Thread Number: 76434  /  Tag: Small Appliances
Interstate Compact vacuum
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Post# 1002835   8/7/2018 at 12:07 (2,060 days old) by economagic (Durham, NC)        

Fascinating! I discovered this site while scouring the web for service information on the Subject vacuum sweeper. Anybody know how to split the case? (Sorry, vintage VW terminology, but what else?) I bought this one on eBay (early 50s model as wheels on rear only; maybe a C4), "works but needs cleaning up." To make sure everything is clean and safe it is necessary to separate the upper and lower shells. A long screw from underneath secures the front, but that does not create any play between the shells. Info on these machines is scarce, and my local sweeper/sewing machine guy is a total asshole.




Post# 1002837 , Reply# 1   8/7/2018 at 12:25 (2,060 days old) by countryford (Phoenix, AZ)        

countryford's profile picture
Welcome to this site. I can't answer too much about the vacuum, but I will add this. We have a sister site that is for vacuum people. They might be able to assist more. It is www.vacuumland.org...


Post# 1002840 , Reply# 2   8/7/2018 at 12:44 (2,060 days old) by economagic (Durham, NC)        

Thanks, Countryford. Looks good, and I'll explore it shortly.

Post# 1002841 , Reply# 3   8/7/2018 at 12:54 (2,060 days old) by luxflairguy (Wilmington NC)        

There are two more screws inside the rear wheel housings.  It's easy to pull the cotter pin out of the axle and remove the axle and wheels.  The screws are exposed at this point.  You can now pull the two shell halves apart!  In replacing the shell halves make sure you don't pinch the bumper or it's  If the bumper comes off with one half of the shell, not to worry:  universal!  Greg


Post# 1002843 , Reply# 4   8/7/2018 at 13:35 (2,060 days old) by economagic (Durham, NC)        

AAACCKKKK! How obvious! Clever, those guys at Hughes Aviation, despite all their clever misteaks.

Post# 1002848 , Reply# 5   8/7/2018 at 15:47 (2,060 days old) by economagic (Durham, NC)        

To luxflairguy: YES! I had noted the wheels and the clips, figured that was one area I didn't have to deal with for the moment. I wonder how long it would have taken me to realize that there had to be fasteners (too solid to be just a "tab-and-slot") and that the only place they COULD be was under (over) the wheels.

Getting the electrics out of the way (the cord could be original; the grommet certainly was) enabled a first cleaning with a hose nozzle, dishwashing liquid, and brushes. It still has a bit of "old dirt" smell, but that worked well enough to justify further and more sophisticated cleaning. The chrome parts, which I had assumed were rusted through, are almost as new except for some minor scrapes on the switch actuator.

This unit isn't really restorable unless somebody is reproducing the decals (70% gone before washing), and the original wrinkle finish is in poor shape and covered with drips and spatters of at least two colors of oil-base paint. I'll probably mask the chrome and give it a coat of good spray paint. But I bought it not as a collectible but as a first-class household tool. One that had belonged to my grandmother is long gone. In the year between the time I first looked on eBay and the time I bought this one for $50 (complete), prices had soared.

Again, my thanks.



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