I have special edition Royal Vaccum, I believe from 1989. It was custom labeled on the bag for Stark's Vacuum stores in Oregon. The machine is gorgeous. It has beautiful silk-screened metal wheel covers with the Royal Emblems that are perfect. I bought it years ago and restored it to look nearly new. Found OEM parts to make it new and restored the metal. I have only used it maybe 2 hours. I need to pair down on my stuff and haven't found a buyer. Would like a collector to buy it and cherish it. Neat Vacuums.
I use to use a Royal in a day care centre in a public school in Toronto. It was a MASSIVE size room - about the size of a small gymnasium and wall-to-wall carpet! I vacuumed that carpet 5 days a week. I took my time and did it in sections, took me about 2 hours each night. That's not including around 15-20 classrooms I vacuumed also 5 days a week. I was also used for cleaning rather offices in the schools... and libraries!! I use to walk around with spare belts in my back pocket. LOL. That Royal was a mid-1980's model and it was a noisy old relic but I beat the snot out of that Royal and it never failed me. Only parts I ever changed were belts (and a lot OF them!) and the occasional roller brush. It was a damn good machine!
Hi - yes, they can; however, a hose is awkward to use and, most importantly, does not have high cleaning power since the motor/fan design is that of a traditional upright vacuum and not that of a canister vacuum motor.
Among my vacuums, one of my favorites is my Royal Classic Edition model 9089. Its from 1989 and it runs like a top! When I first got it, it needed some tlc so I took it to my local vac shop and they cleaned it up, replaced the carbon brushes, put a new roller brush in and it runs like brand new. I love how the roller propels the vacuum across the floor. I'm sure it will last me many more years.
Just seeing this now. It's true - the Kirby is literally a copy of the Royal (they didn't copy the price, though -- yikes, that set you back a few $$ .....).
This is what I used to use from my earliest memory of vacuuming until I moved out of my mom's house in about 2000. I have still never found or used a better vacuum.
Royal is the best brand ever, my school has a 14" one just like the one in this video(except it has a shakeout bag), and the custodian that uses it takes really good care of it, my school also has another Royal, a model 1030, which is used for small clean ups during the day, and they have a Sanitaire, and it's used to clean the lower level classrooms and portables
Hi Dylan - Yes, Royal makes really good commercial vacuums. The model 1030 is the predecessor of the model 5130 shown in our video. Thanks for watching!
What a terrific review of a good solid vacuum by a real gentleman with a lot of knowledge. Too bad the Royal upright like this is no longer produced...
When my over-priced "Sears" plastic vac died, I was lucky to have the owner of the local janitorial supply direct me to this Royal machine. I've had it for well over 20 years with only minor repairs that I was able to do myself (wheels, belt). This vacuum is all about "cleaning" and NOT bells, whistles, and lights. As mentioned here, it is made of ALL metal not plastic and will not only last a lifetime, but for generations if maintained properly.
Hi - We've sold lots of Royals over the years for residential use (and, tons more for commercial use!) as Royal makes both residential and commercial models. The vacuums are essentially the same but the commercial models use longer 3-wire cords and, typically, reinforced outer bag assemblies. The Kirby is designed for home use; but, we have contract cleaners that use them commercially. When you own something, you can do with it as you like .... :-)
Great review! Royal and Kirby are my two favorite brands and nothing else comes closer to their performance (well maybe Sanitare) and reliability. Much better than the plastic 600+ bagless vacuum that "never lose suction" at big box stores. On another note am I the only one who likes it when the outer bag inlflates?
Both units are indicators of old-time "Americana" manufacturing. There are actually more efficient vacuums (a quality canister vacuum with a motorized brush, for example, has much higher suction/waterlift than a traditionally styled upright); however, Kirby and Royal represent top products in their category. Thanks for your comment (the industry jargon for an outer bag inflating or not inflating is "If it don't puff, it's jammed with stuff").
