Singer Lazer Storm

Does anyone else remember these? I remember seeing the ad on TV YEARS ago and them doing a bunch of absurd students, like a ping pong ball in a clear PVC tube vs a Kirby G3. Pulling a Fridge with something that resembled dryer hose, and lifting a large fridge/freezer with a suction cup.

I was fortunate enough to find a NOS model on ebay recently, and of course I just had to test it and see how it does. It's a very interesting setup. It powers the turbo head by channeling the exhaust air into a turbine rather than using the intake air. It's brush is soft and runs pretty slowly at about 630 rpm. Still this machine for it's size did have decent power, certainly not enough to really replace a full sized vacuum, unlike what the ad likes to show us/

I think I remember that ad. But I always thought it was called the Smart Space Power Vac.

I have never seen it under that name until now. Oreck seems to have re-used the design for a cordless vacuum, but unlike the corded models the head on those is electric vs the exhaust air turbine on these.

They did indeed. And it's funny now they've compared it to an actual Oreck in that informercial. I'd gladly take the XL21 over it. Even I'd also take that Hoover Breathe Easy and Kirby G3 over it as well.

oh definitely. Just about everything they compared it to is better....except for that stick shark thing.
This was also sold under "Wind Storm"

That's interesting, it now makes me wonder of who actually made these machines. I doubt it was from Oreck, I'm sure they leased theirs' from somebody. Speaking of which, that same company who videoed the Smart Space also did a video of the Oreck XL Pro 14T. That's another vacuum I'd take over these anyday. Sportsman's Guide used to sell vacuums online at one point, not just cheap vacuums but even pricey vacuums as well like this Oreck.

panasonicvac said:

That's interesting, it now makes me wonder of who actually made these machines. I doubt it was from Oreck, I'm sure they leased theirs' from somebody. Speaking of which, that same company who videoed the Smart Space also did a video of the Oreck XL Pro 14T. That's another vacuum I'd take over these anyday. Sportsman's Guide used to sell vacuums online at one point, not just cheap vacuums but even pricey vacuums as well like this Oreck.

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That's not the same vacuum as the Oreck Big Foot upright. Scroll forward to 7:45 in the video



That Big Foot power nozzle dates back to the 1960s and was used with an early shop vac but the upper half is apparently a Bissell product

Yes I'm aware that Oreck sold some Big Foot models quite a while ago. They also had a black model as well which I believe came out before the orange one. Definitely interesting designs, reminds me of some Lindhaus uprights like the Linda Hepa Eco 7 for example. I'd still take the XL Pro 14T or 18T over those Big Foots, they were basically copies of the Windsor Versamatic or Lindhaus RX sold in different brands including both Oreck and Bissell.

panasonicvac said:

Yes I'm aware that Oreck sold some Big Foot models quite a while ago. They also had a black model as well which I believe came out before the orange one. Definitely interesting designs, reminds me of some Lindhaus uprights like the Linda Hepa Eco 7 for example. I'd still take the XL Pro 14T or 18T over those Big Foots, they were basically copies of the Windsor Versamatic or Lindhaus RX sold in different brands including both Oreck and Bissell.

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panasonicvac said:

Huh? The Big Foot predates Sebo and WIndsor by at least a decade. If you go back to 1960 there was an L shaped power nozzle offered with the Kenmore Whisper Tone. Tom Gasko has one in his collection. That is the original L shaped power nozzle. Everyone elses, including Electrolux, Sebo and Lindhaus are a copy. In fact a very early 1960s Oreck shop vac that stored the hose coiled up in a cage on top offered that same early Kenmore power nozzle.

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`Whirlpool also sold a vacuum that looked a lot like a CVR but it had a very L shaped power nozzle. I just cannot find an image of it to post.

When I mean by copy, they share designs that are the same like where the height adjuster knobs are located at or how the brushstrips are changed out. And it's not the only SEBO that got copied. Hoover, Sanitaire, Rubbermaid, etc made uprights based on the X and G series for example. I'm well aware that L shaped nozzles have been around for some time, it's not just professional commercial grade machines that have them. My Bissell Lift-Off 3554B has one, I've seen a Panasonic upright with one, and the Oreck XL21 style machines if you look a bit closer (originally because a light would shine on the edge). Personally, I love L shaped nozzles. They're very handy. However I could care less about the ones that are on opposite sides like my SEBO X5, they're a bit awkward in my opinion and I'd honestly rather take a SEBO G5 over the X8 even though I generally like the X models more over the G models.

If you have dogs who bring dirt clods in from outside or a kid who spills cereal or potato chips on the rugs then the Sebo automatic height adjuster is heinous. You can't over ride it to raise the nozzle to go over big chunks. No good in our home with two dogs, two cats who love to gravity test whatever is convenient on the table or kitchen counter, a ten year old and lots of desert outside. The height adjuster is also slow to adjust and sometimes gets confused and shuts off. A Sebo G4/G5 or my Hoover Hushtone does the job.

But all those L-shaped nozzles owe a debt of gratitude to Whirlpool-Kenmore-Oreck.

Obtw, that soft bag Panasonic that resembles an Oreck, the MC-V100 Innkeeper, doesn't have an L-shaped nozzle. I have one, new and never used. The nozzle base is from the Powermate II that came with the Kenmore Ultravac, which I also have. That was Kenmore's failed stab at a tandem air vacuum circa 1989. The Powermate II was a failure but that base and the suction / brush drive motor lived on in a series of light weight direct air Kenmore uprights and the Innkeeper.

I used to work as a janitor for a local retirement village and they had Windsor Sensor XP15 uprights that are the same as my SEBO X5. They were overall great machines, really my only complaint would be the L shaped nozzles on those and I wish they had S15 uprights instead as a result. But I've never had a problem with the automatic height adjuster from my experience. Even this video showed they do well with bigger chunks on carpets. Personally I'd rather not use one on barefloors but this is one of the reasons why I generally like the X models more than the G models, even I also like the Lindhaus Activa for this reason as well. The G models don't have a squeegee underneath just like on the Sanitaire EON, not recommended for barefloors. I wouldn't really suggest a X or a G model to anyone unless if they have mostly carpets like my cousin's cabin for example, I donated my SEBO made Kenmore Professional 12 upright to that place and it's been I'd say the biggest upgrade the cabin has ever seen. Even does well on their pine wood floors. Otherwise at a place like my grandfather's cabin that has all barefloors is where I'd rather have a canister or at least an upright with a dual motor, I once brought my other Kenmore Professional 12 up there that I used just for fun and I can honestly say that it's not my ideal SEBO to have up there at least in today's world cause all of the carpets are now gone.



The Panasonic with an L shaped nozzle I was referring to would be the FOLD 'N GO bagless uprights that are basically the Kenmore GRAB 'N GO uprights.