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You May Want To Suck It Up And Keep That Old Vacuum

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By MARK HETTS Universal Press Syndicate

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 25, 2008

Dear Mr. HandyPerson,

I have a Silver King vacuum with no attachments. The only thing I have been able to find out is that it was made before 1987. The machine works well, but I need the hose and some attachments. Could you tell me where I might find a hose that would fit?

No Name,

No Address

Dear No Name,

You could sort through Mr. HandyPerson's bodacious stash of vacuum cleaner parts and accessories up in the attic here in San Francisco, and it's virtually certain we could find something that fits (or could be made to fit). Of course, for the airfare, you could probably buy three or four new vacuums.

The best thing to do is to track down a local vacuum cleaner repair business that has (or can order) parts. The first thing you need to find out before putting any money into this project is if replacement bags are still made for that model of vacuum. Mr. HP has had to discard at least two perfectly good vacuum cleaners because proper bags were no longer available, and he wasn't able to jury-rig any similar bags to fit.

That's a problem with collecting old vacuum cleaners, which are often considerably better built than newer ones. Mr. HP's Electrolux tank-style vacuum (built like a tank, too) is about his age, pushing 60, and bags are still available. At this point, even if he couldn't find replacement bags, these are simple enough in design that he could modify, glue or tape together similar bags to fit, and he would do that because he now considers the old vacuum similarly to his rescued cats - keepers. He suspects that somehow word got out among old vacuum cleaners (the way he suspects it got out among stray cats) that Mr. HP was a soft touch, as vacuums turn up on the streets around his home with a regularity that seems to rule out mere chance.

He's been cleaning up and fixing serviceable tank and upright vacuums for years, given dozens away to friends, and still has six or eight around the house, scattered through all four floors.

Come to think of it, the connection between stray cats and the need for handy vacuum cleaners is not, in practical terms, unrelated or unwelcome.

But if replacement bags are still available, then the repair shop can probably help jigger together a hose and attachment brushes, etc. Many accessories are interchangeable, with dozens of different machines and hoses, and even unusually configured hose-attachment mechanisms can often be jury-rigged with some duct tape or pipe clamps, as Mr. knows only too well. If the repair shop people are like the repairman Mr. HandyPerson has patronized for years, they will accept the rehabilitation of your old Silver King as an enjoyable challenge. If not, they will still be able to help you figure out if it makes sense to proceed or not. Good luck.

Dear Mr. HandyPerson,

I enjoyed your column about "merging two households." If you had lived in Sarasota, it would have been easier for you.

Our Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Sarasota operates a home-improvement-furniture store using donated building materials and used and new furniture. We would have sent our truck to your home and taken away all your excess building materials, tools and furniture at no charge. Our profits from those two enterprises help fund our building and home-improvement programs.

However, don't kick yourself. I checked the Web site, and the San Francisco/Marin County Habitat for Humanity affiliate apparently doesn't have that type of facility.

Nevertheless, your readers in other areas faced with downsizing or merging homes (or major renovations) may want to check with their local Habitat organization to see if it will take excess building supplies and furniture off their hands. It beats paying refuse collection/landfill dumping fees. Good luck in your new digs.

Charlie

Osprey

Dear Charlie,

Thanks for the good wishes. And yes indeed, people in other locales should check with local Habitat affiliates (and if they don't have a local affiliate, should consider starting one!).

Mr. HP was consoled that at least his usable building supplies ended up eventually going to Habitat for Humanity (via Building RE-sources, a supplier to them and to other community groups).

Had he been in Sarasota, Mr. HP could also have avoided near-freezing February rains while moving, too. But oh well.

Share your home repair problems, interesting questions, funny experiences and useful tips by writing to Mr. HandyPerson, c/o Universal Press Syndicate, 4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111.

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