Old Panasonic Jet Flo

[oldcrankman]

I got this Panasonic wanting to know what year it is?

 

[oldcrankman]

Here's pictures of it.

 

[suckolux]

Loved those, bought a very similar machine in 91? It's still going

 

[eurekaprince]

I think this model is from the early 1980’s….

 

[panasonicvac]

This appears to be from 1991.

 

[eurekaprince]

Really? That late? Wish we could see a newspaper ad for this model to pin this down…

 

[lesinutah]

If

Ben says is from 91 you go to the bank put everything on black. It's a 91 Ben's kind of the expert on dating.
Sweet vacuum it almost looks like the riccar and simplicity early commercial versions.

 

[eurekaprince]

Okay…I will defer to the Panasonic experts….1991 it is.

 

[paul]

Newspaper Ad

From the November 18, 1990, edition of THE TOLEDO BLADE ...

(Btw, the number dials on the bottom point to 8 - 1 - 1. Would that mean August 1, 1991?)

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks Paul! Somehow I mistakenly thought the Hoover passed on the “bag first” patent to Matsushita/Panasonic in the early 1970’s. This was a decade too early.

So in the 1980’s we saw Panasonic Jet Flo uprights in stores, while Sears Kenmore was still getting their uprights from Singer and Whirlpool. At some point, Whirlpool started selling their own branded uprights as well.

Then finally, at some point in the 1990’s, Matsushita bought Whirlpool’s vacuum factory (in Danbury I think?) and Kenmore and Panasonic uprights became nearly identical.

A very important chapter in vacuum history, indeed. Excellent upright cleaners….hopefully Cleva will keep up the excellent design in our markets.