what really grinds my drive belt

[vacuumssuck213]

You know what really bothers me these "new" 30 dollar vacuums they are cheap? The way I see it American industry aughta be ashamed of them self selling machines made over seas with cheap parts and the worst thing is your inexpensive vacuum you've gotta.buy a new one every year or two years. Why not buy a 10 dollar old American made vacuum from a second hand store or rebuilt shop. I got my Hoover convertable made in Ohio and I am willing to bet it will last me another 10 20 years it's cleaner and more effective then any vacuum in the retail market today and half the cost I know I'm not alone but what's the fascination of buying a so called new vacuum every other year

 

[super-sweeper]

It's all in society!

People would rather pay that extra $30-$40 every year or so then to take the time out of their day to perform maintenance and keep their vacuum in best shape! 40 years ago, The American people were a proud race. They took pride in their work and took greater pride in keeping that work going for decades to come. That's why you see such old things still going today, and modern people stop and gasp, stating "That thing is [Years] old, and STILL works!?". Now, people pay the money instead of paying the time. People also are not prepared to pay for quality, yet are surprised when their "Wal-Mart Special" vacuum craps out in 2 years. It's not only the consumer, but the manufacturer. Modern manufacturers would rather build it cheaply over-seas, then sell it highly in the states. The products they sell are now designed to fail, in order to continue to supply revenue to the company. Bags were once revenue for companies, now the vacuum itself is revenue. Manufactures used to take such pride in their work, and built things of quality and craftsmanship. I'm sure one day they'll be an exhibit in museums titled "American manufacturing, Circa 1963"!


 


It grinds my "Drive belt" too, but what can we do? Start a vacuum cleaner empire and show these cheapskates who's boss? I know I'd love to!

 

[cb123]

Shakespeare couldn't have said it better himself. Trash in, trash out. After you use it once, just wad it up and throw it away, much like the money you burned on it. You could have put your hard earned scratch down on something like this, that would last you a life time.

 

[vacuumssuck213]

good points

Couldn't have said it better my self Alex if I may call you that. Being only 22 years young I've never seen first hand the craftsmanship the "built with pride in the U.S.A" as its happening but I do appreciate this creedo and wish for those years to come back wouldn't that be a treat be able to create a dependable quality product that's affordable that we could blow those trial clowns back into the water

 

[suckolux]

actually, quality cost real money back then, there was payment plans and second hand for poor folks

 

[cb123]

You got that right!

.

 

[suckolux]

The first new vacuum I bought was a Sears hand vac, a Douglas I think and was around $20 in 67, that was about 20 hours work at min wage then!

 

[cb123]

Suckolux,

What are you trying to say - wage slave. Working on the chain gang...chopping...cotton...for 35 cents an hour...praying for an afternoon rain shower! Just kidding, but your absolutely right!

 

[suckolux]

Just how it was! Thanks

 

[cb123]

I couldn't help it, the song just popped into head, but times were hard and it seems their heading that way again.

 

[suckolux]

also they were made to be repaired pretty simply too, simple machines, well made.Even the cheaper machines were good quality, just not as many features. My 2 cents

 

[cb123]

Oh, the perks of a throw away society...wait just a minute! There is none.

 

[super-sweeper]

payment plans,

Montgomery Ward charge cards, all the way!

 


That's the whole reason behind the Kirby coin slot, you would put loose change you found while vacuuming in it, and save up for belts or a payment! The salesmen would put a quarter in and say 'there,I made your first payment!'. Electrolux used to give away plastic banks that look like Mini-Luxes, I have one that looks like an Olympia One!


 


For that price you got dependable quality! What was cheap then was something affordable, not something flimsy!

 

[bnsd60m9200]

what most people dont realize, is for inflation even "cheap" or "budget" vacs back in the day were more expensive the high priced vacuums at wally world today. today's "$40" plasticrap vacs at wally world would even register on the inflation charts for 1970's era machines.

even a mid or top of the line convertible which was widely considered the "standard" family vacuum back in the 1970's, in today's money is about the same price as a high end dyson adjusted for inflation. a sears best powermate is about the same price as a rainbow or lux today ~ $1100. you paid for quality back then and it wasnt cheap. vacuums were multi decade investments, like a home, not considered disposable.

 

[tolivac]

Not just vacuum cleaner,but OTHER appliances,too.Look at todays PITIFUL washers,dishwashers,clothes.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

rex, there is a reason why i have 100% vintage appliances for when i move out on my own, toaster, blender, mixer, iron, rotary dial western electric phone, boxfans (vintage 1960's lakewood TOL), luxo lamps from the late 60's, radios, obviously vacuums, radarange mircowave (giant chrome one rr-7b from 1981)and even my daily driver is a vintage 1984 ford country squire.

i dont like the look of modern stuff AT ALL (asthetics today are even a thought in ANY appliance design), and also like that i can rebuild of fix the vtg appliances too. when i have more room, still on the outlook for a late 1970's early 1980's zenith console tv, and a pair of lady kenmore washer/dryer from the late 60's early 1970's as well.

 

[DesertTortoise]

Be careful. As it was pointed out, those old Kenmores cost as much back then in deflated 1980s dollars as a top of the like Riccar does today. That was the norm back then. We didn't have this abundance of cheapie vacuums. I would be willing to wager that if vacuums that cost as small a proportion of one's monthly disposable income were widely available back then as they are today, a lot fewer of those high quality Kenmores would have been sold. Just a guess of course but I remember my parents were extremely cheap about everything.

 

[vintagevaclover]

It also seems that everyone is now obsessed to find the most lightweight vacuum they can. Do they not realize that the "lightest" appliances are made of all plastic and have minimal suction power?!

 

[tolivac]

And it goes back to this--the "lightest" vacuums are the most fragile and least durable.Their plastic bodies are bound to break.Their tiny motors are bound to burn out trying to generate the power of larger machines-and to top it off-their bagless design with clogged filters will cause the motor to burn out.So---they get curbed.Food for the scrappers(cords)and for trash trucks--crunchy plastic!It makes a delightful sound when going thru the trucks compactor!