True enough -- very durable vacuum. That being said, we use a Sebo (German) upright in our house -- a long-lasting, quiet, efficient, well-engineered vacuum. There are a number of model choices; but, here is a link on our webpage to a model that I would recommend in place of the Royal metal upright. It is, in most respects, actually a better vacuum: etpetersen.com/product/sebo-essential-g1-g2-upright-vacuum-cleaners/
Loved the history about the company and the useful info about this upright model. I own one of these myself the 800 model, and it has been a great vacuum. I also have the royal power team canister vacuum and it is awesome except right now for the first time in close to 40 years, it's out of commission because the small section of cord that plugs into the tank and brings power to the settings in handle of cleaning head, is frayed, right where it comes out of the lid, the end without the plug. I hope the repairman can change our this piece easily but he said parts can be hard to find on these older vacuums.
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes -- they are excellent products. I suspect that, when you say you have a canister it is a cigar-shaped vacuum -- one of the best vacuums we've ever had in this industry.
@@keithpetersen8114 yes I have the burgundy Royal power team and I think I bought it around 1995ish. is there any vacuum that performs better than this Royal canister vac? In case mine must be replaced? I have pets, relentless horrible showers of crud from the ever larger sycamore trees that surround my house and tower over it unleashing their relentless deluge of toxic dust, powdery mildew, leaf fragments, pollen and other microscopic goat head shaped crud which results in allergy induced asthma. My canister vac would literally clean the air, walls ceiling, wood floors, carpet, tile upholstery, blinds and anything I could reach with that long hose, pole, head assembly and onboard attachments! l even used the round horsehair attachment on my long haired double coated dog! She thinks she's at the spa!
@@bookbeing Sure -- you could own a Miele C3 canister vacuum with a power brush -- you can see it here on our website: etpetersen.com/product/complete-c3-marin-wseb236/
My wife hates our Royal because it simply will not die and she wants a new one. 25 years, a handful of belts, 3 rollers and one squeaky wheel. Indestructible.. I'll go out and get her a nice new plastic piece of crap so she won't be embarrassed by a vacuum that is older than some of her friends, but the Royal stays.
You gave me a good grin at your comments. Yes -- durable, dependable machine, as you say. I understand her viewpoint. Consider a Sebo upright vacuum -- she'll love you for it and you will be getting a quality, German engineered-and-made product. You can see them here (the Automatic X is the most popular): etpetersen.com/residential-vacuums/sebo-vacuums/
I have heard rumors that the Royal metal line of upright vacuums has been discontinued.Is This true?Glad I have several of these vacuum cleaners-GREAT vacuums!!!!
Keith Petersen My mom use to have a all metal Royal upright yrs ago . I have to admit they will do a good job on carpeted areas ! I have a Kirby G5 it does well on carpet better then a Dyson . For surface areas a good canister will fine for those light jobs . For large carpeted areas nothing beats a good upright !
@@keithpetersen8114 Discontinuing these vacuums was STUPID-The shop where I live used to carry Royal.And some customers want them!They discontinued the BEST vacuum in the world!!!!That person should be FIRED-and these vacuums brought back!!!!
@@rexoliver7780 I agree as to Royal all-metal uprights being great vacuums. If you can get them re-instated, accolades to you. You'll likely have to be able to converse in Chinese, as the entire company was bought some years ago by a Chinese firm which owns a number of other old-American brands (Hoover, Oreck, etc.).
Royal is one of my very favorite vacuum cleaner brands. I personally own a Royal 4650 power tank, finished in a beautiful burgundy color with all accessories and electronic variable speed control; it's probably the best performing machine I have ever used, and certainly the most durable! I also own two extremely rare Royal 888 uprights, which both feature an integrated belt lifter and removable front nozzle, very similar to the Kirby design. I have several sets of original attachments, all finished in the classic powder blue, but alas, I have yet to find the hose converter that would allow them to be used on these machines. The removable nozzle Royals are extremely rare, so the attachment converter is very elusive to find.
Hi Joseph - Yes, the Royal tank was close to bullet proof and very efficient. Without getting your hopes up, it is possible that we have in stock one of the adaptors for which you are seeking. Give me a call (908-232-5723) next week (01/08/18) to remind me and I'll check. If I have one I'm happy to send it to you.
