Vintage Vacuum Bottles (AKA Thermoses)

Onomea · Jul 15, 2019

Was in a Goodwill store today and picked this Uno-Vac up for $6.99:

Can’t find out much about them on line, but one source said they went out of business in 1986.

Gratuitous pic:

Was reading some older forum threads on thermoses (vacuum bottles for the purists among us) but since the most recent was several years old, thought I’d start a new one.

Have read various methods of cleaning up old ones, baking soda and warm/hot water being the most common; denture cleaning tabs being the most effective, perhaps. But dishwasher powder, a third of a cup of hot water, shaken well, left to stand overnight and followed by a bottle brush is probably what I’ll do.

Oh yeah: One recommendation for cleaning that sounds especially novel is to hard boil some eggs, eat the eggs (!), crush up the egg shells, add ‘em to the thermos with cold water, and shake away vigorously... I give that one points for originality.

So, any of you guys have a UNO-VAC? Ever heard of ‘em?

Whatcha got out there, fellas? Let’s hear those trusty ol’ thermos stories! (One more time for those who’ve posted in years past!)

MORSNO · Jul 15, 2019

My father had the exact same one in the 70's in Minnesota as a heavy equipment operator. They didn't have fancy cabs and air ride seats back then, so a hot thermos of coffee was always on hand. It took a beating and had a few replacement glass liners over the years.

-db- · Jul 15, 2019

Stanley Wide Mouth with an old Wear-Ever Boy Scouts canteen

Onomea · Jul 15, 2019

That’s interesting, MORSNO, about the glass liner. Thanks.

I assumed the inside bottle was stainless as well, but it is mighty heavy compared to others I have handled.

Took a peek inside with a flashlight, and if it is stainless it is not the shiny stainless of the exterior, outer bottle. Looks sorta grayish. Maybe ceramic? But I don’t see or feel anything inside the bottle neck, like a seam, which would indicate replaceability. And there is that “unbreakable” boast on the label.

Interesting...

-db-, I used to have that canteen... Maybe 60 years ago or so!

THE PILGRIM · Jul 15, 2019

The last glass liner bottle that I owned was blown over by a gust of wind while sitting on my pickup tailgate.
I own 4-6 vacs, all Stainless.
My oldest is a 60s Stanley.

Onomea · Jul 15, 2019

So, Pilgrim, since you have 4-6 stainless vacs, what do you tell your wife when you buy another one?

(“But, honey, it’s only $6.99!”)

LoboGunLeather · Jul 15, 2019

No Uno-Vac here but I do own a very old French-made vacuum bottle with heavy glass vial contained in a leather-covered brass cylinder, stopper made of composite material similar to Bakelite. Probably pre-WW2. Still works for hot beverages like coffee for 4 to 6 hours. I consider it better than my Stanley stainless steel, not quite as good as a promo-model offered by Marlboro in exchange for "points" clipped from cigarette packages 25 years ago (keeps coffee hot and fresh for 16-plus hours).

THE PILGRIM · Jul 15, 2019

Onomea said:
So, Pilgrim, since you have 4-6 stainless vacs, what do you tell your wife when you buy another one? (“But, honey, it’s only $6.99!”)

Actually she passed a number of years ago.
She didn’t always tell me about a new pair of shoes and I didn’t always tell her about a new gun, knife or thermos!

arjay · Jul 15, 2019

A family member was going to toss this and it reminded me of one I had long ago,so I swiped it [emoji16]

Onomea · Jul 15, 2019

I like those Stanleys. My uncle, long passed, an avid bird hunter as a younger man, used to have one.

An American classic.

max · Jul 15, 2019

I can remember seeing the UnoVacs, but don't remember where. I have one of the Stainless Stanleys that I have had for almost 40 years or so and it still works fine. I clean it with baking soda and boiling water.

MORSNO · Jul 15, 2019

Onomea said:
That’s interesting, MORSNO, about the glass liner. Thanks.

I assumed the inside bottle was stainless as well, but it is mighty heavy compared to others I have handled.

Took a peek inside with a flashlight, and if it is stainless it is not the shiny stainless of the exterior, outer bottle. Looks sorta grayish. Maybe ceramic? But I don’t see or feel anything inside the bottle neck, like a seam, which would indicate replaceability. And there is that “unbreakable” boast on the label.

Interesting...

-db-, I used to have that canteen... Maybe 60 years ago or so!

You are correct, that model does not have a replaceable glass liner.

zonker5 · Jul 15, 2019

Onomea said:
Have read various methods of cleaning up old ones, baking soda and warm/hot water being the most common; denture cleaning tabs being the most effective, perhaps. But dishwasher powder, a third of a cup of hot water, shaken well, left to stand overnight and followed by a bottle brush is probably what I’ll do.

I clean mine by filling all the way with very hot water and tossing in a couple of denture cleaning tabs. Let it sit overnight and it wlll be as clean as new.

This will also get tea stains out of a mug.

shouldazagged · Jul 15, 2019

I have a Stanley I've used for forty years or so. Still works fine. I have a glass-lined one for lighter duty that actually keeps coffee or soup hotter longer, but I'll never part with the indestructible Stanley.

I use the denture-cleanser trick for cleaning both.

1morethan8 · Jul 15, 2019

NEVER clean a Stanley in a sink of hot water or dish washer!!!
It will break the vacuum of the bottle!!

Tablespoon, or so, of baking soda and hot water over night.

Ματθιας · Jul 15, 2019

My dad had a couple of those. He had a small one in his luck box.

I remember getting the belt when I broke one of them. He had some ball bearings (he used to be a railroader and brought them home) and I dropped them in the ONLY one that was glass! Yeah, I left those ball bearings alone after that!

Onomea · Jul 15, 2019

LoboGunLeather said:
No Uno-Vac here but I do own a very old French-made vacuum bottle with heavy glass vial contained in a leather-covered brass cylinder, stopper made of composite material similar to Bakelite. Probably pre-WW2. Still works for hot beverages like coffee for 4 to 6 hours. I consider it better than my Stanley stainless steel, not quite as good as a promo-model offered by Marlboro in exchange for "points" clipped from cigarette packages 25 years ago (keeps coffee hot and fresh for 16-plus hours).

Lobo, would love to see a pic or two of your “very old French-made vacuum bottle with heavy glass vial contained in a leather-covered brass cylinder, stopper made of composite material similar to Bakelite.”

Sounds very nice indeed.

Maddog 521 · Jul 16, 2019

Many years ago I broke 2 of the glass lined bottles in one week. I bought a Stanley after I got paid even though it was expensive. I never broke another one.

doublesharp · Jul 16, 2019

I gave up cigarettes in 1996 but prior to quitting I'd smoked enough Marlboros to get about every premium they offered, including a stainless vacuum bottle very similar to Onomea's. I still use mine regularly and it goes to every gun show with me.

pawngal · Jul 16, 2019

Several years ago I was clearing out a cupboard and discovered I had a total of 7 of the stainless vacuum bottles. both Uno Vac & Stanley. Kept a couple and donated the rest. One of them was really old & beat up, from hubby's trucking driving days.

Now days it is all about the Yeti to-go cups. Same idea. No, I don't own a Yeti but do have a couple of the Ozark Trails ones from Walmart.

Vintage Vacuum Bottles (AKA Thermoses)

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