Danemodsandy, yes the bodies were plastic, but there is plastic and then there is plastic. Those bodies are tough. Really tough. Nothing about these vacuums is fragile. We have had one in our family since 1983, a 4.1 with the variable speed motor and the off/on/floor switch on the hose. It came with the second generation Powermate upon which all subsequent Powermates are based. It was never babied. My parents didn't collect vacuums. it was a broom with a motor in it, nothing more. In 35 years of regular use, it has needed one replacement ten foot hose (luckily it happened when you could still buy one and put your ends on it), a motor for the Powermate (needs another, the new one didn't last a quarter as long as the first) and it yellowed from age. Oh yeah, the foam pre-motor filter crumbled. The old Lamb motor still has well over half the brush length left, credit using it below full power most of the time. The lid seal still seals fine. A very careful well aimed spritz of some Triflow teflon lube to the cord reel restored smooth function. The cord itself cleaned up nice. Functionally it works like a new vacuum.
Some Retrobrite reversed the yellowing, I cleaned it out thoroughly and if I could get a reliable supply of hoses for it I am sure it would soldier on happily another 35 years. I have to replace the foam on the pre-motor filter (foam arrived this week, I've been running Electrolux bulk filter media in it's stead along with a more modern filter media for the exhaust filter), replace that Powermate motor and that's it. The brush roll and beater bar are original and still have plenty of bristle left. I use HEPA bags for Numatics to keep it clean inside. It's a great vacuum. I can't think of a tougher vacuum than these.
I'll tell you what, I have it's steel bodied predecessor, my Avocado Bomber, a Sears Best 2.7 2-Speed and this generation with it's plastic body is a better vacuum in every possible way.
