Rare Vintage Penncrest stick vac

[convertible18]

I found this in a vac store. I helped my friend clean out some of his shop and I got my hands on this. It’s runs great and looks great. I payed $0.00!!!! Amazing! The only problem is, the model sticker and info is GONE. I need as much information as I can get about this machine!

 

[thevacomaticiec]

Looks   like   an  early  Eureka  stick  vac  to me  . 

 

[convertible18]

Thevacomatic

It’s basically a Eureka it just sold by jc pennys and they badged it as Penncrest. They are not easy to find now days

 

[eurekaprince]

Nice find! You are going to want to use vintage Eureka Style “D” dust bags in this stick vac. See link below:

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/304808178826

 

[convertible18]

eurekaprince

thanks, but I already had bags! I had a baby blue version by Eureka and a had some spare bags.

 

[eurekaprince]

That’s great to hear convertible18! These bags must be nearly impossible to find!

 

[fantomfan]

I remember that machine

I bought that vacuum off of craiglist about seven or eight years ago along with a few other vintage machines. I knew it was the same one as soon as I saw the missing nozzle. I had forgotten that Chris ended up with it. Glad it found a good home.
Mitchell

 

[eurekaprince]

But PhantomFan, it looks like it has the correct Eureka carpet nozzle. What nozzle should it have?

 

[paul]

Unfortunately, Penney's typically left out the model IDs in its advertising, but I snipped some Eureka and Penncrest Lightweight advertisements from the Penncrest era that will give you a framework.

Eureka manufactured 3 different Lightweight models during that time: 100 (with a 5-way cleaning nozzle), 120 (the 3-in-1) and the Super 95 (with a swivel nozzle). The 2-speed Model 123 came out later. Yours may match the 100 or 95, or it may be uniquely-featured based on JCP's request as it did at times—I am unaware of all the specs of each model. To me, yours most resembles the Super 95. Going by the all the ads I viewed, it appears that your Lightweight was produced sometime from 1967 to 1971. It would have been an earlier version due to its different color scheme than the one listed in the catalog. You could look for a date dial stamped into the housing (possibly located in the bag chamber), too; not every Eureka cleaner had one, but give it a shot.

Photos:

1. 1964 Mar 23 MERIDAN JOURNAL - Model 120
2. 1969 Jul 13 TOLEDO BLADE Model-Type 100-S
3. 1970 May 17 TOLEDO BLADE Model Super 95
4. 1971 JCP Fall Winter Catalog - Floor & Surface Care Appliances

 

[eurekaprince]

Thanks for that early 1964 ad for the Lightwight Eureka, Paul! I had no idea that the company first marketed it along with the handvac body to create a three-in-one package! Fascinating!

In the late 1980’s Eureka had some great wheeled SuperBroom stick vacs with very very large dust cups. I wanted one sooooo badly!!!!

 

[convertible18]

thank you guys

that is some very useful info, i appreciate it.

 

[eurekaprince]

Just trying to remember if we ever had a Canadian-made Eureka Lightweight stick-vac here north of the border. All our department stores sold Eaton Viking or Baycrest or Kenmore Electrikbrooms made by Canada’s Regina or Iona factories. But Eureka’s Onward Manufacturing in Kitchener Ontario never produced Canadian versions of the Lightweight stick vac, if my memory serves correctly. Any other Canadians here want to chime in?

By the 1980’s, we did start seeing all the new bagless Eureka SuperBrooms up here, and the cordless Boss Lite. But never saw the Eureka Lightweight here in the 1960s and 1970s.

 

[paul]

You're welcome for the ads & info, Brian & Declan!

Brian, the 3-in-1 was only made for several years, so either it had a problematic design or had limited appeal to consumers.

Further searching led to finding one more model-type introduced in 1967—102-A with small nozzle wheels; see attached ad. I also included a Penncrest Lightweight model ad and attached it. Penneys in that era sold the Regina and Hoover versions, too—not necessarily at the same time. From what I have seen, the chain carried 2 models of Penncrest/Eureka Lightweight vacuum cleaners—one in 1967 & 1968; and one circa 1971—based on the different nozzles.

Another observation I have made of Penncrest floor & surface care appliances is the model number system. From 1963 to 1967 it was alphanumeric, beginning with an 'A' followed by 3 numerals. Then it changed to a 4-digit system. In fact, some cleaners have both designations on their ratings decals.

Photos:

1. 1970 Dec 7 LEWISTON DAILY SUN Models 2010-A, 34-A, 102-A
2. 1968 Feb 15 PITTSBURGH PRESS - Penncrest Lightweight model

 

[hoover300]

I have a head for one of these albeit quite used, if you are interested? Just pay shipping

 

[convertible18]

thanks Hoover300

but, i dont have any cash apps or venmos paypals and stuff, i am only 13 lol. thanks for the offer though.

 

[evolutionclean1]

You're 13?

You should be upgraded to the Junior membership!

 

[convertible18]

EvolutionClean1

yes, its not a joke. im not sure how to part of the junior membership. i have never been familiar with how this site works. I had my friend help me post a thread because i didn't know

 

[paul]

Model Number Located!

Either A-120 or 1560—depending on the time of production (as I mentioned in reply #12)

From a current e-Bay listing:

Photos 1-4

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156234043663


Photo 5 I also included a photo of a later JCP bag package for similar Lightweight JCP models 1500, 1590 & 1591 and (Bissell) model 5350 from this current listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1348958641...dsX5bUZQnND81jT0k35I9+Gg==|tkp:Bk9SR4LMjIW7ZQ

 

[bnsd60m9200]

Paul

those bags shown are for the A-121 f bag handivac, not a eureka based machine.

 

[paul]

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

 

[bnsd60m9200]

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.