Telecaster
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Well, that sucks! 
Here's a young lady with an unusual vocation
- Thread starter oldbrownhat
- Start date
OP
Interesting- as soon as I read "Davenport" I immediately recognized the reference, although I doubt anyone in our family used the term or we had one. But it's the only usage of that word I remember.
Another similar eponymous word/brand is "Xerox", although I don't think I've seen an actual Xerox™ copier since the big one I remember in the office I worked in in 1974.
"The Valhalla of marketing"- I like that
OP
And if it doesn't, take it to Leah at Rector's!Well, that sucks!
I remember a couple of vacuum cleaner shops from back in the day. All gone now. Today's vacuums are disposable for the most part. Toss it out and buy a new one.
Mom had a Kirby similar to the one in Rusty's picture. That sucker was heavy. I think hers was from the late 50s or early 60s, and she used it well into the 80s before it got too expensive to repair and was replaced by a Hoover. I remember my grandmother calling hers a sweeper. She was not from up north, though. Well, Oklahoma is north of Texas, so maybe she was.
After going through several disposable vacuums I bought a refurbished Dyson about 15 years ago. It seems cheaply made - all plastic, and flimsy feeling, but it's still going strong.
Mom had a Kirby similar to the one in Rusty's picture. That sucker was heavy. I think hers was from the late 50s or early 60s, and she used it well into the 80s before it got too expensive to repair and was replaced by a Hoover. I remember my grandmother calling hers a sweeper. She was not from up north, though. Well, Oklahoma is north of Texas, so maybe she was.
After going through several disposable vacuums I bought a refurbished Dyson about 15 years ago. It seems cheaply made - all plastic, and flimsy feeling, but it's still going strong.
When I got my first apartment back in 1977, I bought a round Hoover vacuum cleaner from the discount store in the strip plaza by the apartment complex. I refer to that vacuum cleaner as the "flying saucer" because of its shape. Believe it or not, I was using the flying saucer today. Of course, with the frequency of my housecleaning it probably doesn't get stressed very much, which is probably why it has lasted so long.
OP
That wouldn't be a Hoover Constellation? My mum had one and as I recall it worked very well.When I got my first apartment back in 1977, I bought a round Hoover vacuum cleaner from the discount store in the strip plaza by the apartment complex. I refer to that vacuum cleaner as the "flying saucer" because of its shape. Believe it or not, I was using the flying saucer today. Of course, with the frequency of my housecleaning it probably doesn't get stressed very much, which is probably why it has lasted so long.
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That wouldn't be a Hoover Constellation? My mum had one and as I recall it worked very well.
The bag for the replacement bags refer to my vacuum cleaner as being in the Celebrity Series, even though there is no model name on the machine itself. The machine is round but flat, so it has the supposed "flying saucer" shape.
I just did the math. I've had this vacuum cleaner for 47 years!
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
Mom had a Kirby, just like the hula-hoop lady's in the 1970's until she went into a care facility 2 years ago. Mom gave one to my wife in the 80's and it became too heave to push all day. Ours had the rug & furniture shampooer attachments. 30 years in the farmhouse and never a steam cleaning! Many rooms got shampooed once or twice a year with the Kirby.
The local vacuum cleaner repair place is called "Carman's". They talked with my wife when she took it in for rebuilds. The number one killer of vacuum motors is LONG HAIR IN THE MOTOR BEARINGS. Kirby's bearings are retained with a snap ring, instead of pressed or "peened" in place, making the easy to rebuild.
Ivan
The local vacuum cleaner repair place is called "Carman's". They talked with my wife when she took it in for rebuilds. The number one killer of vacuum motors is LONG HAIR IN THE MOTOR BEARINGS. Kirby's bearings are retained with a snap ring, instead of pressed or "peened" in place, making the easy to rebuild.
Ivan
A few years ago I needed a vacuum and a local auction had some for Fri auction. They had a used Hoover, a Bissell and a Reccar. The Hoover and the Bissell went for more than I wanted to pay but no one knew anything about the Reccar including me. I took a chance on the Reccar for $12. When I got home I found out that they were only sold at vacuum shops and found a used one on eBay just like the one I bought for $300. Thing is built like a tank and still working fine after 10 years. Best deal I ever got.
OP
Probably made by one of the big companies so hopefully parts may be available if it ever needs anything.
I replaced the belt a couple years ago and bags are easy to come by so the thing may out last me.
I'll just drop this classic here:
Google "John Gregory Hoover Dunmore PA"
He sells and services Hoovers, and the man knows his stuff.
We've bought 3 from him over 20 years, and he repairs them in house.
I will not buy a vacuum cleaner from a big box or Amazon as long as John is in business.
He sells and services Hoovers, and the man knows his stuff.
We've bought 3 from him over 20 years, and he repairs them in house.
I will not buy a vacuum cleaner from a big box or Amazon as long as John is in business.
I have one of the "flying saucer" Hoover vacuum cleaners that I bought in 1977. If I ever have to get it serviced I'll bring it up to him and maybe we can get together .
My African friends call all vacuums "Hoovers" and the chore is "Hoovering" or "running the Hoover".
My mom had a Filter Queen when I was a kid, bought from a door-to-door salesman. It had all kinds of attachments, including a massager. Later she got an Electrolux, which lasted until her passing.
My mom had a Filter Queen when I was a kid, bought from a door-to-door salesman. It had all kinds of attachments, including a massager. Later she got an Electrolux, which lasted until her passing.
Spajohn
Member
If you clean your vacuum, do you make the vacuum cleaner or are you a vacuum cleaner? 
Also, if you scream into a vacuum cleaner can anyone hear you?
Also, if you scream into a vacuum cleaner can anyone hear you?
TaxPhd
Member
I don’t know about 1984, but as far back as the mid 90’s, Kirby vacuums have had power drive on the wheels. It doesn’t make for effortless pushing, but it’s a pretty nice feature that significantly reduces the effort to push it around.
In my 30s I had a couple of Kirby vacuum cleaners. They were nicely made, with big aluminum castings. They were easy to work on, and I knew three different vacuum repair shops where I could get parts.
The coolest thing about Kirbys was the range of accessories available. Most notable were the grinding wheel that allowed you to destroy the edge on all your knives in short order, and the flexible extension with a buffing wheel that allowed you to turn the machine back on itself to polish its own castings, a kind of conceptual precursor to Azimov’s self-repairing robots.
The coolest thing about Kirbys was the range of accessories available. Most notable were the grinding wheel that allowed you to destroy the edge on all your knives in short order, and the flexible extension with a buffing wheel that allowed you to turn the machine back on itself to polish its own castings, a kind of conceptual precursor to Azimov’s self-repairing robots.
That would be nice. I hope to get down the Gettysburg after Labor Day, and I'd like to meet up.
