Kinds of motors used in Sunbeam vacuums

[mjhoshaw]

Hello all, just wondering what kind(s) of motors Sunbeam used in their vacs.  From searching old threads I gather they made their own motors that varied widely in quality.  Anyone have images to share?  I'd love to see them.  I thought of this thread because I once saw inside a Lewyt canister that had the same motor and plastic impeller as their stick vac, and it would've been a poor performer, while some Lewyts had Lamb motors and were decent vacs.  Sunbeam had a stellar reputation for their Mixmasters, but it doesn't seem like they put much effort into their vacs.


 


Joel

 

[dysonman1]

Sunbeam put a huge amount of effort into their vacuums. The Dual Deluxe was so powerful and pulled so much juice that Consumer Reports mentioned it in the ratings. The Sunbeam was #1 in the ratings, having more suction than any other vacuum they tested. Sunbeam made their own motor, the suction fan was a huge as a dinner plate.
High quality machine. The lower priced model was called the Touch 'N Lock and it had the same motor as the Dual Deluxe.

By the end of the 1960's, Sunbeam figured out that they, too, could use a one-fan Ametek motor for their economy line - and use their own motor for their deluxe line like the Courier. Once Sunbeam introduced the Challenger tank model which used Lamb motors, they did away with the models that used unique Sunbeam motors, although they still made the round ones as their very economy models.

 

[eurekaprince]

Those powerful Sunbeam motors probably allowed the company to develop the first air-driven turbo carpet nozzle. I think that nozzle made its debut way back in 1956, if I remember correctly. Sunbeam really did take their vacuum cleaner design quite seriously.

 

[dysonman1]

The 1956 Sunbeam Dual Deluxe logo.

 

[chan55]

Sunbeam

I’ve mentioned before my first employer sold only sunbeam. It was 1973. The challenger had just replaced the courier. Never understood the courier.the challengers were nice machines but had poor hoses. The cheap round canisters had weak suction. We sold a lot of their broom. Their uprights did not sell, poor attachments. Very similar to singers and kenmores.

 

[mjhoshaw]

Thanks for setting me straight

If anyone comes across either a Dual Deluxe motor or images of one, please post.  Except for our vacuums, which were Electrolux, for small appliances my mother was a die-hard Sunbeam fan.  We had a deep fryer, a Mixmaster Junior, a hosed hair dryer, two electric shavers, and an electric toothbrush.  One of their products I always liked, but never owned, was their twin-blade electric mower with a flip-over handle.  A neighbor near us had one, and I can still remember the sound of it.


 


Dysonman1, I found your post about the 1956 Dual Deluxe and am reading it now.


 


Joel

 

[oreck_xl]

I remember finding one or two Sunbeam Dual Deluxe's in the trash back in the '80's. I remember putting them right back out at the curb because the bearings were shot. Sadly, I've never seen a smooth running one. I can tell you Sunbeam made one hell of an electric shaver back in the '60's and '70's.