human
Well-known member
So after responding to a recent thread about how one stores/displays one's vacuums, I realized I'm absolutely overrun with vacuums for the size house I have and it got me to thinking about which ones I wouldn't mind parting with. I love my Kirbys and my Electroluxes so those are where I'd have the most difficulty thinning the herd. That said, there are some machines that just wouldn't make the cut:
Filter Queen Majestic—It was a $5 impulse purchase at a thrift shop and I spent more than ten times that much putting it to rights but it's still a lackluster performer and I never could completely get the dog odor out of it.
Douglas ATV wet/dry vac—I've owned this machine longer than any other presently in my possession. It was an emergency purchase in about 1994 or '95 when my neighbors had a water leak that flooded my apartment. It was inexpensive and just doesn't do the job it was designed for all that well. I have a much better Dayton wet/dry vac and I honestly don't remember the last time I plugged this one in.
Eureka canister—This was a $10 emotional purchase that reminded me of my lovely Eureka Princess canister that my ex-wife made me get rid of. I had fun figuring out how to hook it up to an Electrolux wand and power nozzle but it's just taking up space now.
Sanitaire SC 686—This was a $10 impulse purchase because, well, why not? Cosmetically, it's in great shape but I've never been all that impressed with its performance.
The Duplicates
There are some machines that I have more than one copy of, so logically I should be able to let at least one duplicate go, but who said I'm logical?
Electrolux 1205—I have two of these and they're both in nice shape for their age but the I've had and used as my go-to machine from 2004-2013 would be the candidate to keep. The other one, which my dad rescued from a neighbor's trash pile in the early '80s is showing its age a little more than the other. But if I were to take all of my Electrolux canisters as a group, the Silverado would also be a good candidate for dismissal as it's in the roughest shape of the lot.
Electrolux Uprights—I have three of these: a Discovery II, Discovery Plus, and Genesis LXe. The prime candidate for dismissal is the Discovery Plus, even though it's arguably the rarest of the three with its onboard tool storage but that feature is what makes it less desirable to me. The machine is very unwieldy with all of its tools stowed aboard. I have to offload them to use it. Also, it's the only one of the three that doesn't have an electrical connection for a SideKick.
Kirby G series—I'm lumping my two Gsixes (a Performance and a 2001 Limited Edition) and my G5 all together into one category since aesthetics aside, they're all essentially the same machine. I would probably keep the Performance because it's in the nicest shape of the three but I'd swap the Sentria style brush roll from the G5 into it. I also have a Sentria that's in pristine shape and thus is a keeper. That said, I do have a soft spot for the G5, since I've resurrected it from its dilapidated state into a proper 'FrankenKirby'. Call it bojack if you must, but all the parts are genuine Kirby.
Kirby Heritage/Legacy series—This is another three-way race consisting of three different models: a Heritage HD1, a Heritage 2 Legend and a Legend II. From condition alone, the Heritage II would be the logical keeper but from a standpoint of aesthetics, it's a really tough call.
Hoover QuickBroom—These are handy little machines for quick cleanups but who really needs two? The pair I have are identical to each other except one has a blue floor nozzle and the other one is white. It's a coin toss, really.
Royal Prince 501 handheld—I have two of these also. One is in 1960s gray and red livery and the other is in 1980s baby blue livery. Performance is about equal. Again, it's a bit of a tossup.
I don't know that I'm quite ready to begin thinning the herd just yet but it's a useful mental exercise nonetheless.
Filter Queen Majestic—It was a $5 impulse purchase at a thrift shop and I spent more than ten times that much putting it to rights but it's still a lackluster performer and I never could completely get the dog odor out of it.
Douglas ATV wet/dry vac—I've owned this machine longer than any other presently in my possession. It was an emergency purchase in about 1994 or '95 when my neighbors had a water leak that flooded my apartment. It was inexpensive and just doesn't do the job it was designed for all that well. I have a much better Dayton wet/dry vac and I honestly don't remember the last time I plugged this one in.
Eureka canister—This was a $10 emotional purchase that reminded me of my lovely Eureka Princess canister that my ex-wife made me get rid of. I had fun figuring out how to hook it up to an Electrolux wand and power nozzle but it's just taking up space now.
Sanitaire SC 686—This was a $10 impulse purchase because, well, why not? Cosmetically, it's in great shape but I've never been all that impressed with its performance.
The Duplicates
There are some machines that I have more than one copy of, so logically I should be able to let at least one duplicate go, but who said I'm logical?
Electrolux 1205—I have two of these and they're both in nice shape for their age but the I've had and used as my go-to machine from 2004-2013 would be the candidate to keep. The other one, which my dad rescued from a neighbor's trash pile in the early '80s is showing its age a little more than the other. But if I were to take all of my Electrolux canisters as a group, the Silverado would also be a good candidate for dismissal as it's in the roughest shape of the lot.
Electrolux Uprights—I have three of these: a Discovery II, Discovery Plus, and Genesis LXe. The prime candidate for dismissal is the Discovery Plus, even though it's arguably the rarest of the three with its onboard tool storage but that feature is what makes it less desirable to me. The machine is very unwieldy with all of its tools stowed aboard. I have to offload them to use it. Also, it's the only one of the three that doesn't have an electrical connection for a SideKick.
Kirby G series—I'm lumping my two Gsixes (a Performance and a 2001 Limited Edition) and my G5 all together into one category since aesthetics aside, they're all essentially the same machine. I would probably keep the Performance because it's in the nicest shape of the three but I'd swap the Sentria style brush roll from the G5 into it. I also have a Sentria that's in pristine shape and thus is a keeper. That said, I do have a soft spot for the G5, since I've resurrected it from its dilapidated state into a proper 'FrankenKirby'. Call it bojack if you must, but all the parts are genuine Kirby.
Kirby Heritage/Legacy series—This is another three-way race consisting of three different models: a Heritage HD1, a Heritage 2 Legend and a Legend II. From condition alone, the Heritage II would be the logical keeper but from a standpoint of aesthetics, it's a really tough call.
Hoover QuickBroom—These are handy little machines for quick cleanups but who really needs two? The pair I have are identical to each other except one has a blue floor nozzle and the other one is white. It's a coin toss, really.
Royal Prince 501 handheld—I have two of these also. One is in 1960s gray and red livery and the other is in 1980s baby blue livery. Performance is about equal. Again, it's a bit of a tossup.
I don't know that I'm quite ready to begin thinning the herd just yet but it's a useful mental exercise nonetheless.
