My Coppertone Rainbow D2

[eurekastar]

I've been working on this D2 for about three weeks. The exterior of the vacuum looks brand new; however, the motor was a mess to work on. I'm not sure what to call this color either. It's a combination of brown and black, with brown being the dominant color. So I call it coppertone. Or is it bronze? The power nozzle hasn't seen much use too. This happens to be a three prong power nozzle.

 

[eurekastar]

I'm not sure this dolly is original to this vacuum. I've seen these brown models on Youtube with the lighter tan dollies. I've also seen a dark brown dolly. So I don't know. I'm pretty sure this is an early D4 dolly.

 

[eurekastar]

A rear shot.

 

[vacumaniac]

That sure is slick looking!!!! I have a D2 in my arsenal that I have been thinking about taking on... But it sounds like those motors are a bear!!!!

 

[eurekastar]

My D2 triplets.

 

[eurekastar]

This dark brown D2 is noticably quieter than its siblings becaue of the Styrofoam insulation inside the dome. The insulations is missing from the other two.

 

[goadie12]

Wow what a pretty bunch of machines I love that dark brown D2 and yes you are right that dolly is not original to that machine very nine thanks. Zach

 

[electromatik]

I can't wait till I can afford some antique Rainbow machines. My mom and dad once owned a trailer park and one time the septic backed up into one of our elderly renters' trailers. My mom had to go clean it up but he let her use thier Rainbow. Anybody can say what they want to, but it sucked all that mess up and saved the flooring in thier home. Mom emptied it and cleaned it and it never smelled. Always loved the fact they offered wet pickup. I wonder what that medallion symbol is in the middle machine in that triplet pic?

 

[eurekastar]

The Medallion

That's actually a tag that's attached to a string. It's been on there since it was new. I can't remember exactly, but it says something about Rainbow vacuums being advertised in some parenting magazine.

 

[electromatik]

Ohhhh, I see. Thanks for answering. I'd love to get the new Rainbow also.

 

[kenkart]

That is...

The last of the D2s, a few of the very last models had the new bypass motor, don't know if yours does or not, the dolly is a D-4 dolly.That machine was made late 70s, 78 or 79 I would say, 1980 was when the D3 was introduced.

 

[eurekastar]

Bypass Motor

I wasn't quite sure what to call that motor design!

 

[luxlife]

Do you happen to have the original straight-suction rug tools with any of those machines? I've always been curious about that tool and especially about the vents on top of it. I assume the vents were part of the airflow principal behind the tool design.

 

[eurekastar]

I do have three of them. One goes to a D3 and the others are for the D2 model. The D3 is made of brown plastic. The early D2 is made of aluminum. The rug tool that goes to the dark brown D2 has that same spotted paint job. In fact, the D2 came with all the tools except the crevice tool. They all appear to be unused. I'll take more photos later.

 

[eurekastar]

Rug Tool

I have used the rug tool on a thick rug that I have and it glides pretty easily. I think the vents in top do help a lot with airflow and suction relief. I sometimes use it first in order to get up some of the long dog hair from my Golden Retriever and then use the power nozzle. His hair tends to wrap around the brush roll of most vacuums.

 

[kloveland]

I really like the contrast between the white hose and the dark brown color on the vacuum. Never knew some of the D2 models had insulation like that.

 

[luxlife]

Thanks Bill!

I was hoping your reply about the rug tool would be to that effect. I just got my gigantic Kilim rug back from being cleaned and the rug expert scolded me for using a vacuum with a revolving brush. I've been instructed to use straight suction only, so I guess I'll try to find one of these rug tools. Hopefully it will fit my E2 hose handle. By the way, that Copper Top looks awesome! I always did like that hammertone finish.

 

[kenkart]

Rainbow Rug Tool.

Introduced in 1964 ,this rug tool is one of the best, the vents let it breathe, and it really does pick up well.

 

[floor-a-matic]

Straight suction rug tool

Still available; but I don't know if those rug tools are made with a swivel for the E2 that use 2-pc straight wands instead of the lower curved wand.

This one is the one that can be used with the lower curved wand; but be careful with the (aftermarket) stainless steel wand, since it may or may not fit correctly.

http://www.goodvac.com/RAINBOW_RUG_TOOL_p/k-acc-rugtool.htm