away my machines to any young collectors and vacuum museums in that time period. Probably around the 2070s or 2080s give or take.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

what most collectors that dont want to be a burden to people who dont understand the collections you love (reguardless of vacuums or not) selling off the collections to people they know will appreaciate it while theyre still in good mind and health seems to be the best way of handling it only having a smaller amount left when theyre close to dying.

those that just cant part with things, at least appropraite in your will or a written agreement some kin your trust to properly disperse your collections after you die. being personally involved with a friend who had to appropraite a collection after Glenn Dienst's death, not having someone officated to do this prior to can be a big burden on the family. this friend was gracious enough to help the kin out.

alot of times, when you dont do this, flat out if it doesnt sell at your estate sale, itll be tossed into a dumpster. if you want parts of the past to live on, give them to younger people to carry the torch while youre still here or gifted to them in your stead after youre gone.

 

[superocd]

I'm only 26 so (hopefully) I have a while to go. While I do have all the major stuff taken care of (life insurance, telling my wife where I'd like to have my ashes spread, etc) my collection of different things (vintage computers, a couple small appliances and fans and yes, vacuums) are kinda sorta up in the air. My wife knows how I love those things but I know that she has zero interest in my collection, and that's okay -- I can't wrap my head around having enough handbags and shoes to stock a Macy's, lol. I would like to give everything to someone or some entity who would appreciate its value. I told my wife that dropping it off at Goodwill is off limits, lol, as the computers I painstakingly restored would go straight into the recycle pile with NO chance of being resold and there would be a chance that my vacuums and small appliances would be purchased by someone looking for a bargain with no realization of what they're getting (e.g. belt burns up on a lovingly restored D50? In the trash it goes!), and that's if they don't end up getting thrown out because they've sat on the floor too long, unsold, because people thought that they were "old" and in this society, old=bad.

 

[davevac]

Excellent input

Thanks for all the input...
My wife knows what everything is worth and what it means to me (us). She can liquidate appropriately if I go first....I hope to be here for quite a while yet but, who knows.....my 2 daughters have NO INTEREST in anything I have...my wife tells me not to worry about it and just enjoy everything until the end. I think I'll do a combination of what was suggested by all of you...sell and/or donate some things as I get older and don't have the time/ability to keep them...add something in my Will to address some of the major items (house)…
I already promised my Cadillac handheld to MadMan. Sorry, I'm in very good health so don't count on it any time soon...
and SuperOCD...what is with women and shoes..I have 4 pair and that's just fine..my wife has around 40 pairs and is still looking...some women have 100+..
why don't they just wise up and collect vacuums ?

Dave

 

[vacuumlad1650]

As much as I like comfort in the thought that when I am gone, somebody will care for any of my prized belongings, realistically I know that I'll be dead and it won't matter to me one bit. I see no reason to burden somebody with it.
Now, should someone close to me tell me they want something specific should I leave this world before then, k would be happy to document that. We shall see...

 

[caligula]

I'm on the other side of the spectrum.

I'm looking down the gun at 70, and have only very special machines that have already been given a home. As for the Electrolux's Kirby's and so on, these will be sold via eBay.

As for 30+ years of paperwork, that will go those who run the V.C.C.C. archives.

 

[gregvacs28]

Unless one has the money stashed away in proper investments and the legal frame work dictating what you expect to happen with your stuff after you depart, you have no reason to believe any of your "requests" will be respected.

Thus, there's no point worrying about what happens to your stuff. You will have no control. I guess that's news to some.

And even for those that have opened a museum and funded it.... doesn't mean people will come to view it. There's lots of museums with very little traffic.

I recently found, while driving on a country road, an old 1910s built building that had been used as a resale shop. But it was long closed and the parking lot over grown. Someone was mowing the area, but no one had been in the building for at least a decade. I peaked in the windows and it was filled with old "stuff" as if the previous owner left one day and never returned back.
Probably died. There it sits until a tree falls on it, a fire mysterious burns it, it decays and falls apart, or someone buys/inherits it and throws all the stuff out.
Happens everyday...somewhere on the planet.

 

[caligula]

In my case I know where the 'special' machines will

I have some very rare non-electric vacuum cleaners that date back to 1890, and those have been secured. The museum that will take them is not connected with either Vacuumland or the V.C.C.C.! Do I know they will be taken care of? yes, my funeral director and I talked about it in detail.

As I said, the Electrolux, Kirby, Rex-air, and many others I gave instructions to sell these on eBay, and that has also been arranged. So I know exactly where they are going! [this post was last edited: 1/13/2020-20:34]

 

[gregvacs28]

I know I was kind of sad when I had accumulated a bunch of things myself and then realized, who's going to want it later.