The only issue I have with some of my Royal uprights are the wheels are coming apart-The vac shop near me can't get replacements.Would love to find some!!!
Let us know the model number and what wheels you need (i.e., front, back, etc.) and I'll see if we have any stock. Late model Royals used phenolic wheels (like a bowling ball) and they were extremely durable. Old/older models used a different material and the wheels would tend to gradually chip and break down a bit.
It's original design -- goes back to the early 1900's -- a number of early vacuums looked much like the Royal. Hoover typically made strong motors -- sometimes a Hoover vacuum coming in to us for service is over 40 years of age and still running pretty well.
i remember those in the early 90s the school board used them ...used to like them because there cool looking ..wouldnt mind having a used one they run for a life time so i know there painless and would pay for itself
@@nightwolf883 True enough. As indicated, Royal splits hairs a bit by declaring the COMPANY to be in manufacturing since 1905 -- and, that info "Since 1905" was on their advertising for decades.
@Repair The Machine Most of the original metal uprights bore a strong similarity -- the old Hoovers were typically designed with the fan chamber horizontal in position whereas the Royals used a vertical design.
After watching this video, the Royal was my first choice. But it seems to be a bit too loud for me and it doesn't do well for title floors. I looked at the Miele Maverick but I read somewhere stating that they are not made in Germany anymore but in China. So therefore I question the quality of it. What would be some recommendations for an upright in 2017 for around $400?
Hi Mike - I'm wondering what you meant by "title floors" (I am presuming a typo) - hard floors? A Sebo Felix is great for bare floors; but, presuming you have carpet as well, it would exceed your $400 price point. If you are focused on an upright around $400 buy a Miele Maverick or, if you can find a Twist, it would be the same vacuum and be less money. Don't worry about the quality - it is 100% there!
I have about 70% carpet and 30% title floors. I really wish your shop was located close to me and not thousands of miles away. None of the vacuum shops around my area are any good. Thanks Keith! I'll probably leaning towards the Miele.
I have two Royals. A model 880, and a model 608. I love my 608 more though, it's more vintage and sounds quieter. I'll check the serial number and put it in the comments, maybe you could date it for me.
Hi Jeremiah -- the 880 was never my favorite model -- it likely sounds noisier because the motor is bigger. Today, as I write this 9/26/19, sadly, the Royal all-metal vacuum line has been -- as of some months back -- been discontinued. End of an era ...... P.S. I years ago threw out all my original Royal binders/manuals -- I would have no way of dating by serial number. Besides, if my wife found out I was a serial dater she would hit the roof :-)
@@keithpetersen8114 lol thanks for the info! My 608 is my favorite, you can see a test video on my channel. I used the hose, emptied the contents of an electrolux bag, little did i know, about the pieces of metal, and the coins! But it's still running strong!!
Hi there. Love your videos. I recently tracked down a Royal Blue Model 880 circa 1982 in near mint condition and I'm seriously considering to buy it. Would it be fair to say that those models are as excellent as the others? And does anybody know if the 880 Model comes with the inner filter bags?
Hi - glad you like the videos. An 880 was a top-of-the-line residential model at that time. It is a good vacuum although the late-generation units are considerably more powerful. It should have a paper disposable bag system. Hope this helps!
+Rossana Motta If I may answer that, Rossana, I wouldn't recommend it. I have used mine on floors but it will scatter a lot of dirt because of the roller brush. If you lower the brush too far down, you can possibly damage the floor. I adjust mine a certain way to cope, but if you have mostly floors, I wouldn't recommend one. Now, if you have mostly carpet, large rugs and little flooring, I highly recommend them.
+Rossana Motta Hi - Matt is right - most uprights due to the action of the revolving brush are not good choices for bare floors. If you like an upright, the best upright for bare floors is the Sebo Felix - it is a German upright and does bare floors as well as it does carpets - etpetersen.com/index.php/residential-vacuums/sebo-vacuums/ and if you scroll down on that page there is a video showing the Felix.
