Early Kenmore Deluxe

[vacmadman]

I have this Kenmore Deluxe coming to my house soon. This Deluxe has no light and I don't know what year this Deluxe model came out. Maybe the armature will have the year stamped on it. It appears to be all original. Looking forward to restoring this old Vac and adding it to my collection.

Jim

 

[kwalsh97214]

Post restoration anticipation

You are going to do a great restoration on this Kenmore Deluxe and it will soon be all bright, shiny, and sparkly.

I look forward to the "after" photo(s).

 

[kirbylux77]

Beautiful old Kenmore!

Very nice Jim. Especially the bag, that looks nearly flawless.

As for the era it came from, I am gonna guess early '30's. It appears Birtman was trying to compete with the Hoover Coffee Can uprights and this was their clone of one. Based on the bag logo being so similar to the Kenmore Bugeye from '36 or so, and other Kenmore uprights from that time period which used that bag logo, my guess is this is the predecessor to those models.

 

[lesinutah]

Anna

I believe 37-38 is the year it's made but that's my guess on the research I did when I seen it on Ebay.
Very nice vacuum should be another great resto congrats.

 

[hygiene903]

Nice Find Jim!

And having seen your other restorations, I have no doubt that it will be absolutely beautiful when you're finished with it! As for the year, I'm guessing about 1935. I have a Sears Catalog from that year and I'm pretty sure it was in there. I can't get to it right now, or I'd look it up for you.
Jeff

 

[kirbyklekter]

Wow Rick

This is going to be great. I'm happy for both you and the Kenmore. I'm ready to admire yet another beauty coming out of your shop!

 

[vacmadman]

Thanks so much

For all the comments and votes of confidence on this old Kenmore. It showed up last night and after getting a closer look at it, I agree with kirbylux77 this Kenmore looks very much like a Hoover 725 I have in my collection with almost the same exact set up.

Jim

 

[vacmadman]

Not what I thought or am I wrong?

I took these pictures this morning and was a little disappointed when a realized that the finish on this was not oxidized but what looks like a blue/grey paint or what I would call a powder coating on it. If you look closely you can see on the motor housing and the nozzle where it has worn away from the sides, also on the handle fork.

This is going to take a little work and time to remove all of it and shine it up, but it will no longer be original. All of my vac's are polished aluminum, no paint or plastic. So, I'm not sure what to do here... any thoughts before I get started would be welcome.

Jim

 

[vacmadman]

It's been a good day

I decided to get started on this old Kenmore today. I cleaned all of this in my kitchen sink with soap and water some steel wool, and a little elbow grease. I haven't done any sanding or polishing yet.

I am very pleased with the overall condition of this Kenmore. The rubber trim, cord, and wheels are in like new condition. This vacuum was very well cared for or hardly used.

The oxidation on the top of the nozzle and motor housing was very even in color, but only on the very top. it looked almost painted. Picture #3 shows the before. I'll look forward to heading out to the shop tomorrow.

Side note: I don't know who Anna is, but I wonder how old she is today and what she would think of this so far?

Jim

 

[justjunque]

Very nice, Jim!
I look forward to seeing the finished product.
I don't know if you ever name your machines. But, this one kind of came with its own name already. I wonder if Anna got in big fat trouble for "personalizing" the family vacuum.

 

[kirbylux77]

Jim, that first picture with the parts you polished already has already made that Kenmore look 1000% better! I am also looking forward to seeing the finished restoration - your vacuums are in fantastic shape after you restore them

 

[lesinutah]

Id

Sand it down repaint it the original color. Return it to the shape it was brand new.

 

[vacmadman]

I'm not sure

What to think about the finish on this old Kenmore. In the seller's picture #1 the finish doesn't look as dark as my pictures. The finish in picture #2 and #3 you can see on the sides of the motor housing, handle fork, and nozzle the aluminum showing.

The grey coloring is only on the very top of the parts. If this was painted what would cause this to happen? Again, it didn't look painted in the seller's pictures and if it was painted, I wouldn't have bought it. I have removed paint from aluminum before, and this one didn't come off like paint. What say you? I could use some feedback.

Jim[this post was last edited: 6/7/2023-08:23]

 

[hoover300]

I had a Hoover 102 with corrosion like this. It probably came from a very humid environment and of course was never ever repolished after leaving the factory.

