This "sucks"... the Hoover And Other Vintage Vacuum Cleaners

Forgotten Man said:

I'm sure you did have to deal with a few "express's" on that line... EEeeewwwwwww! lol

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I am just looking forward to you having to deal with express trains while I watch and laugh.
So how does that Packard work anyway? It looks big and bulky like "the brick" you have.

Yeah, don’t remind me… That train is WAY down the track… barely a vibration on the rails of life for me pal!

How does the Packard work? Well, glad you asked! It’s a straight suction job, meaning there’s no roller brush that’s turned by a belt… just the suction that comes from the fan’s revolutions. It’s adjustable at the rear wheel, a little knob twists and you can aim the front off the rug or closer to it… I have it so it just sits on top of the rug and as I push it over the rug, it actually brings the carpet to the head! I can lift the rug off the floor with the suction power of this old Packard; the Hoover has the same capabilities too!

These old machines really do a good job; they’re not as light as today’s cleaners but, they do push very easy over area rugs or lower knap carpets. For the carpet in the bedrooms, it’s thicker then the area rugs, I just adjust the height and then I’m ready for business!

The Packard also has a wood bar with bristles attached at the front of the head to scrub as the machine is pushed. It works to a degree… not as well as the belt driven beater brushes the Hoover has but, it’s an interesting piece of domestic technology.
Now, a true confession:

I used to hate vacuuming… in fact, when I was just a kid I was scared to death of the monsters! My folks used to run a Kirby Classic from the 70s… that thing was SUPER noisy! I had to cover my ears each time my mother would vacuum… I didn’t like that thing one iota!

And when I grew up some, I didn’t like pushing that idiotic thing around… we bought newer cleaners, but they just annoyed me… and I was afraid of the hose attachment in fear of my finger or hand getting sucked into the cleaner which was a mystery at younger ages.

Thanks to a good friend of mine introducing me to his vacuum collection and for me to see what they used to look like, seeing how they work and how they sound… I was intrigued and I fell in love with the soft turbine sound the Hoover’s make! I think that’s what draws me to Hoover’s earlier cleaners.

Now, I embrace the early antiquated suction sweepers of the 20s and early 30s… they do work and it’s amazing that one can continue to use an 80 year old appliance here in 2009.

Forgotten Man said:

Ok Mr. Mom...

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lol lol lol lol ....and Mr. Dad, Brother, Sister, Uncle , Aunt and Grandparents....I have been blessed to be with my son since the very second he was born...in addition to vacuuming I will teach him what manhood and responsibility are about....Indeed I am a very lucky man to have this opportunity....so I take your reference and PM as very complimentary

Carlisle Blues said:

so I take your reference and PM as very complimentary

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Good to hear!

And if you ever get the itch for a vintage cleaner, let me know, I'll keep me eyes out... it's all about appreciating the detail and simplistic engineering these old appliances possess... it's not only interesting or educational, it's fun!

Speaking of Mr. Mom, remember the part when the Kirby was heading toward's one of the kids? Man, I remember that too well... So well infact that was another thing that added to my fear of vacuums as a child! lol

Forgotten Man said:

Good to hear!

And if you ever get the itch for a vintage cleaner, let me know, I'll keep me eyes out... it's all about appreciating the detail and simplistic engineering these old appliances possess... it's not only interesting or educational, it's fun!

Speaking of Mr. Mom, remember the part when the Kirby was heading toward's one of the kids? Man, I remember that too well... So well infact that was another thing that added to my fear of vacuums as a child! lol

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Remember $20 and under.

Forgotten Man said:

... it's all about appreciating the detail and simplistic engineering these old appliances possess...

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You want "vintage hoovering"? Here, have this!

Doesn't get more vintage than that .

Unless...of course ... you have an earlier model Forgotten man! :rage:

HadleyH said:

You want "vintage hoovering"? Here, have this!

Doesn't get more vintage than that .

Unless...of course ... you have an earlier model Forgotten man! :rage:

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He has the earlier rat motored vacuum.

jamespowers said:

He has the earlier rat motored vacuum.

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No.

He has a lose kangaroo in the attic! [huh]


lol

Everyone’s a comic! I’m tryin’ to be serious and I’m getting’ insulted here miss H!
Do you have anything interesting or something you can contribute to this thread without pointing fun at something I’m passionate about?

Some nerve

omg!

i offer my apologies!

Sounds a little sarcastic if you ask me.

My original intent was to offer an interesting and different thread on something that has become very common today and it seemed to have inspired a few people and its always (I find) fun to learn something about an everyday item and it's origions or history.

I can take a joke but, like the rest of them but, when I' honestly sharing info about this stuff freely, and someone just wants to kick it around like some big gag, then I get upset.

Forgotten Man said:

Sounds a little sarcastic if you ask me.

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I have only know HadleyH to be very sincere, forthright and good natured in her posts; together with a nice sense of humor...

Forgotten Man said:

And if you ever get the itch for a vintage cleaner, let me know, I'll keep me eyes out... it's all about appreciating the detail and simplistic engineering these old appliances possess... it's not only interesting or educational, it's fun!

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And yes when I am looking for a vacuum I will ask you. Thank you very much..

Thanks

Funny thing happened last Friday night. Had a little get together for a friend's birthday at the house. The house was clean but, after everyone tracked in dirt, the living room rug needed some Hoovering! So, before we all sat down and watched a movie, I said: Say, this rug is dirty! I should sweep it!

My friend Damian grabbed the Packard and I grabbed my 700 and we plugged them in and away we went!

That was funny, it was a vacuum derby in my living room! lol Everyone enjoyed seeing to fully grown men in vintage suits using 1920s vintage vacuums!

To say the least, the rug has never been so clean! lol

HadleyH said:

No.

He has a loose kangaroo in the attic! [huh]


lol

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I've always heard it as "There's a wallaby loose in the observation tower."

Forgotten Man said:

Funny thing happened last Friday night. Had a little get together for a friend's birthday at the house. The house was clean but, after everyone tracked in dirt, the living room rug needed some Hoovering! So, before we all sat down and watched a movie, I said: Say, this rug is dirty! I should sweep it!

My friend Damian grabbed the Packard and I grabbed my 700 and we plugged them in and away we went!

That was funny, it was a vacuum derby in my living room! lol Everyone enjoyed seeing to fully grown men in vintage suits using 1920s vintage vacuums!

To say the least, the rug has never been so clean! lol

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Do not tell me you do not have pictures....[bad]

scotrace said:

I've always heard it as "There's a wallaby loose in the observation tower."

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I heard that is "a few roos loose in the top paddock". As in After John spent all those years on the suck, he talked liked he had a roo loose in the top paddock.

Forgotten Man said:

That was funny, it was a vacuum derby in my living room! lol Everyone enjoyed seeing to fully grown men in vintage suits using 1920s vintage vacuums!

To say the least, the rug has never been so clean! lol

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I think Our Own Vintage Town now has its official door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman.

LizzieMaine said:

I think Our Own Vintage Town now has its official door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman.

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lol Good one!

Carlisle Blues said:

Do not tell me you do not have pictures....[bad]

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Well, the birthday boy said the other day that he took some photos, so I'll post them when I get them

Dueling Vacuums!

Back in the 1920's, door to door vacuum salesmen could get downright competitive, as these photos attest! Vacuum duels were even known to occur from time to time, and it's said that no carpet within reach of the combatants would be left unscathed during these furious contests for vacuum supremacy.