Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Its Passing Leaves a Vacuum

On a non-cat subject (it happens now and then, even in the Cosy Apartment), I must say ‘good-bye’ to a long-time acquaintance.


My vacuum-cleaner has been serving me well for decades. I inherited it, and believe it to be about forty years old. It is a Kenmore, which I think was the house-brand of the late, lamented Simpson Sears (latterly, just Sears) chain; though more expensive than its rival, Eaton’s, Simpson Sears was a Canadian institution, and is missed; I will miss my Kenmore vacuum-cleaner, as well.


It was called a Whispertone. This name was misleading in its old age; it generated a great deal of noise as it struggled to fulfill its duties. The horrendously loud ‘power-head’ had to be repaired a few years ago, and gave more service, until, at last, it died. The main body of the machine continued to work well until just recently. The suction power is nearly gone now.


I have purchased a new vacuum-cleaner, a Miele. I think it is from Germany so, if that country’s reputation for quality is even a fraction of what it was, my new machine should last for a while. It may not keep going for another forty years, but I hope it lasts the rest of my life. That way, if I am cremated, they can have it standing by, in case someone drops the urn.


The vacuum-cleaner shop to which I resorted could have installed a used motor in my Kenmore (which are no longer produced) if they had one in stock, but that probably would not have lasted as long as a new machine, and likely would have cost half as much. The Miele was very expensive - at least relative to my resources - and it was on sale at a reduced price at that. While it was refreshing to pay large amounts of money to someone who isn’t a veterinary, it is rather like being hit on the left side of the face instead of the right: a change of direction but involving the same degree of pain. Besides, with Renn going to the hospital for his dental next week, my right side will resume its punishment soon enough.


The Kenmore’s retirement will mean that only two other appliances from the 1980s remain in service with me: my deep-freeze and my micro-wave oven. It’s not just the passing of former celebrities or the ending of traditions that mark one’s increasing age: the demise of ordinary, dependable tools and household implements lets one know that youth has long ago fled. And when I start referring to the Miele as a ‘whipper-snapper’, it will have been confirmed.


22 comments:

  1. You know you already think of it as a young whipper- snapper! There is no time to come about needed. It's there already.

    I enjoyed every word here as my thoughts toward some of my aged appliances are similar. My fridge and the stove gave up the ghost within a week of one another. They couldn't bear to be parted so...the stove silently went the way of the fridge and rejoined it on the other side. Happy again. The dryer followed a month later and there was joy in Kitchen Afterworld thereafter for the familial trio.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess I’d better look to my micro-wave oven and deep-freeze, in that case…

      Delete
    2. Sadness will visit the Household again, mark my words.

      Delete
  2. I understand being attached to one's household appliances, and when they give up the ghost, it's sorta sad. The Hubby and I purchased an Oreck vacuum when Chuck and Angel were kittens, and it's still going strong. Where we diverge from the usual household, is that we don't have wall-to wall carpeting; hardwood floors everywhere, with only a few throw rugs. Angel and Chuck hated the vacuum; Da Boyz are curious about the noise but aren't afraid, and Sweetie just steps out of the way; this is proof that her hearing is pretty much non-existant.
    Enjoy your new machine; sounds like a sturdy beast.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think they are installing bare floors in any vacant apartments in my building. I would have preferred that to carpeting in mine. I remember my Tungsten was dauntless when it came to the vacuum-cleaner; I would use an attachment to give her a massage.

      Delete
    2. Bare floors are not great, IMO, in adjoining housing of any kind. Easier to keep clean, of course, but FAR noisier. Carpet is great for absorbing noise in general; everything just echos without it.

      Delete
    3. Fortunately, my building has concrete floors and walls. The noise emanating from other apartments is minimal, if audible at all. I was lucky in my choice of abode. But certainly the carpets help absorb noise.

      Delete
  3. A vacuum that lasts forty years! I can see why you'd be sad to see it go. I'm betting they literally don't make 'em like that anymore.

