Mike,
If this is leading to a one-sided judgement call as to who's insight is worthy to be heard, how can you presume to make a spot-on determination when you know extremely little about me? We haven't shared much here. The same as any other poster on the site, I am just a name with no face espousing what I claim to have come to know. Because I do believe in the right of what I say, I do make it a rule to use my real name -- Venson Thomas -- instead of an online monicker so there's never need to doubt about who said what and when when time comes to answer.
Most unfortunately, and believe me I could have used the help, you were not there when I too put in my share of time in sweeping, mopping and vacuum pushing plus even breakfast, lunch and dinner prep for pay -- and good pay too I must say. And I made my money off knowing what effective path to follow without instruction or prompting in household and commercial situations. I never got the equivalent of a Purple Heart for what I see as exemplary effort but if need arises I'd be more than happy to submit a picture of the hernia scar I got at sweet sixteen from swinging a mop in a school where I worked if that will raise me in your estimation.
But all things considered, you know the best part of my experience is having been taught early on that the show can still go on even without aid of a vacuum cleaner, fancy devices and expensive cleaning potions. Due to good old Aunt Lucy, I subsequently became able to do the job on windows without having to run to the store for Windex, put a glow on brass with lemon juice and salt and can even whip up my own mayonnaise. Sorry folks, I'm not lookiing for work but am highly pleased with what I've learned and am confident in the offering of it.
I would have it made clear that just because I may collect vacuums and/or buy them as suits my feeling in a given moment, there's no neccessity to assume that I am a frivolous person or am inclined to regard them as toys OR use them for play. Vacuums have been a long time in my realm of interest and I take the whole thing -- design, effectiveness and usability -- quite seriously. The world is full of people with bright ideas and notions with nothing to back them up. That being so, I have always felt I'd better know what I'm talking about if I'm going to go around being "helpful". Thus I long ago decided to put my money where my mouth is. The best way to do that is to get stuff in the house and try it for myself. Yes, I have vacuums old and new but the new ones have been put through their paces. And guess what? I bear the expense of the learning adventure all by myself. No one is giving me anything and despite the expense it takes to keep up with what's going on, my advice comes free and it's pretty good.
My Nilfisk 80 was employed here at the office for at least two good years and put to all sorts of tasks which it met quite well. At the end of that time it was given, not sold, to a laundry near my home. Though the user had a hard time grasping, "What goes in must come out," the worst of the machine's problem was a worn power cord.
Having been lucky to see not a lot but a little as far away as Turkey, I found Nilfisk in use in a good number of hotels and other venues. The power nozzle was not a popular item there nor was plush carpeting. Though I have never claimed the Nilfisk to be the be all, end all vacuum, I found no place where the straight sucton Nilfisk did not provide a good result. Uprights are very nice but life can and does go on without them. I am happy with that attitude.
In any event, if you do not share that feeling I will in no way be or feel diminished by that and am thoroughly accepting of your right and privilege to feel so. However, I do take umbrage at opinion base on assumption where I'm concerned. I was raised to know that this was a highly improper thing to do and therefore expect that others recognize the same in my regard.
Thanks,
Venson
