Antique Built-In Vacuum: Arco Wand Model 341 from 1915

[@if333]

This came from my house, my wife and I had quite the time getting it out of the basement! Thanks for picking it up, Owen. It's really cool to see it up and running. That motor startup and sound is great. We are renovating our kitchen and dining room and I just ran across the old iron vacuum pipes in the wall. Just like you say they must have been installed at the time of construction because they are bricked into the foundation walls along with the radiator plumbing.

[@brightwoodhouse928]

If you have any accessories tucked away (including any keys for turning it on ) and want to pass them to a good home, let me know! My system has a keyed on/off electrical junction next to every hose port throughout my house.

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Fascinating piece of machinery! Thanks for sharing it with us!

[@brightwoodhouse928]

I have an untouched one in my basement, belt driven 3/4 hp two bucket setup. Arco Motor is 1750 rpm.

[@mauveezofficial6128]

You should do a video on that!

[@owenperkins]

Oh cool!! I've got some literature on your machine that I will have to share in a video. Have you attempted to see if it runs?

[@brightwoodhouse928]

@@owenperkins how can we get in touch with each other? Cleveland oh here…

[@owenperkins]

@@brightwoodhouse928 send me an email, [e-mail]

[@vacuumarsenal]

Even if a modern central vacuum system will completely outperform this one, I still find it remarkable that at over 100 years old it still has at least some power to be usable as a vacuum cleaner. I honestly wasn't expecting it to move as much air or have that much suction as you demonstrated when you turned it on. Infact I believe this is more powerful than some dyson handhelds hahahaha.

[@rexoliver7780]

That Arco vacuum cleaner is one BEAUTIFUL peice of equipment! The displacement pump is still used today in some truckmount carpet cleaning machines.The Roots pump is turned by a gas or diesel engine-I tried one that has a 32Hp Kubota Diesel-the suction and and airflow is more than any home central or portable vacuum.And these Roots pumps started out a superchargers for WW2 vintage high altitude bomber plane engines.Used before turbochargers.I have seen repusion-induction motors used on some Delta Unisaw tablesaws-always fun to watch thaose motors start!They were like 2hp.If you had to-you could get a 1140RPM modern induction motor at half hp.Grainger would have them under their "Dayton" brand.1150RPM induction motors are very common.1750 is the most-then 3450rpm.

[@mauveezofficial6128]

I’ve been excited for this!

[@kfl611]

I love it ! They sure don't manufacture them like this any more.

[@geffencompanies]

I think I have one of the first models that predate the machine in your video. I acquired the house about one year ago and the city believes the house was built in 1890. It does have the two bucket system and an eight or 10 inch belt drive. I would love to talk to you about potentially getting my Arco wand working again. Is it possible for us to speak somehow?

[@owenperkins]

I would love to hear more about your system! Send me an email, [e-mail]. Thank you for watching!

[@geffencompanies]

@@owenperkins I emailed you a photo. Let me know if you want any other photos or FaceTime perhaps. I was thinking about finding a new motor and belts just to see what happens but after looking at your video I think it would be much cooler to get original equipment. There is an outlet for vacuuming the basement and there are three living floors above but I haven’t seen any of the outlets upstairs. Most likely got covered over at some point.

[@klutz68]

i have one of these , took a lot of effort to locate one , tbe lady who i got it from had tbe hose & attachments , i had her cut tbe ends off tbat hose , i use a plastic vacuum hose , a 50’ hose , tbe unit isn’t as powerful as a new one , but tbe novelty factor is thru the roof , im toying to relocate it from tbe basement to the entry hall of my rented , fully restored ( i restored it ) 1913 apartment , if i had tbe space , i too would collect these rare pieces

[@electroluxlad]

Can you make a video of your whole entire collection all in your shop :-)

[@oledcrt]

That vintage dirt might fetch some good cash on eBay

[@aaaaeeeeffffeeeekkkkssss]

It's not even vintage, it's antique!

[@joshuaryanferguson3702]

that thing looks like it packs a punch when it comes to vacuuming carpet or whatever they call it

[@captain150]

Those patent dates are so cool. '95, '98, '03. Of course my mind goes to 1995, 1998 and 2003, but obviously it means 1895, 1898 and 1903.

[@Gagesvids1]

I wonder if the Inter... is actually meant to be "Intermittent" as in "Intermittent duty" and they just didn't have enough room on the nameplate to stamp the full thing. It's quite possible the motor did make the full 1/2 horsepower but was only rated to run continuously for 30 or so minutes, giving it a sort of duty cycle like welders have. Seems kind of weird to do that on something that would likely be running for hours as the poor maid desperately tried to clean the house with it, but that might just be lost to history at this point.

[@VacMaster2020]

Very cool nice Machine

[@WJCTechyman]

Interesting machine, I saw the American Vacuum company website and the machines are similar in configuration as well as portable models but belt driven. The other machines I know of that use a Roots type blower are the gas powered truck-mount carpet cleaning systems. The engines in those are typically Kohler or Honda V-twin machines rated at roughly 20+ horsepower. Not dissimilar to what is in my garden tractors.

[@JamesABeckHouse]

We have what looks like the same exact unit in our house. Any idea where we could find replacement inlet caps? (If that’s what they are called) We are missing most of them :(

[@owenperkins]

The exact inlet caps are going to be quite difficult to find, as they have not been made in 100 years. I have used Spencer Turbine inlets (round) and modern residential central vac inlets (rectangular) at different times. Both might require a little careful surgery but this can usually be done in a way that the inlet plate covers it.

[@JamesABeckHouse]

@owenperkins thanks we just posted a video on our channel if you're interested in seeing it our top ten house features. Thanks for the info

[@SuperVstech]

I have acquired a belt drive model… any interest in one?

[@owenperkins]

Possibly. I would love to see pictures/video of it!

[@SuperVstech]

@@owenperkins email?

[@owenperkins]

@@SuperVstech [e-mail]