    I think the oldest appliance we have is the 30+ year old refrigerator. It makes unsettling rumbling noises every now and then, but it still chugs along, keeping things cold.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Vacuum cleaners, that is an evil word in this house. Precious hates it so much I have to do 1/2 the small house at a time with doors closed to help cut the noise. As far as appliances go, nothing lasts the 20 years and more that things did. All seem to now fail too soon and at what a premium price. I wish you good luck with your new one, and hope you don't have to replace anymore appliances for a long while. Renn certainly doesn't have any fun to look forward to, but in the end he will be better with dental work behind him.

    ReplyDelete
  5. They sure don't make things the way they used to. Appliances you buy today certainly don't last as long as the ones we purchased years ago. My last vacuum had to be "retired" because I could no longer find the size of vacuum cleaner bags it used, and I had to get a new watch just because they stopped making the batteries for my old one. I think it's called "planned obsolescence."

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Kenmore brand was good! I inherited a Kenmore powermate vacuum and used that for years, only letting it go when I made the move from Halifax to my current city. It was 30 or so years old at the time, very heavy. But that powermate head worked like a charm!

    I've heard Miele vacuums are excellent (Dad and his wife have one, got it at Costco, I believe, some years ago). It should serve you well, or at least I hope it does.

    I'm holding my breath with regard to my own appliances; they're all over 20 years now. Probably the last of a decent line of appliances; I know none I buy in the future will last even half that long. Which is a sad commentary on our disposable, wasteful culture.

    Best of luck to Renn next week; we'll have fingers and paws crossed that all goes well for him. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have a Miele too. Mine is about 5 years old now and I have been very pleased with it's performance. Hopefully it will go on for many years but appliances just don't last like they used to. Ha! I sound like my gran talking now. We always laughed when she said that.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My 80s microwave burst into flames in about 2004. Since then I was pleased to replace it. The newer ones are about 20% of its weight and actually heat up food.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, that must have been dramatic! Twenty per cent of the weight is right: my micro-wave oven is as heavy as a Volkswagen Beetle, and probably fires off more radiation outside its confines than inside. But I'd feel bad about replacing it - at least until it too bursts into flames.

      Delete
  9. They don't make things like they used to. We tend to use things until they finally go. Our TV is from the 90s, and our oven and fridge are even older. We did have to get a new microwave about 2 years ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I forgot about my television set. It's not as old as the other old appliances; probably, like yours, from the 1990s. It has a picture tube, I know that. But since I use it only to watch movies once a week, it serves me well.

      Delete
  10. HaHa! Bless! AND...I'm still using my Mums
    old vacuum cleaner..it's a Hoover..I call
    it the J.Edgar..J Edgar Hoover..British
    joke..! :).
    Hang on 10~20~40~ Yes! It must be around
    50yrs old now..AND..still using the same
    electric..HeHe! :).

    Though like the owner..most things in my
    abode are old..! :).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fifty! Wow, that might be a record in these days.

      Delete
  11. have been offline for various sundry since FRYDAY; this post, as all of your posts that introduce humor; is great. While I shouldn't laugh, I did...at the vacuuming of your ashes....you could, save this canister and use it as your "urn" ... should you opt FOR the cremation route...rather like multi tasking :) ♥♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's not a bad idea; it'd probably save me a lot of money - not that it would matter to me by then...

      Delete
  12. Ah we miss Sears also. Kenmore was a dependable brand and if anything every gave you a problem you just took it in a in a second you had a new one. I still have a small cannister vacuum called a "Lets Clean." I was engaged in the early 80s and when the to-be-bride called it off I moved into a one room efficiency (in my converted building) and bought my little pal. 37 years we have been together and she still works well. I have had several vacs which were all hard for me to handle on our floors out of my wheelchair. I last year bought a Shop Vac and attached a 30' hose to a handle I had. Now I move it once and get the whole house. Works great on our Tile and Hardwood and hope yours does as well!

    ReplyDelete