Mystery Royal

[singingrainbow]

I recently came by this odd machine and was hoping for some information. I know there are some people on this forum who know alot about Royals. The data plate says it is model 153 and is 1.5 amps, as you can see by the pics, this thing is beat to heck, it still runs but has a replacement bag, switch, and cord.
Thanks
Scott

 

[singingrainbow]

pic

pic

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Scott,

Are you sure this model 153 (which, for many years, was Royal's BOL, or bottom of the line, upright, until it was finally dropped in 1987) is rated 1.5 amps? This appears to be a 1975 to 1984 model (the fan case is all rounded; it will be slightly angled from November 1984), and the whole motor and handle are done up in that blue hammertone design.

The nameplate will be found on the back view of the nozzle by the front wheels. The original bag was a light-blue-colored cotton-twill fabric of the shake-out design.

~Ben

 

[singingrainbow]

I am positive it's a 153, I even double checked. Thanks for the information.
Scott

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Serial #, Please

Scott,

What is the serial # off of this 153? Example: 78G-A-58616 (July 1978).

Thank you,



Ben

 

[hygiene903]

Hi Scott,

The 153 Royal had a long run, from 1945 to 1987, and as Ben said, was the bottom of the line model. The fact that it has the shock warning label on it tells me that it's 1970 or newer, and the serial # will give you the month and year it was made.
It should clean up pretty good and since it runs good you'll have a nice machine when you're done. A Royal is like a Timex watch--takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'!
Jeff

 

[singingrainbow]

Serial number: E81 C 27426

 

[vacman1961]

With that being the correct serial number that machine was manufactured in May of 1981. It should have a 3.5 Amp motor in it, I don't think that model had the new 5.4 Amp motor which was introduced arouund that time. It was Royals entry level model, they sold a commercial version of it which was a 153-3, the difference was a shake out bag and a 30' 3 wire cord, hence the -3 in the model number.

 

[singingrainbow]

Here is the data plate, sorry its so dirty.
Scott

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

Thank you, Scott

And as @vacman1961 said, this was built in May 1981, and I was born only two months later.

The 1.5-amp motor makes this Royal upright, obviously bottom-of-the-line or BOL as I previously said, only as strong as their hand-held 501 Prince vacuum (which had a 1.2 amp motor and would be enlarged to 2 amps for 1982, and back to 1.8 from 1983 until the end of production of that model). Back in mid-1981, both the 801 and the TOL (top-of-the-line) 880 had the 4.5 amp motor.

~Ben

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

230 Volts

Scott,

Oh, wait... the nameplate also states the machine runs on 230 volts/60 Hz, so, this may have been a non-U.S. application. Here in the U.S., all electrical current is set up for 110-120 volts/60 Hz, so the machine would actually draw 3 amps if it were the U.S. version.

~Ben

 

[vacman1961]

WOW, I haven't seen a 230 volt Royal in years. When there are 230 volt commercial vacuums like that here in the states, means it was either used to clean jets or cruise ships. When I had my vacuum store, we had the account with Delta airlines in JFK airport and we sold them 230 volt Filter Queens back in the 80's. Other than commercial travel there was not much of a market here for 230 volt units.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

In late 1985, it should be known Royal replaced this model (still with a 3.0 amp motor) with the 154 which had a 4.5 amp motor.

~Ben

 

[markanthony5]

Im surprised

This vacuum looks so 1930s , how old fashioned for it to of been made in the 70s and 80s.
nice looking machine though

 

[ornery]

You're Not Alone

My son was surprised that my 20 year old top of the line Royals weren't older than that. I'm so used to them, I never think about how antiquated they look. That Model 153 is just one generation older, and I'll put its performance up against anything you want to throw at it. What it may lack in power, it more than makes up for in low noise, light weight and maneuverability.

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

hygiene903

Jeff,

One small correction: the 153 actually ran up to 1985, when that fall it was replaced by the 154 with the 4.5 amp motor.

~Ben