my Singer R1

[kirbymodel2c]

Hi here's a pic of my singer R1. Needs some love but I love it.

James

 

[kirbyvacuum]

Very Niice

Hi James VERY NICE SINGER to bad they stoped makeing then they were a good vacuum. I really dislike the Bagless units a real mess to empty. I see you like i am are a Kirby fan What do you think of the Kirby Sentria G6 G3 G5 Thanks take care Doug

 

[westingman123]

What an elegant machine! I'm sure you are very proud. I would be.

 

[commodoremoody]

I've got the R4.

It's slightly different. It doesn't have the forked handle, which I wish it did, and has a cord winder. It has the original cloth cord in incredible like new shape! It has two speeds, a tan bag with SINGER in red, and it has been painted a dreadfully drab army green, which I'm told was original. Why they did that is beyond me.

It runs great but I don't use it because it has a natural bristle brush.

I've seen an R3 or R4 in shiny chrome with the tan bag, forked handle and cord winder. Much better than the green paint and rear-mounted handle.

I always thought the red bag with the shiny metal looked the nicest. But the art-deco cord winder would make it all the better!

~Tim

 

[commodoremoody]

OOPS!

Mine is an R5 instead of an R4

My mistake!

~Tim

 

[commodoremoody]

Here's a photo of an R3. This is the one I was talking about. I think this is the best looking Singer in the R series.

~Tim

 

[electrolux~137]

The first time I saw a Singer R1 was in Stan Kann's collection. He had two of them, and two R3s. Every time I'd go over there I'd open his Singer Closet, pull out one of the R1s and just sigh. It's such a beautiful vacuum cleaner. Finally one day Stan said, "Well, you like that Singer so much, why don't you go ahead and take one home."

“Oh, happy day!”

I must say, it's by far the most cherished machine in my entire collection.

Here's my R1 with the R4. (I no longer have the R4):
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Then an R1 ad from a 1937 Better Homes & Gardens:
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Then a fun greeting card that someone sent me, I think John Lucia:
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[kirbymodel2c]

R4

I also have a R4 they can keep each other company.
Charlie why did u get rid of your R4?

James

 

[electrolux~137]

I got rid of my R4, and a lot of other vacuums, and many more to go yet, because I have lost my workshop and storage garages. I am presently paying $200/month for storage that I can neither afford nor want to keep.

With nowhere to work on, maintain and store my collection, I don't see any reason to keep so many machines anymore.

Besides, at age 53 and starting to look at things from the perspective of "getting a bit older," I'd rather do this now, gradually, a little at a time, rather than to have to do it when I'm, like, 80 -- or, worse, leave it for someone else to do after I "shuffle off this mortal coil."

Little by little, I am going to prune my collection back to just my set of "The First 50 Years of American Electrolux," a few Kirbys, and a couple of other odds and ends including my Singer R1, my Stan Kann Memorial Hoover 700, my Eatonia, and my GE Roll-Easy. Probably just about everything else is going to go including my collection of "rocket ships and flying saucers."

I've already gotten rid of nearly all my "to do" vacuums other than my really oldest and rarest Kirbys and my Air-Way Green Goddess. I've gotten rid of many boxes of parts and inventory because no one answered my plea to come get them when I had to empty out my garages. I literally had nowhere to keep all that stuff anymore.

Yeah, it's sad - tragic - a shame. Believe me, no one is unhappier nor more disgusted than I am. But sometimes life dishes out some big lumps, and all we can do is take them and move on.