Rare Vintage Penncrest stick vac

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Correction - Reply #17

Thanks, Will; two pairs of eyes are always better than one.

So, I went back and checked the JCP catalogs for clarification—although 1965 and 1967 Spring/summer and fall/winter catalogs are omitted so far on the website—and discovered that Penncrest also carried two Hoover Handivacs in addition to the A-121 hand vac (and another, too?). The Handivacs, or Lightweights, as they were named were what was referenced on the 1560 (A-120) package. The 1760 (A-121)—the designations were changed in either 1965 or 1966—took a different dust bag according to the attached 1966 listing.

So, to summarize, photos 1-4 are for the Penncrest Lightweights (Hoover Handivacs), and photo #5 of the dust bags for models 1500, 1590, 1591 & (Bissell) 5350 are for the Penncrest/JC Penney Lightweights (Eureka Lightweights).

* * * * * *

Regarding the model number of the Penncrest Lightweight that began this thread, I will use the JC Penney package to amend my guess that it is a model 1500 (likely from 1965 &/or 1966); and the later models 1590 & 1591 from 1971 to 1972 had the suction adjuster.

* * * * * *


JCP Catalog Photos—source: https://christmas.musetechnical.com

1. 1966 Spring/Summer—Dust Bags listing (Penncrest and others); I used this to determine the model numbers along with the bag packages mentioned before

2. 1966 Spring/Summer—Penncrest Lightweight model 1560 (Hoover Handivac) colors unnamed and Custom Canister (Hoover Constellation) model 1760 in sturdy brown and off white

3. 1971 Spring/Summer—Penncrest 3-Speed Lightweight 1590 (Eureka Lightweight) in gold and white, single-speed Lightweight 1560 (Hoover Handivac - same as 1966 catalog) in tan & white, Penncrest Hand Vacuum 1760 (Hoover Pixie) colors unnamed, and Rug & Floor Conditioner (model unknown) in avocado-green.

4. 1972 Spring/Summer—Penncrest 2-speed Lightweight 1561? (Hoover Handivac) in poppy-red and white, Lightweight 1590? mentions power control but not 3-speeds (Eureka Lightweight) in gold and white, Penncrest Carry-Around Compact Cleaner 1200—which I own (Hoover Swingette) in gold

5. 1973 Spring/Summer—Penney's 1-speed Lightweight 1560? (Hoover Handivac w/short bag housing) in gold, 2-speed Penney's Lightweight 1561? (Hoover Handivac with long bag housing) in poppy-red and white, Lightweight 1591? mentions power control but not 3-speeds (Eureka Lightweight) in gold and white

6 1974 Spring/Summer—just to show that Penney's had gone with a different make of Lightweights (models 1540, 1541 & 1750)

7. 1974 Spring/Summer—Penney's & Others Dust Bags & Belts Listing showing model numbers (excluding the earlier alphanumeric ones

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1973 was indeed the last year for the jcpenney handivacs. i have the gold tone penncrest 1561 one. it is not two speed. just single speed. only the f-bag handivacs had two speed motors. after that as shown in the 1974 catalog, they switched to sh!tland vacuums for stick vacs. i never got why jcpenney cheapened thier offereings for budget vacs so badly in the in mid to late 70s. hoover post 1973 only provided uprights, the swingette (until 1974) and the floor a matic. they started leaning more canister/pn heavy with eureeeka offerings in 1974.
 

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