+Matt Jones Thank you Matt and Keith. Few months ago I actually bought a Riccar Supralite just for this very reason, that now I have wall to wall carpet but in the future I would like to be somewhere without carpet. The Riccar supralite has a setting for non carpeted floors where the brush does not roll so it will work for any type of flooring. Thanks again for your replies, I appreciate :)
You really need to find the rare straight-suction Royal metal upright, something like either the 311 Heavy Duty Commercial or the Electro-Hygiene (2-)230.
Hey Keith - Appreciate your videos. I have the 14" metal Royal and was wondering if it is possible to hook a hose to the front in order to operate brush attachments. I thought I saw somewhere this was once an option. Thanks!
Hi -- just seeing this now. Royal made a hose to attach to the front -- we never recommended it -- it's a bit awkward to hook up and use and it doesn't generate a lot of suction.
Hi - the filtration is simply not that of a Miele. The Royal is a high-speed, durable commercial upright vacuum for those needing such an application. If you are considering a unit for home use - and need excellent filtration - Miele would be a/the first choice. Good alternate choices are Sebo and Lindhaus (you can see our videos on these products or visit our website to see them there - www.etpetersen.com
Lawnboy it is. Lawnboy today, of course, is dead and gone. Toro bought Lawnboy and then discontinued the 2-stroke engines and then, finally, discontinued the line, as such. I personally own a 21-inch push commercial Lawnboy mower -- it basically will never wear out.
I have used different makes of vacuum cleaners. Nothing compares with the Royal commercial all metal VC. The round front cover of my machine was missing and I cannot buy a replacement because it was discontinued!!!! I have ti buy a new machine. But it's discontinued. Why do they stop making such a good product?
Hi -- make it easy on yourself -- put a piece of cardboard over the front opening and secure it with duct tape. You can remove and reinstall it when it is time to replace the belt.
@@keithpetersen8114 Thank you so much. When I brought the Royal Commercial vacuum cleaner to a store for repair the store owner said because the front cover was missing there was no suction power left and the machine was useless. I was very disappointed but still kept the machine. Now I am going to do what you have told me.
@@DDDrew8 Shop around online and you may be able to find a cover for it. Sometimes parts show up on eBay, too. I bought a roller brush for mine not too long ago.
Hey Keith, I’m about to buy a used Royal RY8300. Do you know what year this one was made? I’m having a hard time finding product info. Also, do you still sell replacement parts for it? If so I’ll buy them from your shop. Either way, thanks for the video.
Hi -- I cannot recall the manufacturing date -- a "shoot-from-the-hip" is 20 years. We provide whatever parts are still available -- i.e., bags, belts, revolving brushes, etc. You're welcome for the video!
Hi Ryan - The Royal Company is the oldest manufacturer of vacuum cleaners in the world - P.A. Geier Co. in 1902. The Kirby, in that respect, is a later "copy".
Hi - I cannot say when the 1st one actually rolled off of an assembly line with the name "Royal" on it; but, the parent company, as I understand it - P.A. Geier - started in 1902. We have been carrying this product line since the 1960's .....
P. A. Geier itself was formed in 1895, and in 1905 they made the first Royal vacuum, but in the form of a hand pumper. It wasn't until 1910 that the first electric Royal upright cleaner was manufactured.
Yes, the older Kirby models are similar in weight to the Royal vacuums (although the old-older Royals are still a bit lighter). The later/current Kirby models (i.e., self-propelled) are drastically heavier than the Royals - we've actually taken trade-ins on the self-propelled models where the lady customer said she can't use the vacuum because it is heavy to even remove from the closet and literally impossible for her to carry upstairs, etc. Too heavy, and Kirby still makes them the same way/weight.
Then worst thing about Kirby's is the hyperinflated prices and pushy salesmen. They tried to give me the hard sell, the sad story and were kind of shocked when I brought out a Kirby Sentria I got from a trash out cleaning a foreclosed home. Even so they STILL tried to sell me a vacuum!
You're welcome. As long as the parts are available we can provide them to you. I suggest you phone here - 908-232-5723 - and talk to Stan who runs the vacuum service division.
