National MC-622 Jet-Flo

[nate94]

Today I have a National MC-622 from the 1980s.

I believe this was the budget vacuum cleaner of the time with the MC-663 being the TOL. I also understand that Hoover sold their Dial-a-Matic/Convertible/Dynamatic design to National (now Panasonic), and modified the original DAM design for their new range of upright vacuums of the time. Thus the major resemblance.

I gave the vacuum a quick go on the rug yesterday and it seems to work fine. This is a very well-made and powerful vacuum.

 

[eurekaprince]

I love the simple hose port on the back. Just open the door and insert a 3 metre hose and you are set to go for cleaning with the hose and tools. And the brushroll shut-off switch prevents damage to floors and carpets and injury to fingers and toes! Great design from Panasonic still being sold today.

 

[pr-21]

That vacuum was also a Panasonic Jet Flo. A lady I worked with bought one just like that. She said it was the best vacuum she ever had. She was an immaculate housekeeper. Always dusting her drapes with it as well.

They made other models after that. I bought a hunter green one with the 3 speed control, just like the one pictured. I really wish I had kept mine.....


PR-21
Bud

 

[cam2s]

I have the same machine as a Panasonic as well. They are excellent machines for sure. I was lucky enough to find mine with a Sack-O-Tools. If you want to have better filtration a Riccar/Simplicity type a synthetic cloth HEPA bag will fit it almost perfectly.

 

[petek]

It wasn't the budget model, it was 2nd from the top, the top model being the electronic model.. The base model was one speed. I've a video of my electronic one on youtube.

 

[petek]

The link

 

[suckolux]

Well made, simple machines! I bought my MC6255 From Wards in 90?? Lived in my trunk for years as I used it to clean mom's huge beauty shop! To this day, nothing has ever broken, semi retired for a few years, but works fine. Could use a new brushroll. Simple, sturdy.

 

[kenkart]

I remember

The first Panasonics I ever saw, I was working at Hilltop Vacuum in Boone NC in 1983 and we sold them, they really sold too.

 

[panasonicvac]

I have one as well, this is my second MC-6220 that I have collected. The first one I've had for only a few years until I traded it for a MC-V6307 for it being a better Panasonic, I've kept that one for a few years until I decided I ended up trading for this again because I've missed that model except this one wasn't my other one I traded before. I regret now that I should've kept both this and my MC-V6307. Overall very fun machine, I perfer the MC-6210 better because I am just not a fan of the electronic speed control on this.

 

[eurekaprince]

Love these Panasonic vacs!

Time to bring up a question I have brought up before. When did Matsushita / Panasonic first open a vacuum assembly line in the United States? These excellent Jet-Flos were all made in Japan. And I know that Matsushita bought the Whirlpool factory in Danville in 1991 and began making vacs there. But many vac historians claim that at some point in the 1980's, Matsushita began making vacuums at their own factory in the USA. But I have yet to see any proof that such a factory existed. No news headlines about the factory opening. No Panasonic literature showing where this assembly line was located. Nothing.

It would be great to see some ratings plates with model numbers showing "Made in USA" and then match that model number with a pre-1991 Panasonic dealer catalogue. Then I could get some idea of the year assembly moved from Japan to North America.

The mystery still continues.....

 

[michaelwalter]

The jetflo uprights were incredibly popular in OZ in the 80's. Not a cheap upright back then at $190.00 but gave Hitachi CV50 and Volta 500 series a decent run for their money, all sold for the same price give or take a few $$$

Mike