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These are not portable pumps. They are home workhorses!
I have restored dozens of hospital grade pumps manufactured over the last 60 years. The earlier they are (1950 – 1980) the tougher they are. They can be easily purchased for $125 to $150 on Ebay. They are easily serviced from Medelas to Egnells. Right now there are 12 Hospital Grade Medelas for sale for $74, shipping included! That is ridiculously low price! Remember, these pumps all have secondary vacuum isolation circuits, to prevent cross contamination, and were hospital use pumps. I hope they find good homes!
Bonus Round:
For mothers: I found that the gentle rotary swish that these pumps made soothed my kiddos, 20 years ago.Is the very old pump having accessories that are good with it? I know medela has probably all parts fitting among all pumps, with some exceptions, but wondering on the tubing and everything else how people find the fitting for it. Do they regulate the flow/strength? The only other one i saw on the listing was for parts/not working listed, which would be something I could try but those are newer ones.
Are the old ones really strong? I found that once I get used to pumping (after each break) I have a hard time feeling enough of the suction and it feels some is still clogging my milk ducts. So I get hard spots in my breasts and have to constantly massage and use hand, but it just seem too much work.
Anyone has tried using the old models? I am really curious to try it! Probably super loud😂😂😂
Hi Kate,
Most of the old pumps have a 3/16 or 1/4 in suction fitting that you can slide silicone or hard plastic tubing on. That tube should be fitted to the top of an isolation jar (or a fuel filter, your preference, see below), that fits in the other jar/bottle holder on the side of the unit. The isolation jar has two fittings on top, and serves as a trap for vapors and overflow from the collection jar that sits next to it. The collection now is done at the flange cups now, with filters there, so this can be redundant, but protects your pump. The trap jar can be lined/filled with aquarium glass filter medium and charcoal for air filtration back to the pump if you like. An in-line 1/4 inch inlet/outlet automotive disposable fuel filter can be inserted in the vacuum line next to the pump to further isolate the pump. The goal here is to isolate the vacuum air and vapors from the milk from contaminating the pump. There are many solutions, like large in-line 0.33 micron bio disc filters used in labs to prevent pathogen passage in filter setups. The current production models usually have these built in to the tubing setup, but are more expensive. What I am describing is inexpensive and easily replaced by the user.The vast majority of these pumps I have purchased, occasionally repaired, have worked flawlessly. Sometimes they need piston ring replacement, which is a screwdriver, small crescent wrench and trip to ACE Hardware for the piston rings proposition.
If I can be of any help, just ask! They make a soft swishing sound of the piston pumping and a little whoosh when the vacuum vents. Not loud at all. Put my kids to sleep, and sometimes was just used for that!
These are apparently being sold in the USA. You could reach out and ask questions about condition, or ask that they test one. Additionally, they might ship international.
I’m not connected to any sellers on Ebay, I just found these and some under $50 portables. Those I don’t know as well. When people talk about the cost of pumps, (and these are adjustable for suction, but don’t have the digitally programmed vacuum sequences,), I know these to be a sound alternative.
Cheers!
I wish I didn’t have to move soon or I would love to try one of these. Thanks for the tip!
The only pump I have tried is the Spectra and it worked well enough, but not nearly as well as a mouth. I wonder how these compare? And I have one of the Annabella’s coming in the mail that I am very excited about trying!
@matureazmalelatch I got the pump! If it comes to filters, all I have right now are syringe filters with 0.22 um (micrometers) filters to use for smaller volumes for filtering (only pass the viruses, some larger won’t pass through, depending on what type of virus we talk about).
The air filtration could be used with some setup there, but I thought it was build in set up already with separation? So, I need to buy some additional parts to attach there? I was thinking to reuse my tubing from other pumps or if not fitting order a new set of them. Still, the pump won’t be here for about a week I think. So, I have time to order stuff.
@serenelychee I think the Spectra is nice, but very gentle. I got a cable to use for S2 in a car, but it never does as strong as it should. When my breasts are used to pumping after each break, the suction is not enough on the Sepectra. It is a great pump to use between feedings (don’t have a baby tho) or as an addition to something else abd I plan on using it in my car.
The home set up hopefully is gonna be that old pump only, if it is finally the strength I can feel it goes strong enough. The model I used in hospital was medela but it was around 20 years ago, those were very strong. I hope it is gonna be about same.
Let me know how the Annabella’s pump works!
