70s Kenmore Canister Find

[fan-of-fans]

I went to the flea market this weekend, which I had mostly given up on.

To my surprise at the first booth I came to, was a 1970s Kenmore canister vacuum.
Avocado and yellow with wood grain too.

This has been my “holy grail” machine since I started collecting vacuums 10 years ago. I remember as a kid seeing one identical on the side of the road on the way home from school.

It’s in OK shape, some scratches, but I think it will make a good restoration project. It has the hose which looks pretty good with no tape or splits I could see, the wands, floor brush, crevice tool and upholstery brush. It’s missing the tool tray, the dusting brush and the Power Mate.

I think if I keep a look on eBay I can probably complete it.

 

[kirbyklekter]

That's great

I think I remember you saying a while back you were wanting one of these Kenmore canisters. From your description it sounds like you have a model similar if not the same as one of mine. Model 25990 Sears Best w/Magicord 2-speed,12amp w/Powermate. Avocado and yellow with a wood tone lid that the attachments tray snaps on top of.

It's all original except the hose which was a goner when I got it in 1992. I bought a new hose for 40.00 at the Sears Parts and Repair shop in the next town over. The lady at the counter said the replacement was much better. She was right and the new hose is two ft. longer!

The first time I tried to clean the pre-motor filter it crumbled to pieces so I fashioned a new one from a scrap piece of similar type and called it a day. It continues to run like a top and I believe the carbons are original! I do wish these had the controls at the hose end for on/off but that came on later models,oh well.

Glad you have one now they're quite popular with collectors. What model number is yours?

 

[fan-of-fans]

I took a closer look. It is the model 2699, so it’s from 76. It has the two speed switch and performance light which is the one I was looking for exactly., so I think it’s the same as yours, just a year younger.

Has the original plug which looks good too.

That’s interesting on the replacement hose, I have seen some on here with long 9 foot or so hoses, but mine only seems to be the standard 7 foot or so. I guess those had replacement hoses too.

Yeah overall very happy with the find. I thought I’d never see another. There was a newer one like it at Habitat a few years ago in the white with orange bumpers, it had the tool tray but no Power Mate.

The foam filter in mine seems fine, maybe was replaced.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Some “before” pics

 

[parunner58]

Cole

Is this the dusting brush you need. I borrowed it from work many years ago. They laid me off so it never got returned. Private message me if you want it. I live just north of you in Davenport up rt27.
Mike

 

[kirbyklekter]

Yep!

Looks the same as mine. The little tray that holds the attachments just snaps on to the top of lid. There are little slots on the lid that hold it in place.I've got later models where the attachment tray is hinged under the top lid and you lift both to access the bag compartment.

Not sure if your hose has this problem or not. Where you would hold the hose while vacuuming with say a dusting brush, there's a little caller (?) that wraps around the end of the hose.

I believe it is there to protect that vulnerable part of the hose that wears fastest from all the flexing the hose goes through. I think it was also put on to prevent you from getting pinched from the ribs in the hose.

Doesn't work on mine. The worst is when I vacuum the car for instance. As soon as I bend the hose around as you do, yeow! Major pinch to your fingers. I mean the hose grabs your skin and pinches really hard where the caller wraps over the ridges. Your hose looks exactly like my replacement, so I hope you don't have the same problem.

Much ado over nothing,naw. It's the only canister that this happens with, I should say hose. The cord retracted pretty slow when I first got the vacuum. So going on a tip from here I pulled it all the way to the end and with a hand full of baby powder, just gripped the cord as it retracted back, thus coating the cord and the reel with the powder which acted as a lubricant. Repeat again if needed and it's been good for years now. Sorry for writing a novel!

 

[fan-of-fans]

Mike, thanks very much for your offer, but I found a storage tray on eBay complete with a full set of attachments. I was the only bid! So I got what I was after. Or will once it all arrives.

 

[eurekaprince]

It looks like you would always hold the hose handle along the metal stretch like a suction only hose. I don’t think it was designed to be held way up near the collar that connects to the vinyl hose itself.

 

[parunner58]

That's great, they look new. Hope you can locate the powermate for it.

 

[dysonman1]

They are wonderful. I love mine. They make an awesome filter for the top of the motor to replace the old foam one which probably has fallen apart after all these years.

 

[fan-of-fans]

That one looks interesting with the burlwood like trim and green wands! I’m thinking that may be a couple years before mine.

I like that a Sears Best sticker, I want to recreate one for mine as it’s gone missing At some point.

 

[kirbyklekter]

eurekaprince

If I wrap my finger around the hose where it enters the collar and flex the hose up or down I get the big pinch. It's weird and may be indicative of this hose. It is a replacement hose. This happens mostly when I use the cleaner for jobs like vacuuming my car or the stairway. Not even with the newer Kenmore's is this a problem, or any other brand cleaner.

Otherwise can't complain,it's already outlived the original hose that I replaced in '92. I had four of these Kenmore's at one time,two blue and two avocado. Wish I'd kept one of the blue ones too.

fan-of-fans The attachment storage tray can be placed inside the vacuum or on top. I just read that on the sticker glued to the underside of the lid. All these years,sheesh!

 

[human]

Vacuum of the Day

Whaddaya know! The vacuum this thread is today's vac of the day! I mean, it's not exactly the cover of the Rolling Stone, but it's still pretty cool.