Looking for: Elgee Billy Goat like vacuum

[deltaphisig]

Need the experts help on this one. I have looked intermittently over the years and have never come up with anything.

My father had a large gas powered vacuum when I was growing up in the 80s. Even then it was old and powered by what I think was a 1960s or 70s B&S gas engine. It looked similar to what Elgee PowerVacs look like today except I seem to remember the housing being made out of something like aircrete. and the impeller housing was vertical. He said it was originally for vacuuming warehouses and he had repurposed it for vacuuming leaves in the yard. TIA for any info!

 

[PCustoms]

What's wrong with a normal yard vacuum?

 

[deltaphisig]

because as I get older nostalgia means more and more

 

[PCustoms]

because as I get older nostalgia means more and more

So you actually want a recommendation on a 40+ year old piece of yard equipment?

Can't help there

 

[Roberts210]

Good luck DPS. Somebody here has to have knowledge of the machine you are describing. Don't give up!

 

[cvairwerks]

Like here:

Billy Goat | Leaf & Litter Vacuums

Explore Billy Goat's specialty turf care products for effective cleanup in residential, commercial, and municipal spaces. Find your local dealer for top-notch sales and service support.

www.billygoat.com

 

[PCustoms]

Like here:

Billy Goat | Leaf & Litter Vacuums

Explore Billy Goat's specialty turf care products for effective cleanup in residential, commercial, and municipal spaces. Find your local dealer for top-notch sales and service support.

www.billygoat.com

But 40 yrs old and made out of aircrete.

 

[RTM]

Here is a 1977 version of the Billy Goat. Any more clues on your maker besides aircrete? Every time I try
Aircrete warehouse vacuum

I only get two results.

Popular Science

Popular Science gives our readers the information and tools to improve their technology and their world. The core belief that Popular Science and our readers share: The future is going to be better, and science and technology are the driving forces that will help make it better.

books.google.com

 

[RTM]

Something like this?

Public Health Service Publication

www.google.com

 

[cvairwerks]

We used to have some of the goats at work long years back. The bodies were not aircrete, but steel. These were made probably in the late 60's or early 70's.
Don't think aircrete would be worth a flip as a tool body due to not having much strength in the thickness required.

 

[Modern Garage]

I have a sixties(?) vintage parking lot/warehouse vac made of cast aluminum with a 7hp Briggs on it. It was given to me non-running and I thought I could re-purpose it as a leaf vac but it's awfully heavy. It has a long pickup aperture across the front and a covered socket to insert a suction hose, and the discharge was to the rear into a bag between the handlebar loop so it looks kind of like a massive push mower. Mostly bare aluminum with red lettering and red wheels. Can't remember the brand name on it but I'll try to get a picture next time I'm up in the storage garage.
Joe

 

[deltaphisig]

We used to have some of the goats at work long years back. The bodies were not aircrete, but steel. These were made probably in the late 60's or early 70's.
Don't think aircrete would be worth a flip as a tool body due to not having much strength in the thickness required.

it definitely wasn't steel. My father let it sit outside year round in the PNW and the only rust was on the engine and handles, which were porbably chromed at some point.

 

[deltaphisig]

I have a sixties(?) vintage parking lot/warehouse vac made of cast aluminum with a 7hp Briggs on it. It was given to me non-running and I thought I could re-purpose it as a leaf vac but it's awfully heavy. It has a long pickup aperture across the front and a covered socket to insert a suction hose, and the discharge was to the rear into a bag between the handlebar loop so it looks kind of like a massive push mower. Mostly bare aluminum with red lettering and red wheels. Can't remember the brand name on it but I'll try to get a picture next time I'm up in the storage garage.
Joe

this could be it. looking forward to a picture.

 

[deltaphisig]

Here is a 1977 version of the Billy Goat. Any more clues on your maker besides aircrete? Every time I try
Aircrete warehouse vacuum

I only get two results.

Popular Science

Popular Science gives our readers the information and tools to improve their technology and their world. The core belief that Popular Science and our readers share: The future is going to be better, and science and technology are the driving forces that will help make it better.

books.google.com

not it. the machine I am looking for was probably a repurposed warehouse vacuum rather than a consumer grade machine

 

[RTM]

not it. the machine I am looking for was probably a repurposed warehouse vacuum rather than a consumer grade machine

I know it's not it, it's a Billy Goat, as I said.

I'm trying to get more clues from you so I can find this thing but you apparently missed that half the message.

 

[deltaphisig]

Gotcha. I stumbled across this last night and it is the closest thing I have found so far. Memory is a funny thing, and the last time I saw that vacuum I was about 9 years old in the early 90s.

https://www.k-bid.com/auction/9146/item/3

 

[RTM]

Gotcha. I stumbled across this last night and it is the closest thing I have found so far. Memory is a funny thing, and the last time I saw that vacuum I was about 9 years old in the early 90s.

https://www.k-bid.com/auction/9146/item/3

Well that's a boatload different than what I was expecting.

 

[Modern Garage]

Here's the one I have. The manufacturer is Lindell, I dont know if the motor is original - I would think the original manufacturer would have painted the Briggs to match but maybe not. It's rear discharge and I don't have the bag - it was just a pile of threads and mouse skeletons. I need to source or build something, probably refit a bag for a mower.
Joe

 

[vwpieces]

But 40 yrs old and made out of aircrete.

Yeah, and perhaps it needs to be the exact same one his dad owned.

 

[RTM]

A similar one was an old Troy-Bilt, except the chute went up the side instead of up the center as you showed. Also has the big stick chute on the side, unlike their new ones which are more horizontal.

Popular Science

Popular Science gives our readers the information and tools to improve their technology and their world. The core belief that Popular Science and our readers share: The future is going to be better, and science and technology are the driving forces that will help make it better.

books.google.com

Jump forward to the 1:30 mark.