 

[kirbylux77]

Jim, I would guess that the color you found the Kenmore in was from a bad case of oxidization. Since the Kenmore was probably a bit cheaper than a Hoover Coffee Can was when sold new, Birtman may have used a aluminum that had other metals added to it that made it have a cheaper production cost. With the unfortunate result that it would oxidize quicker and worse than a Hoover Coffee Can would have.

I would polish it up, not paint it. The fact that you observed that it seemed no paint was coming off as you were doing the polishing process is ultimate proof it was likely never painted, just oxidized. And since it seems most Kenmore uprights produced by Birtman before 1940 you can find photos of online were not painted, I would assume unless we find some evidence otherwise that all their uprights from the 20s and 30s were polished metal. From what I have noticed online here and listings for Kenmore uprights sold online, it seems that it was only after 1945 that they started introducing painted models.

BTW, since this was a clone of a Hoover Coffee Can, when you post the final pictures could you post one of what the brushroll & fan look like? I think it would be interesting to see how it compares to a Hoover Coffee Can. Looking forward to seeing the final result - I bet with how nice you will make this Kenmore look, you're gonna have a few club members here green with envy!

 

[hoover300]

https://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?1760

Lots of info and pics here.

 

[hoover300]

And:

 

[vacmadman]

Thanks so much!

Thank you kirbylux77, and Hoover300,

For all the wonderful info and feedback. I am on the right track. Thank you again! This is my 3rd Kenmore and will look great next to my Kenmore Automatic, and my Kenmore Imperial. I hope to find a Kenmore deluxe with the light someday.

Jim

 

[vacmadman]

She's coming along.

Kirbylux77,

Here are some pictures of what you asked for and a few more of her progress. Picture #1 are two Kenmore brushrolls the one on top is from a Kenmore I bought for parts and is made of wood the bottom one is from the Deluxe and is made of metal.

Jim

 

[kwalsh97214]

Your Kenmore Deluxe is going to be beautiful with a shiny polish.

Within this thread and other Vacuumland threads, there are references to four Kenomore deco uprights from the mid- to late-1930s:


Deluxe (without light)
Deluxe (with light)
Imperial (Bugeye)
Automatic Imperial

Were there other Kenmore uprights during this period, or was the Sears line of vacuums just lucky and limited to these four striking models?

 

[hygiene903]

Jim,

I got out my 1935 Sears Spring & Summer Catalog and your Kenmore Deluxe is indeed on page 526, and it is the top-of-the-line model! It was priced at $35.50 cash with your old cleaner or $39.00 and your old cleaner if you made payments. It was also referred to as the Famous Kenmore 39, and the other models on the page were the Kenmore 29 at $26.95 and your old cleaner and the Kenmore 19, which was a horizontal motor machine similar to an early Eureka, at $17.95 and your old cleaner. None of them made any mention of attachments but there was a hand vac on the page called the Kenmore Junior. I scanned the page and would have posted it here but my Scanner/printer wouldn't let me download it.
Jeff

 

[vacmadman]

Thanks

Jeff,

Thanks so much for taking the time to do that I do appreciate it. I'll make note of it for my records. I thought the Kenmore Imperial and Automatic came out in 1935. This looked to be an older model to me so that is all good to know thanks again Jeff.

Jim

 

[vacmadman]

Nice bag

I really got lucky with this one. The bag is in wonderful condition with no holes or dry rot. This bag should wash up nicely and hopefully bring back some of the color.

 

[hygiene903]

You're Welcome Jim!

Glad to be able to help. There is one other thing I can do if you like. Even though the scanner wouldn't let me download the file, it would let me print it out. so if you would email me your mailing address I can print & send you a copy. My email address is [email protected].
Jeff

 

[vacmadman]

some before and after's

I still need to finish the handle and bag, but here is a few before and after's. I'll post more when she's done.

Jim

 

[kwalsh97214]

Wow! Nice work.

 

[vacmadman]

Thanks

Kevin,

Thanks so much for all your kind comments.

Jim

 

[hygiene903]

Excellent Work Jim!

It's absolutely beautiful!
Jeff

 

[huskyvacs]

You did a great job! I too am never sure if a vacuum has painted metal or it's just centuries of oxidization to the metal. I think in your case it was just oxidization. Something to do with how they plated the metal or whatever. It looks like it survived in really good shape underneath as well. I'd nickname the vacuum "Anna"