There's any number of reasonable reasons for painting (or re-painting) a vintage vac.
All Kenmore Imperials were not polished aluminum. I have seen one with an original gunmetal gray textured enamel, probably the step down model or later issue than 1937, aka a Wartime materials restricted Imperial?
This eBay one, missing only the topside 'Imperial-Kenmore-Imperial' trim strip, as evidenced by the rivet holes, does appear to be spray painted but I would say, judging from the wear pattern and the blue-ish dark red colour, that it was painted many decades ago, perhaps in the 1950s. That's a colour frequently found on old manual lawn mowers, gas engines and tractors, etc.
Won't know until the paint is stripped off if in fact the aluminum castings are polishable-grade or a re-paint is in order.
The good things about this are that the lights work, the bumper is intact (if the bumper was replaced it was skillfully done and the vac painted with the bumper off) and the bag, while not original, is most certainly an older replacement. In fact the vacuum does not appear to be carelessly abused at all - just normal wear.
The cord may have been replaced too (since polished ones usually have a coiled spring strain relief around the lower motor cord) but again, it looks to be an older thick rubber cord. A hands-on inspection would determine if this is original or a skillful shop repair and refurbishment.
I'll let us all know the fine details about it when I win the auction and pick it up next week.
*hint*
Dave
