electrolux ap 280 // health
- Thread starter thevacomaticiec
- Start date
centralsweeper63
Well-known member
That is extremely pricey.
cheesewonton
Well-known member
Singer Manufacturing operated a plant in Anderson South Carolina making vacuums for sale under their name and the Kenmore brand as well as power tools for Craftsman. Ryobi bought the plant in the late 1980s and continued to make Singer and Kenmore brand vacuums, though the quality of the plastics used by Ryobi was distinctly worse than what Singer was using. When Ryobi was purchased by TTI, they ceased making vacuums for Singer and Kenmore to concentrate on their own brand of power tools. Ryobi still operates that plant in South Carolina.
Whirlpool bought out Birtman Electric of Chicago circa 1957. Vacuum production was moved to a Whirlpool plant in Danville Kentucky. Whirlpool also made a line of their own canister and upright vacuums from 1982-87 or 88. In 1990 Whirlpool, wishing to get out of the vacuum making business, entered into a joint venture with Panasonic at the same plant in Kentucky. The joint venture lasted until 1995 after which Panasonic took the former Whirlpool plant in Kentucky and also took over Whirlpools vacuum business making vacuums for Kenmore. During the joint venture you started to see some Whirlpool designed vacuums being sold with Panasonic branding. Panasonic soon began moving Kenmore and Panasonic brand vacuum production to a new plant just outside Monterrey Mexico though I believe one or two premium Panasonic commercial uprights continued to be assembled in Danville. The facility there was primarily a design center, distribution center and corporate headquarters for Panasonic Floor Care North America. In 2016 Panasonic announced it was exiting the North American vacuum market. Their factory in Monterrey was converted to make automotive electronics and the old Whirlpool facility in Danville Kentucky was closed. Last I read it was up for sale but no information on who may have bought it.
cheesewonton
Well-known member
Not really. The 1984 Kenmore Sears Best 4.2 with Power Handle retailed for $449.99. This was the first vacuum with soft touch controls on the hose handle.
cheesewonton
Well-known member
Wow. I have looked for years for an ad for that machine. I have scanned every Sears Catalog I could find on line and never saw it. Where did you find this and what catalog is it from?
cheesewonton
Well-known member
If you take the 1980s prices for a lot of American vacuums and inflate those prices to 2026 Dollars you will find that a lot of American vacuums from that era were selling for what today would be Miele and Sebo prices. American made home appliances in general were very expensive back then. People didn't buy as much as we do today. Homes weren't filled with electronics. Garages weren't filled with toys. Back yards didn't have trampolines and batting cages. People lived with less because stuff cost a lot to buy. You can buy a top of the line Kenmore vacuum today for a lower Dollar price than Kenmore sold its top of the line Vacuum for in 1984.
dysonman1
Well-known member
The first time I saw the ad for the ultra vac, it was priced at $499, which was $50 more than the Electrolux at the time. I remember specifically thinking "Sears has shot themselves in the foot".
centralsweeper63
Well-known member
That is Sebo D4 money!
rugsucker
Well-known member
I think this might have been test marketed in limited regions and discontinued before it was offered nationwide.
centralsweeper63
Well-known member
That would explain why it is so rare.
dysonman1
Well-known member
I have had two of them, and while they are rare, it was because they were very expensive and very complicated. The average woman would not have liked it. The dust cup is very fragile as is the plastic of the power nozzle neck. I'm sure they all broke right away.
centralsweeper63
Well-known member
It does look very complex.
cheesewonton
Well-known member
The Powermate II handle and neck are much too fragile. A neat idea poorly executed.
centralsweeper63
Well-known member
The classic tale.
dysonman1
Well-known member
Panasonic bought the manufacturing plant for vacuum cleaners from whirlpool in the early 1980s. It coincided with the change to type 5055 Bags and the top swiveling hose connection.
centralsweeper63
Well-known member
The owner must have had a grudge with those things.
