A Face In the Crowd
How long have you been repairing vacuums? I've been at this location for 20 years, but repairing vacuums for 14. I had a salvage store here before.
How many repairs a day? On average, I'd guess about 20.
In your professional opinion, what are the best vacuums? The standard Eureka or Hoover. They seem to hold up the best. The new ones are all plastic and are never meant to be repaired. The bagless types stop up a lot. On the older models, the trash goes straight to the bag, avoiding the problem.
What do you most commonly excavate from vacuums brought in for repairs? Socks, bits of curtains and belts.
Words to live by? (pointing to sign) I made that up a while back for all the hangers-out that want to bum something. I just can't help everybody out: 'You can eat when I eat, you can drink when I drink, you can smoke when I smoke, but otherwise the answer is no.' I try to help out the kids around here by giving them a soda or paying them for a little work. I tell 'em to do good in school and work for their money. I used to give out $2 bills on report card day if they made good grades, but now the cards go straight home. I'd have a good crowd on report card day. Now I just encourage them to work hard and do the right thing.
Photo by ERIC ENGLAND
