Colleagues,
Please see message from Angela McGrew below r.e. Nilfisk vacuums and
variable speed capability.
Anne Peranteau

-----Original Message-----
From: Katherine Beery
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 2:39 PM
To: Anne Peranteau
Subject: FW: Vacuum


Anne,
I'm just passing along some information you may want to tuck away for
the inevitable time when our vacuum reaches "maturity".  Please forgive
the forward if you already have this information. Katherine

-----Original Message-----
From: Registrars Committee of the AAM [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Ashley McGrew
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 1:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Vacuum


The following comes from
Angela McGrew
Associate Objects Conservator
Autrey National Center
Los Angeles CA

Nilfisk is no longer doing the variable speed control units that turn
all the way down because their new and improved vacuum motors burn them
out. They feel that their clientele want more, not less power.  I have
called and written to complain and the solution they offered is to a)
try opening all the bleed valves or to b)  drill holes in the vacuum.
The suction is still too high with the bleed valves all the way open and
I am not going to take a drill to a $1000 vacuum.  They also offered to
custom build an old variable speed control unit with some parts they
have left over, and that maybe they have 4 or 5 old units laying around.
I have been waiting since August for a reply from them about a better
solution.  The reps you have to talk to are Cory or Brenda - (I don't
have the last names handy, Brenda's extension is x124 and I think Cory's
last name is Lukenbach).  They are proud of having a "museum kit"
available, but they don't understand that the variable speed control is
a huge issue.  Our museum is currently involved in a collections move
where someone spends all day just surface cleaning artifacts with the
vacuum, and I'm not sure what we'll do when the rheostats or old motors
die on our two vacuums.  The very least we need from them would be for
their service department to be willing or able to service the old
rheostats and/or to provide documentation on how it's done so it can be
sent out to be done by a local electrician.  I suggested this, too, in a
letter.  When I called last year they acted as if I was the first person
to complain.  They won't be making any changes unless they know what
museums really want.

Please write or call:

Nilfisk Advance America, Inc.
300 Technology Drive
Malvern, PA 19355-1315

1-800-NILFISK


Even if there is something better out there we don't want our current
Nilfisk vacuums to become obsolete.



T. Ashley McGrew
Lead Preparator
J. Paul Getty Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA  90049-1687
Phone 310-440-6424
Fax 310-440-7741
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>>> [log in to unmask] 02/13/06 2:06 PM >>>
We just bought a Nilfisk GM 80 HEPA Vacuum with variable speed control.
However, we found that even on the lowest setting the vacuum suction is
still almost as powerful as a regular vacuum. Has anyone used this
product, and if so with what results? Is there a different speed control
that needs to be put on it? Or do you know of a better/different vacuum
we should be using instead? We were hoping to use this on delicate
materials and we think the suction is to high. We bought it from a
company called Sylvane, if that matters, but it appears to be the exact
same vacuum that is found in Gaylord and University products. Any
information you can offer is greatly appreciated.



Mandy Langfald
Curator of Collection
Wyoming State Museum
307-777-7033
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