eurekaprince
Well-known member
Here's another interesting article from 1996 reporting on Bissel's acquisition of "Ryobi Motor Products' Singer Floor Care Division" in South Carolina.
It's interesting that two Japanese corporations made in-roads into the American floor care market in the 1990's - both related to Sears Kenmore! In 1991, Japan's Matshushita (Panasonic) bought the Whirlpool vac plant that had been making Kenmores for years. And at some point in the same decade, Japan's Ryobi bought the rights to make "Singer" and "Kenmore" brand vacs as well.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18470925.html
It's interesting that two Japanese corporations made in-roads into the American floor care market in the 1990's - both related to Sears Kenmore! In 1991, Japan's Matshushita (Panasonic) bought the Whirlpool vac plant that had been making Kenmores for years. And at some point in the same decade, Japan's Ryobi bought the rights to make "Singer" and "Kenmore" brand vacs as well.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18470925.html
But I bet someone else here can fill in the details of when Ryobi of Japan did this.
