160 and 960: The Differences
Model 160 was made 1938-39 / 1946-49. I don't have the production figures for Model 160 to hand.
Model 960 was made January 1947 - July '48. In total, 21,941 Model 960s were made.
Model 960 differed from the 160 in several small details. Firstly, its finish was glossy grey enamel paint, not the wrinkle-finish paint that coated the 875, 160 and 262.
Secondly, like all the earlier commercial models, it had a bigger bag for filtering greater amounts of dirt from offices, hotels, clubs etc.
Lastly, the fan-chamber was lined with metal plates to prevent hard pieces of debris being shot through the fan chamber. 'Impossible!' you cry? It's happened on one of my 160s (I have 2, one not pictured above). I had to seal a 2-inch long gash in the side of the fan chamber!
There was a minor difference in the proportions of black and white paint on the reflector plate behind the lightbulb - the 960 having more white.
In other words, the differences were minor; finish, bag size, fan chamber. Were those deluxe features worth the extra money over the Standard 160? You'd have to ask the original buyer!
This Western Electric 302 was designed by Henry Dreyfuss, too!
