JC Penney "2 Two Motor Upright Vacuum"

[gmerkt]

This strange bird came my way recently. It's a JC Penney (model) 2880. The front of the machine says it's a "2 Two Motor Upright Vacuum." The bag inside says it's a Bissell 5890 bag, for the Bissell Models 5850 and 5900.

I suspect this machine is incomplete. The "2" in the name suggests that it might be a "Two in One" machine. Also, the floor nozzle has a detachable cord plug and a socket release at the base which makes me think that it comes off for replacement with a fixed, non-motorized attachment.

This is the first one of these I've seen, so perhaps some of you smart people have a previous exposure to one. I cannot find much about it on the internet. The parts suppliers that I checked don't have the (probably) more common Bissell models in their line-up. Bags might be a problem; I cut the bottom out of the (full) existing bag just to have a sample.

 

[gmerkt]

Close-up of name area.

 

[gmerkt]

Manufacturer's ID plate inside dust compartment:

 

[vac-o-matic]

I have one of those with the Bissell name on it in really nice shape, and actually works pretty well. I don't even remember seeing them in the stores, and I remember all the way back to the Hoover 65/66 displays. Maybe they were a short run. I also have a commercial Bissell upright with a Big Foot power nozzle on it. It's called a CS, guessing commercial system abreviation, as seems to be heavier built than the others. The one like the above was a gift from Phillip M., and the CS series was a gift from Dan P. Thanks guys, they're the only Bissells in my collection. I did a double take recently looking on Ebay, and saw an Oreck Big Foot upright just like my CS series Bissell. So which came first, the Bissell or the Oreck versions. I know Papa Oreck bought Bissell at one point I believe but not sure on the details. I'll look and see what I have in bags for those, that is if I can find them! I'll let you know, and send some if I can.

 

[xraytech]

I have a package of 3 bags for this machine that I have no use for

 

[nycwriter]

Wow.

JCPenney's corporate headquarters were once in the 10019 ZIP code??

 

[blackheart]

Never seen one

I have never seen one of those before it looks pretty strange to me. Thanks for posting this

 

[rugsucker]

JCPenney 2 mtr

I think this was in color on the back cover of about 1978 Penney big catalog.And also seen as Oreck.As above,little known,rarely seen.

 

[fan-of-fans]

Never seen one of those, must be very rare. Did they have attachment hoses?

 

[gmerkt]

I don't know for sure, but the floor nozzle arrangement seems to allow for quick detachment. That suggests to me that fixed attachments could then be attached to the stick and the machine might be used in a different mode.

 

[beko1987]

That looks great, does it groom at all, or is it a stick vac type affair?

 

[gmerkt]

It has a brushroll in the floor nozzle. It's put together a lot like an older Eureka canister nozzle in the way the brushroll is made.

 

[briankirbyclass]

Back in 1983-84 when i lived in an apt., a neighbor guy that lived next door had this same one, in yellow, with the JC Penny badge. It did have a hose and cheapy plastic attachments, seems like there was a little spring loaded door on the back somwehere to attach the hose. Never used this machine, but i do remember it standing in his living room. The dude wasnt much on cleaning house, so i never heard it in action either, darn it.
Next thing i knew he moved out, so never got to know him well enough to ask to "borrow" his vac!,,and check it out futher.

 

[briguy]

Gary, that's a neat find there. I haven't seen that before, but really like the look of it. Do you have an pics of the brush roll etc...?

 

[gmerkt]

Brian:

I've meant to mention that one of my grandmothers was born in Salina, KS. The rest of her siblings were born in western Iowa. We had some extended family members in Solomon, KS, near Salina. One of my grandmother's half-sisters and her issue. Could be my GM was born in KS during a family visit from Iowa; sorry to say it's too late for me to ask now.

Okay, I've taken a few more pics that show more of the floor nozzle.

 

[gmerkt]

Sorry, the machine is as-found and still dirty.

 

[gmerkt]

Floor nozzle detached from handle.

 

[gmerkt]

Detachment, from front side.

 

[gmerkt]

Wiring and plug on floor nozzle.