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







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






