Kenmore Magicord "Sears Best"

[danemodsandy]

Petek:

Sorry - I didn't say which machine, did I? The blue Sears canister is the one I'm talking about. Ooh-la-la!

Is that Powermate one of the ones with a cast-metal housing?

 

[petek]

Actually it's not blue, it's a very light green top and a grayish green darker bottom half. Are you thinking the darker blue model that looks identical to the green one in the original picture up top? Chad has that one.
Here's the brown and tan one.

 

[petek]

Here's the power mate to the early green model it's metal and the wands are painted metal.

 

[danemodsandy]

Petek:

Blue or grey-green, I am drooling, LOL. I didn't think I'd ever see one of those early PowerMates again. They were sturdy beyond belief. I also once had one of the brown/tan machines you show; it was late '70s or early '80s. There's supposed to be a little flip-down lid to go over the tool tray, but it's usually missing, because the mounting tabs were prone to breaking off. I think I replaced mine like, three times or something. Very annoying, and it was otherwise a very good vacuum.

 

[petek]

Yes those lids with the thin plastic hinges weren't too sturdy. Actually all of the plastic on those era Kenmores wasn't too good but then they are getting on in years which is why all metal is bestest LOL. The on/off pedals are prone to snapping, the lids as mentioned, the Duo Powers casing cracked and I noticed on others back at the time you saw them about that they were always cracking as well.

For the moment greeny is gonna remain here as a lone Kenmore representative. The others have been culled from the herd.
I'm getting to that point where even I'm acknowledging I can't have everything!!! But I've made a valiant effort cause it aint just vacuums at me casa.

 

[kirbyvertibles]

The Heavy Duty that Mike posted is the first vacuum that my sister bought from QVC It forget how much she paid for it but she had a brown plastic Convertible that she gave to our other sister and bought this one only because it came with a set of attachments. She used that vacuum from 1990 ( I believe)till about 2003 when the bearings started screaming. She loved that vacuum, then I gave her our grandmothers grey Riccar upright N2100 that she used and loved even more for a few months then I got it back (still have it) and sold her a brand new Electrolux Guardian that she will never part with. I want to find one of those Kenmore heavy duty machines so bag I can't stand it. It brings back so many memories of when I was a little kid use my big sisters vacuum. I have the grey self proppelled version of this but it's just not the same.
I have a Sears catalog from Spring of 1991 that has these in it. The black Heavy Duty sold for $164.99, the self propelled sold for $299.99, and the awful cheaper black heavy duty with the twin fan system sold for $144.99. This also has the hoover electronic 1000, concept,convertibles, and many more cool vacuums in it. As soon as I get my scanner hooked up I will scan pictures of my catalogs. P.S thank you Chad for your info, I always enjoy reading your novels(lol) or um I mean your posts. You are full of important knowledge that we ALL appreciate and love. Thank you,
Phillip

 

[danemodsandy]

Petek:

Yeah, the years do take a toll on plastics, but my problems with that tool compartment lid began when my machine was about a year old. So, it wasn't just advancing age, LOL.

 

[rugmaster37]

My novels....

"P.S thank you Chad for your info, I always enjoy reading your novels(lol) or um I mean your posts".

When i first read that, I laughed otu loud, then I kinda was like "I wish I made money on them, the novels". LOL...

I just hate to give too little information when I answer, and I just like the talking between all of us. I'm a talker and an informer I guess. I like to share what I've learned by many years of reading, and talking with others. I've had such a great opportunity to learn form many of the "elder statesmen" that have come and gone over the years.

So I like to pass that info on.

Chad

 

[electroluxxxx]

thank you for the fascinating comments on the new machine
if I get the registration form out soon I will bring it to convention this summer. however it is in need of the height adjusting wheels. the vacuum is in great condition and it sounds fabulous. however I cannot figure out how to get in to the belt chamber because the belt needs to be changed badly lol

 

[electroluxxxx]

phillip here are pics of the under side

 

[electroluxxxx]

pic 2

 

[petek]

I'll have to pay more attention to those Kenmore Heavy Duties because I didn't know there was more than one model. I've passed on quite a few of them just in the last year or so. I wouldn't mind a self-propelled one eventually.

 

[myvacsrock]

Self Propelled one?

I have that one that Chad gave me quite some time ago..geeze..almost a year? I'll take a pic and post, along with my NEW out of BOX Kenmore Duo Power. Will post later.

Kyle

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I was just talking to my sister a few minutes ago and reminded her of this vacuum. She said ( oh I loved that vacuum) she remembered paying $150.00 for it on QVC and she said it had the best edge cleaning. She was sad on that day in 2002 when it died. Kinda like my Mom was very upset when her 1978 Eureka power team canister quit in 1989. My hole family like their vacuums. We figure that a vacuum is an everyday part of our lives and we need good ones and when they quit on us it's to bad. I told my sister that I have the self porpelled one and I thought she was going to throw money down for it rigt then and there. Uh sis it's NOT for sale. lol

 

[electroluxxxx]

lol
the kenmore actually needs a little bearing grease I will probably take care of it later on today or tomorrow

 

[portable]

Hey Chad -

The "Whirlpool-Whirlpools" you mentioned from the late 80s were also carried by Macy's. I was living in San Francisco at the time and I know I kept the newspaper page showing the various models (like the ad you remember, it was almost a full page of the SF Chronicle). It might take me a week or two to dig it out, but I'll find it and post it. John L.

 

[rugmaster37]

"Whirlpool-Whirlpools"

Hi John,

Gosh that would be very cool if you could do that. I kinda figured that more than Hudson's carried those machines, and wonder ever further if they were featured thru Whirlpool outlets that carried the major appliance lines.

For example Town and Country Appliance, which was a family owned outfit, which had (since all of them long ago closed uner pressure from the big boxes); several stores around Lansing Michigan, and was a exclusive Whirlpool full line distributor, along with Speed Queen and Amana.

I do not ever remember them having any vacuum cleaners of any brand, but wonder if possibly as a franchise of Whirlpool, and a service center for the big stuff, if they were bound to help out in the vacuum arena too???

As I wrote earlier, it just seemed that the "new" Whirlpool Floor Care line was kinda though of as an "elite" or higher end brand, and were more at the register, than their badge engineered Kenmore counterparts.

I'll look forward to your post. Like I said, I remember that ad distinctly, and I've missed it for over a decade, since my folks have moved, and it just fell apart and tore when I tried to take it down out of my old bedroom.

Thanks


Chad


Ann Arbor Michigan

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

I have a blue one (with a broken PN, wahhhh)... mine does have the attachment tray.

Does yours have the attachment tray as well, Matt? If not, I can post pictures of mine. Of course you'll see it in person when we finally set up our mini-meet day of vacuum play.

 

[ge1969]

Hey Matt! Here's my green TOL Kenmore like yours, with all tools and tray. They were a little loud but great vacs. Trg

 

[ge1969]

Lastly, here's my older green Kenmore like the one posted earlier. It's still all original, though the hose is a little stiff. Anyone have any suggestions how to help with that? Later, Trg