Oreck Ironman: Clone of Kenmore DynoMite?

[kirbytradition7]

From 1985 through the mid-1990s, our family had a Kenmore DynoMite Super Power Vac, a handheld canister vacuum with onboard attachment storage and a base wherein the cord could be wrapped for storage.

Recently, I have seen an Oreck handheld vac that looks strangely like a clone of the Kenmore DynoMite!

The Oreck Ironman is shaped exactly like the older Kenmore and has the same design for storing attachments and the cord. The only differences are in colour (the Oreck is black, has wheels, and uses disposable bags, whilst the old Kenmore was white, had no wheels, and used a cloth shake-out bag).

What is going on here? Is this an Oreck with the DNA of an old Kenmore model?

Vacuum Cloning?

What do you think?

 

[ohio_tuec]

I think each machine was manufactured by Douglas (a subsidiary of Scott & Fetzer), so they ARE clones! The Oreck PowerBrush looks strangely like the Kirby Vacuette hand vac because again, both are made by Douglas. Douglas also made Oreck's Zip Vac for a time, which is why it looks just like Kirby's Split Second. Hope this helps.

- Karl

 

[kirbyotronic]

We have one of those, it came with an XL21 years ago, I hate that thing! It has a decent amount of suction/airflow, here are the 'cons' I found with it:

*Difficult to manuever
*Tips over easily
*So loud that it's ear piercing (not kidding!)
*Dirt can fall out of the bag if you're not careful when changing it.

Pro's:

*Has decent suction and airflow.

 

[kirbytradition7]

Another Example of Vacuum Cloning

I was at the Oreck store today, getting another attachment for my handheld vacuum. In the corner I saw what looked like Sanitaire commercial uprights (red with shiny steel hood), but these were marked "Oreck". Is this another example of Oreck cloning another vacuum--the Sanitaire?

 

[ohio_tuec]

Give the man a kewpie doll! Yes, only the Oreck "Sanitaires" are made in China by the same company that makes the Sanitaire knockoffs for Perfect. It really turns my stomach that some of the commercial models are no longer made in house by Oreck. And I'm VERY upset the Dual Stack was discontinued. It wasn't 8 pounds, but it was a hell of a vacuum....