Hi All,
Here is a 5 second video of the Medela 015, circa 1999, like the ones in the Ebay listing. This pump was taken out of the box, and plugged in and started. I doubt if it has been serviced since new. This 5 second video is with the suction lever to the left to minimum. My phone is recording the audio less than and about 1 foot from the pump…https://abfheaven.com/members/matureazmalelatch/media/24939/
Hi All,
This 9 sec video is of the same Medela 015, but with the suction paddle to the right, at Normal Suction. You can hear the difference, and I can tell you that the vacuum cycle is strong. I think I can service the piston rings for 20 to 30 percent more suction, and if I get a chance, I will record the vacuum measurements before and after the piston ring rebuild when I have the time. Cheers!https://abfheaven.com/members/matureazmalelatch/media/24940/
Hi all!
An update: I am using Medela from this post. I love it! Yes, it kinda looks ugly, ut it does better at reaching my whole breast tissue way better than any pump. I could fill it in my milk ducts and tissues. It has been few hours since I used it first time and I can tell my breasts were stimulated well.
I have received it fairly fast, in less than a week, but I just waited this long to try it. I will keep a basic pumping schedule to see how efficient it gets on my breasts. Just curious if I can increase milk production (I lactate and maybe could get a tablespoon-ish of milk from each breast as I haven’t used a pump regularly in a very long time). Hoping for a milk, but it maybe a month or two of regular pumping – I will update if I keep up a schedule to see if it makes a lot of difference for me.
Mechanics: I used my bra-sttle pump from mom-cozy and attached one extension tube from Spectra to it to make it longer to attach to the machine. Machine only has one tube to attach to, my tubes were in the Y connector so it worked out great.
Noise: less annoying than any other pump I used! I expected loud noice, but after you switch from minimum to normal setting (max) – only two options – you are gonna get al.ost totally silent pump! Crazy! Even my rated silent ones are much louder than this! So, that is also really nice!
As a summary – really good suction and the strength increases as it goes, so you will feel more of pulling from other ducts as it goes, it did feel actually like I was having a really nice unclogging step, none of my pumps were this good.
If you’re not used to pumping occasionally 2-3days a month, maybe start only at minimum setting till you get used to it. I love the “normal” setting. Wish this pump looked nicer, but for the fact it is an antique it kind of brings a nice touch to the surroundings, lol. 😅
I spent about 76$ with shipping (26 being shipping) and it was still the cheapest pump, but best so far (right along the hospital grade one I used to rent 20 years ago). Nothing labeled as hospital strength actually comes the same in a function for me.
So, if you are needing adjustments, try it, if they are still on a market. If not, and you see one in a future, get one! Hopefully it is gonna work right out the box, but if not, @matureazmalelatch can help you fix it possibly for a small fee of his time or parts.
Anyways, I am happy with it! After buying about 10 different pumps by now, I feel this one may be taking me to some nice progress finally. Still, not sure what to use on the go, if I produce more. I tend to have infections or lumps if I don’t pump when I produce more milk.
Wondering about other Medela pumps that can be used on the go, if anyone used different models and could compare them? I am not very fond of Spectra as it is not strong for me. The momcozy one I had for around 200, is also not as good as I wanted it to be. So still searching a pump on the go.
I’ve seen this seller on eBay before. They’re rating and this disclaimer give me cause for concern ” The sale of this item may be subject to regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and state and local regulatory agencies. If so, do not bid on this item unless you are an authorized purchaser. If the item is subject to FDA regulation, I will verify your status as an authorized purchaser of this item before shipping of the item.”
I do own the Medela classic I bought it almost 6 years ago and that pump will likely outlive me. It was definitely one of the best lactation investments that I’ve made.
Kate, I was able to get up to 2 oz every 2 to 3 hours on my left breast and 1.5 to 2 oz every 2 to 3 hours on my right breast using the Medela classic alone and taking domperidone.
That is amazing! Funny is that my left breast is making more always than the right one, too!
I triggered some work on my breasts after initial pumping, now have to pump, lol. My breasts are painful! The reminder of the initial few weeks being not so fun! Pain, and constant uteral cramps! 😂😂😂 it feels like period non stop, even my spine is cracking…lol.
I will keep on 3-4x a day for now. Too lazy going on more for now, when I get used to it, I will increase.
Also, I probably will buy the classic one too eventually. The old ones are good as a backup, but I would feel safer too with a new one. For now, I have tuition for my school so I try not go crazy on adding to my nursing supplies. 😅 so many cool things out there these days! Wish it was avaliable when I had my kid.
@Kate no, the Medela Classic is the model name, it came before the Symphony. Unfortunately, the symphony has a motherboard that may fail at some point, the Classic is straight mechanical.
The pump in MatureAZmaleLatch’s link is the Medela Classic.
The old pumps are actually better than any of the new pumps. They work with the same flanges. They’re not portable, but the pumping power can’t be beat. When I am at home I use my Classic unless I absolutely need to be up and moving or in a different room than my Classic.
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