Even in a small group like those of us that collect appliances, each of us have particular models or brands we prefer. It's just a personal thing. Self expression really. It's like the clothes we wear.

 

[kirbysthebest]

As with any collector

I am afraid they would sell my stuff for what I told them I paid, instead of what I really paid.  Remembering its only worth what you are willing to pay.

 

[madman]

DaveVac - LOL

I like human's outlook on death. I too have seen it happen, and been burdened myself with all my grandfather's crap. And the funny thing is, he had a small house and it never seemed cluttered, and yet the amount of junk in it and the garage was enormous. Getting rid of it all was a monumental task. I can only imagine how bad it would be if you're dealing with an actual collector (read: hoarder) and their junk.

While it is nice to hope that the valuable items in our collections go to other 'custodians,' I really do think that it's important not to burden the next of kin with that job. It's bad enough dealing with a death, you really don't need a liquidation of stuff added to that. If you really have a lot of crap, and I suppose especially if you have a house that is part of that, you should really talk to a lawyer and set up a trust that would handle that stuff the way you want.

 

[davevac]

Follow up

We attend auctions and estate sales regularly. I collect WWII militaria also and
see veterans patches, medals, war booty, etc. sitting in a box of junk. I always ask and am told that the kids don't want it...how sad is that ? Their father fought for our country and the kids won't even keep his "stuff" in a box somewhere. So, I buy it and put in a display case honoring someone I don't know. I guess I'm going to impose of my daughters at least a little...I'm going to go around the house with a video camera and say what everything is, an approx. value, what it means to me, and what auction service would be best to liquidate. I already have inventory sheets for certain collections so my girls know what the items are. I think after paying for their private schooling and college, they can spend some time and aggravation for me. I don't think they mind too much....if they don't follow my wishes, oh well.
The house is the big problem......I'd rather donate it or sell cheap knowing that it will not be updated/ruined.
Well on to more upbeat things...
dave

 

[bnsd60m9200]

dave

you can go around putting values on stuff all you want, but when it comes time for the estate sale, it'll be priced to move unless you otherwise have it appropriated. why would you care what it sells for after you're gone anyway? intrinsic value of the owner and what the estate sale company prices it for are often far apart.

 

[davevac]

value

I don't really care about what anything sells for....my daughters have no idea what things are and what they may be worth....the values are just a guideline so they don't throw stuff away. Auction houses take 30% or so.....I don't like estate sales because people rummage through your stuff and whatever is not sold is usually thrown out. I'd rather see my vacuums and other stuff given away to someone who appreciates them.

 

[gregvacs28]

As long as one is keeping the value of their things in perspective as to how it relates to them.

It's when people own something and they think it's the greatest thing in the world and they think that everyone else thinks the same. A status symbol if you will...and it goes to their head.

That's when the show begins.

Had a relative that bought an exotic car in the 90s for about $70K. They thought is was EVERYTHING. And they thought everyone else thought the same of the vehicle and by extension thought the same of him.

Turns out, NO. Everyone doesn't think that.

He tried to put it on the market in 2010 for $85K. It sat at the consigning dealership for three years with an interest at $45K. No sale. Then the dealer finally had to ask them to remove it from their show room but they'd continue to market it.

2017 comes along, still no sale. They lower the asking price to the aging, rusting, mouse infested heap to $75K. Wasn't that considerate?

2019 comes along and it's still not sold. And financial ruin is on the door step. A loan taken out on the vehicle is behind and the loan company wants to pick up the vehicle.

Three days before this is scheduled to happen (I found this out a couple months ago) they tricked a naive friend with their retirement savings to buy the vehicle for the $15K loan value in addition to lending them ..... (ouch) $40K additional on top of that, PLUS somehow have him replace the roof on their home and do their lawn maintenance last summer, the likes of which they are also trying to sell for ridiculous amount. Hasn't sold since the 1 1/2 years it's been on the mkt with no offers.

It's interesting as things that in one decade or generation that were thought of as desirable or exclusive; in the next decade are close to junk status.... and the people who get caught up holding the bag still thinking they are on top of the world if they own those things.

Bmw, mercedes, kitchenaid dishwasher, maytag washer dryer, kirbys, pool table, traditional wood furnishings, fine china, tennis courts.... these are just some of the things when I was growing up, that were "hot". Now, talk to resale shops. Some of these things they won't even take for free because they can't sell them. Other things have moved down in status and are just considered a middle of the road brand.

And since 2018 I've learned what a narcissist is and how they operate. It isn't fun.
If you are around someone who is not anchored well in reality but they try to "look normal" you want to have your dealings with them limited or not at all.

[this post was last edited: 1/14/2020-20:24]