Why Did Fantom Die In 2001/Euro-Pro Fantom Thoughts

VacuumLand – Vintage & Modern Vacuum Enthusiasts

Help Support VacuumLand:

fantom fury in the store

I saw a Fantom fury in Tuseday morning for $29.99 and I bought it so I think there are still Fantoms in shops still because they still have inventory.
 
My mom and a friend of mine had a Fantom Thunder and both had the same problem with the switch. Finding the parts to put a new switch in was impossible so for my mom they put some kind of store bought switch that didn't match anything, and Theresa wound up leaving the switch in the on position and wound up plugging in to turn on and unplugging to turn off.
 
This is what actually happened...

Iona Appliances (which became Fantom Technologies), licensed the dual cyclonic patent from James Dyson. That meant, for EVERY Vectron, Thunder, Lightning, Fury, and Cyclone XT, as well as the Dry Tech carpet shampooer, Iona had to pay James a small royalty.

During the 1990's, Dyson invented MEMA filters (MEMA stands for Maximum Efficiency Maximum Airflow). This is the washable pre-motor filter in all Dyson cleaners. James went to Iona and said "you have the right to use this feature". Iona said "you don't understand. We're in the BUSINESS of selling Hepa filters" James said "I'm not renewing my 10 year agreement with you which expires in October of 2001". (I'm paraphrasing - but you get the point).

After October, 2001, even though Fantoms were selling very well, they did in fact allow the agreement with James to expire. The Wildcat as well as the other single cyclone models were launched.

I was an authorized Fantom dealer and service center in 2001 when the change occurred. I knew that Fantom was soon to be history, so I bought the last Fantom Thunder from Iona then. By November, 2001, I was the USA's first Authorized Dyson Sales and Service Center. My account number was 0001. James himself set up the account for me, and I met with Dyson US's first sales director in my store in Festus, MO

The name "Fantom" was sold to Euro-Pro. Euro-Pro had Sanyo private label the line of machines for them under the Fantom name. Sanyo sold them under their own name as well. These were filtered bagless machines that clogged very quickly with fine dust. Interesting that Euro-Pro has never had a true dual cyclonic (not to mention true multi-cyclonic) cleaner ever. The Infinity does not count as the secondary cyclones are not the same design as Dyson's nor are they as effective.

It wasn't excessive warranty work that killed Fantom, it was greed. The $75 post motor HEPA filter was their downfall. By not having a pre-motor filter (in order to dirty the post motor filter), the motors took all the fine dust, resulting in early failure. How many times do you have to buy a $75 filter to say "no more" to the vacuum?

Of course, in 2002, Dyson's DC07 was launched and everyone forgot about the Fantom.
 
I had a Sanyo made Fantom Twister that worked good after I fixed the plug between the base and the rest of the vacuum, I used it for about a week then sold it. The Cyclone XT I have is still going very strong and I use it sometimes when I feel like using it other wise I use my Riccar or one of my Hoovers.
 
Drill oiling holes in Fantom Fury case to slow overheating?

dysonman1:
>>>It wasn't excessive warranty work that killed Fantom, it was greed. The $75 post motor HEPA filter was their downfall. By not having a pre-motor filter (in order to dirty the post motor filter), the motors took all the fine dust, resulting in early failure. How many times do you have to buy a $75 filter to say "no more" to the vacuum?<<<

Might it be possible to drill a hole or two in the motor case of my Fantom Fury to allow for regular oiling of the motor axle? (Mine started overheating with just under 2 years of infrequent use.)

(I have an ancient Compact that I nursed its motor along for years by getting oil into its bearings about once a year.)

Tim
 
Not a good idea.

I don't and won't recommend blindly putting oil into a motor. For one ball bearings are sealed so that very little oil on the outside will actually make it in. I have often seen bearings become seized but spin in the socket do to the introduction of oil. To effectively oil a ball bearing it needs to be out of the vacuum. Secondly blindly putting oil into an electrical motor is a massive fire hazard. Oil which is flammable plus an electric motor that generates heat and spark from the brushes. That could easily go up in flames. One a few occasions I refused to even diagnose a machine that had wd40 sprayed into it. My recommendation for a bagless such as the fantom is to remove all filters, take it outside and turn on. That gush of air will clear a good bit of dust from the motor an inner working without taking the vac apart. It's not 100% or even close to it but better then letting it chock to death.

Lastly, most older motors are pretty easy to rebuild and new bearings are only a few bucks.

That's my humble opinion.
 
Fantom Lightening LC51 parts

Did you sell these parts? If not I would be interested.
Post# 163357 , Reply# 24 12/26/2011 at 08:55 (1,681 days old) by sirrookanga ()
 
People if you are smart STAY AWAY FROM EURO-PRO. I used to have a euro pro stick vacuum years ago and it did ok on bare floors but performed poorly on carpets. Their newer machines are even worse. I now have a shark rotator and a shark rocket and they both suck at cleaning bare floors and carpets. I actually had to go back over the carpets with my 12 year old bissell and it pulled more dirt out. I repeat STAY AWAY FROM EURO-PRO
 
Iona Fantom's failure was mainly because they lost the rights to James Dyson's dual cyclone technology. When they lost the rights to the dual cyclone technology, Fantom could no longer produce their popular Thunder and Fury uprights and their Lightning canister, which all used the dual cyclone technology. Iona eventually came up with the single cyclone Fantom Wildcat which was an awful machine. Due to the Wildcat's poor build quality and lackluster performance, they were returned in droves, and Fantom went under. Euro-Pro Fantom was most likely axed because Euro-Pro's Shark brand name became extremely popular while the Fantom brand declined in popularity. I guess Euro-Pro decided they didn't need two vacuum brands so they axed the less popular of the two, which was Fantom. It was a good riddance too, as Euro-Pro Fantoms were notoriously awful.
 
Fantom Lightning Power Head

sirrookanga ()
It is 2020 and a neighborhood dog carried off my Lightning Power Head. One of my house keepers broke the wand. I have replaced the wand and that is why the Power Head was off of the wand.
I need another Power Head. I live in West Virginia, USA and one Vacuumland lady had 2 last year but I didn't know how to reach her.
I really need help.
(Ms) Donnie Isferding
 
Umm

Regina/Iona/Fantom lacked research and development. They relied on Fantom Dyson technology and never invested in the future.
The old Regina's were solid vacuums. I have an Iona dirt raider and it's best hand vac I have.
Les
 
Fantom Power Pet

I just had my Fantom Power Pet upright die on me. The cord has been repaired. I’m not sure if the motor gave out or what happened. If anyone is interested in it let me know (w/$)

Also looking to replace it with a Bissell Easy Vac Compact Upright. If anyone has opinions I’d love to hear them.

carpetbagger-2020072221503400383_1.jpg
 
Back
Top