I haven't seen you put anything out on the Riccar/Simplicity Tandem Air series. Do you not think they're the unique exception of an American made vacuum being better than the Sebo, Miele, or Lindhaus counterparts?
+Nathan Evaristo Pereda Hi Nathan - Thanks for your comment. We are a Simplicity Dealer and feel that they make a decent line of equipment; however, while the Simplicity/Riccar upright vacuums are solidly made they don't achieve the engineering level of the German and Italian machines. The Tandem Air units had some substantial issues early on and I recall several business associates telling me that, in their facilities, those units were "nailed to the floor." Tacony is a great company with which to do business, and the Simplicity/Riccar machines are, overall, fairly solid choices.
I see. Do you think that they have superior carpet cleaning for the unfortunately limited time that they work, according at least to their engineering?
Hi -- I cannot really say. The Royal Company is the parent company of Dirt Devil. The company has been owned by a Chinese firm for quite some years. I surmise that the all-metal (Royal) line was terminated due to not having enough volume of business. Only my thoughts.
@@keithpetersen8114 that true I know this the new metal Royals vacuums where made in China it was September 2018 they quit making them . Did you have few customers by metal Royal vacuums back in 2018?
@@doorzzz1 I think the Royal Commercial business dropped off a lot because many/most commercial customers had some years back switched to upright vacuums with hose & accessories onboard.
@@keithpetersen8114 oh I see your where saying a lot of people buy upright vacuums with all the hose attachments some Royal vacuums didn't have hose attachments also a lot of people buy plastic upright vacuums from Big Box store
Hi Eric -- It could be bought with a zipper and an internal paper disposable bag; or, as a shakeout bag. We haven't sold a Royal with a shakeout bag for well over 30 years -- I cannot recall whether it had a zipper or a slide clasp across the top. It is now pretty much a moot point as Royal has just decided to continue all the metal upright vacuums ... :-( An era comes to an end.
Nice Triumph :-) Upright vacuums are not typically the best/proper machines for cleaning hard surfaces. This Royal could be used for that type of cleaning - it could be adjusted up a bit so as not to damage any hard surface; however, it will not clean optimally in this circumstance. If you are looking for a quality upright and also wish to use it for bare floor cleaning, the Sebo Felix is the best choice for that - here is a video we made showing the Felix: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kL06NOb72PgI.html hope this helps!
If I may answer that: No, I wouldn't recommend it. I own a Royal upright, and while you can run it across floors, they aren't designed for them. I use mine mainly for the area rugs in the house. If you mostly have hard surface floors, I'd consider getting another brand.
The AiRider is a Chinese-type vacuum that uses a principle that Hoover utilized 35 years ago - the exhaust air is directed out the underside of the vacuum to provide a cushion of air on which the vacuum then floats. A compact Miele canister provides immeasurably more quality, considerably more efficiency and an ease-of-use design that would - in a head to head comparison - be a clear winner. Here is a link to the Miele (scroll down to see the video on "C2 or C3 Miele"): etpetersen.com/index.php/residential-vacuums/miele-vacuums-hepa/
Sorry -- we do not ship outside of the continental USA. In addition, within the last six months Royal -- after 115 years of making all-metal vacuums -- has stopped making these metal uprights. Game over ...
@@alihapali Hi -- So sorry -- we've been out for some months, and my surmisal is that, with the scramble that then occurred in the marketplace, the cupboard is now bare. I would strongly suggest a Sebo (German) upright vacuum.
They sure do; although, it is actually the other way around. Royal is the oldest manufacturer of vacuums in the world - a company called P.A. Geier Co from 1905. Kirby, if you will, is a copy of the Royal.
Hi -- It is actually, as upright vacuums go, not as heavy as many others. It is an aluminum alloy which is fairly lightweight. The later generation models had such an effective brushing action that they would, on many carpet types, virtually walk themselves across the carpet. However, it is today a bit of a moot point as the company -- after over 100 years of manufacturing this series of vacuum -- has discontinued production of metal uprights.
