vac cleaners and industrial design

[TC Chris]

Aaaargh!!!!!!!!!!! My third try. The posts keep disappearing.

I've got an Electrolux Model 30 at my Mom's "big cottage" (the one with heat) that we inherited. I found it at a nonprofit's garage sale 30 years ago and my Mom needed a canister for sucking up spiders. The "little cottage," (no heat) that my Mom used to rent until she got tired of being a landlord and sold it to me, has an old Kingston canister. It's like the blue one you'll see here:

https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/T ... D.cgi?1093

Keep scrolling down to the turquoise model--that the one she bought to replace the blue one at home. Both have scorch marks. The blue one, from when a tenant used it to suck up fireplace ashes (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) ad the bag caught fire. The turquoise one, from when I welded a caster attachment point back on.

I like products that were shaped by prominent industrial designers. We did not fully appreciate how they made our daily environment look cool. I have a Philco Model 370 chairside console that bears a decal noting that it was designed by Norman Bel Geddes. Raymond Loewy designed all manner of familiar objects. Harley Earl, Virgil Exner, and Bill Mitchell were all around us. I eat off plates designed by Russell Wright every day. They came with the "big cottage" when my parents bought it and were extras that were passed down to me when I had my first apartment. Turns out they're collectibles. Why? Because they were well designed.

Let's post this before I get fumble-fingered again.

Chris Campbell

[William]

Thanks for the link, Chris. I have heard of Kingston, looked at photos, but seeing the real thing is rare. In the link it is stated that the Kingston has more suction than the Electrolux model 30. You have both, is that true? I would guess it is as the model 30 is not overly powerful.

Bill

[TC Chris]

Thanks for the link, Chris. I have heard of Kingston, looked at photos, but seeing the real thing is rare. In the link it is stated that the Kingston has more suction than the Electrolux model 30. You have both, is that true? I would guess it is as the model 30 is not overly powerful.

Bill

Agreed! The Electrolux surprised me with its relatively weak power.

I used the Kingston (modern turquoise model), with a Venturi-effect sprayer device that came with it, to do some paint repairs on the '60 Plymouth an d '61 Chevy when I was a kid. Acrylic lacquer and lots of thinner. I can imagine Greg wincing already. Add some wet sanding and rubbing compound and the effect was acceptable.

Chris Campbell

[William]

I'm not sure I understand, Chris, do you still have the Kingston?

Bill

[TC Chris]

Oh yeah, both of them.

Chris Campbell

[19&41]

Was Kingston a house brand or the actual manufacturer?

[William]

I'm not totally sure, Rex. Chris might be able to answer better than I, but I believe Kingston was an actual brand, but they also made vacuums for stores using the store brand name like Gambles which is Coronado.

Bill