How absurd.
I asked him what about his vauum could possibly be worth $2,600.

The next day, after making a donation at Goodwill, I found and bought a Filter Queen Majestic vacuum for $8.50 in their store.
It looked new and much like the one demonstrated. The cone paper filter inside reads: For Demonstration Only.

-The dirt container should be twice as tall. Otherwise, too small a capacity.
-It should be clear so you can see how full it is.
-What a mess to empty and clean. I do it outside and then wash with garden hose. Otherwise dust is on everything inside and out.
-The On-Off-On switch (Low-Off-High) is too easy to flip to opposite on when wanting to turn off.
-The wire from the hose must sharply bend 90 degrees to go around the hose fastener collar. The wire jacket has come out and the wires are exposed. (What poor engineering.)
-Though the unit has rubber bumpers, the long vertical metal clips holding the top onto the canister can damage furniture/walls.
-Cord is too short.
-On the chrome motor cowling, a useless black decorative plastic "grid" makes cleaning the metal dome difficult. (I plan to remove the worthless grid.)
-Inside the motor housing, how does one change that fiberglass(?) filter material? Must send the motor to the company?

Good suction!
Good joke on anyone stupid enough to buy it.
However, it IS worth $8.50!

I have an Aunt who owns a Filter Queen - still works after almost 25 years, and yes, it was expensive.

She gets the vacuum cones from the local vacuum cleaner sales and service store. If your local store does not have them there, there are places online that sell the cones.

filter queen vacuum cones - Bing

Thanks.
I called Filter Queen.
They charge far too much for simple filter paper.

"Expensive?" Outrageous.
From others I have heard that they pressure suckers into buying these ridiculously-priced rip-offs.
With my engineering background, I see incompetent engineering.

My parents bought a Filter Queen about 1958. In 1963 they gave it to me. I still have it and it works perfectly.