Will Full-Size Straight-Suction Uprights Make a Comeback?

[kirbyclassiciii]

Does anyone believe the full-size straight-suction upright cleaner will make a comeback?

I refer to such models as the Royal 311 and the Electro-Hygiene 230 and 2-230 among them.

~Ben

 

[vacuumman]

Lindhaus

I believe there are some Lindhaus uprights that come with a straight suction nozzle.

 

[n0oxy]

straight suction uprights

Uprights such as the Lindhaus Healthcare Pro and Sebo Felix allow you to remove the power nozzle and attach a hard floor brush. At that point you basically have an electric broom. These machines are great for those who prefer the upright form factor but want the flexibility that canisters provide. I actually think the Sebo Felix is the best upright vacuum that is currently made. I'm not an upright person, I much prefer canisters and central vacuums, but I love my Sebo Felix.
Mike

 

[kirbylux77]

Mike, I actually feel the opposite of how you feel about the Sebo Felix. It's one vacuum I have grown to dislike!

It's VERY top heavy, and puts out a lot of hot air while vacuuming floors or carpets. So much so that I won't use it in the summer months from May to September. The swivel neck on the powerhead doesn't allow the ET-1 powerhead to swivel much at all - why they designed it that way is beyond me. Hair and carpet fibres wrap around the brushroll way too easily and need to be cut away often. And I also found out with use the ET-1 powerhead doesn't work well with certain low pile area rugs or carpeting. On my rugs, position 1 is too low, yet position 2 makes the brushroll just skim over the rug. The Sebo ET350 powerhead is MUCH BETTER than the ET-1, cleans just as well and doesn't have these problems. So much so, I am replacing it with the ET350 and putting the ET-1 powerhead up on Ebay!

The bags clog easily - I have to take the HEPA Cloth bag out, put the cap on and vigorously shake the bag to loosen dust from the walls of the bag 3 to 4 times while filling a bag so the vacuum has full suction to clean properly. The S Class Filtration system is also a joke - watch Performance Reviews compare a E3 to the Miele C3 Brilliant with a HEPA Filter installed and the Sebos is SO BAD at filtering, it's just as bad as a Miele using the genuine Super Air Clean filter on the exhuast! The hose is awkward to get in and out of it's holder, and it's short - you either have to have 1 hand on the vacuum at all times, or use the optional extention hose. The Kombi Head available for the Felix has the brush extend/retract pedals awkwardly placed, and both it and the Parquet Brush don't swivel well and won't stand up on their own.

Whoever the idiot German designer was that designed this thing ought to be shot! I would NEVER recommend anyone buy it or the Sebo Dart! My Shark Rotator NV501 is much easier and enjoyable to use, cleans just as well and filters much better. Yes, you did just see someone here recommend a Shark vacuum over a Sebo!

 

[evolutionclean1]

Oh wow

Tell us how you really feel Rob
Performance Reviews is biased, anyone with the good sense knows better. And hey, at the end of the day, the engineer who "deserves to be shot" didn't design it just for you, and I doubt one negative "review" will halt production on one of their best selling models
I guess it's all up to taste? Seems as though you don't like a whole lot of different brands and models...

 

[panasonicvac]

Second with Jake

Certainly one vacuum is not perfect for everybody. Each has it's pros and cons. Even my favorites or the best ones I've used has their drawbacks which includes the Felix because the Felix is one of the best vacuum designs I've ever seen but doesn't mean it'd please everybody. Not to mention the Felix was this year rated #1 by Wirecutter from The New York Times, that was HUGE I think. The video PR posted between the E3 and the C3 isn't a proper demonstration showing off the filtration in my opinion. The particle counter is a sales gimmick tool built by IQAir that's only designed to test out air purifiers, not vacuums. Also that counter is meant to be serviced, I question if it was serviced fairly recently at the time of the video including others in his channel which honestly I don't think it was because I even called him out on another thread a while ago showing that two different dealers had other results with the same counter. So I can think of better ways that'd be proper to test out the filtration. But I've never had a problem with the filtration on any SEBO, doesn't make me sneeze.

 

[tolivac]

I tried a Sebo Felix vacuum some ttime ago-Didn't like it.Worked OK as an upright-but as a "canister" with a hose-was TERRIBLE.You have to lug the machine with one hand and work the tool and hose with the other.It could not sit and roll along on the ground as a usual canister can do.I returned the rig the next day and bought a Sebo X automatic instead.

 

[human]

Needs a brush roll...

As far as I'm concerned, it's a much easier equation to make a canister function as an upright than it is the other way around. All you need to do is add a power nozzle. The only straight suction uprights I've ever used are electric brooms like the Hoover QuikBroom or the Bissell Sweep Master. They have their uses, but they aren't well suited for whole house cleaning.

To flip the equation around, I never saw the full potential of a canister until I was given my grandmother's Eureka Princess with a power head. Suddenly, the possibilities opened up in my eyes. Unless you have absolutely no rugs or carpets, you need that brush roll agitation. Although I love my Kirbys for their brute power, my favorite uprights are twin-motor Electroluxes that give me the choice of straight suction or brush roll agitation at the touch of a switch.

 

[hygiene903]

Straight Suction Upright

Here's the type of straight suction upright that Ben was referring to in his original question. It is a model 2-230 Electro-Hygiene, the last straight suction Electro-Hygiene model that was made in 1953 and 54 and replaced the previous model 230 which was made from 1945 to 1953. There were only a few noticeable changes between the two, including bag color change from black to blue and a more streamlined motor housing on the 2-230. Mine is all original, and thanks to my good friend Luke Gebhart, I now have the attachments that are missing in this picture. The 2-230 was replaced in 1955 by the model 285, Electro-Hygiene's first revolving brush upright.
As for the Royal 311 that Ben mentioned, I don't have one and haven't seen one in person, but I have seen pictures of them. The nozzle was permanently bolted on similar to the revolving brush models and used the same hose connection for attachments through the nozzle. It was popular for commercial uses such as theaters and auditoriums and was made well into the 70's or early 80's if I'm not mistaken.
And to answer Ben's question, I don't really see them making a comeback. Revolving brush uprights and canisters or tanks with a power nozzle do a better job on carpet, and tanks and canisters are more convenient for bare floors and above the floor cleaning.
Jeff

 

[tolivac]

The straight suction uprights were favored forindoor sports floor maintenance.They were fast and effective.A canister vacuum could not be used for this job.

 

[panasonicvac]

Lindhaus discontinued not too long ago the Valzer F5 that was for straight suction only. I think it's because the market just simply isn't there anymore so I don't see a return for the full size uprights at least not anytime soon. And I'd rather have an upright that uses a brushroll on rugs or carpets.

Like Rex, I prefer a X series over the Felix. I love the Felix, but there are just things that I like about the X series more. Automatic height adjuster that I think cleans just a bit better, electronic full bag light/shut off feature, I can put attachments on the back instead of on the outside, easier to push because the motors sits on the base, easier taking apart to service, etc. However, for the price, I don't think it's quite worth paying extra. I mean not that it's too expensive cause I think every SEBO is worth it, but for what the Felix also offers at less money, it's just hard to pass up on and it's certainly something I can definitely get used to over the X series. That's just my preference.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

hygiene903

Jeff,

Here's a 1976 brochure for the Royal 311 along with that for the 611.

~Ben