Requesting Info About Hamilton Beach "Leading Lady"

[VintageVamp]

Hello everyone!

This is my first post to this forum.
I have recently acquired an unused vintage 1950s/60s Hamilton Beach "Leading Lady" hat box canister vacuum. It is the luxury line model with the "golden seal."

I haven't been able to find any information about this vacuum, but a ran across your forum, and hoped that someone might know something about this beauty!

Any information would be helpful, and greatly appreciated.

 

[mchmike]

That's cool , it looks like a hat box.

 

[suckolux]

Sweet machine!

 

[kenkart]

I never saw!!

The chrome model....I have about a million packs of bags for that machine if you need some.

 

[ronni]

Wow, impressive! Congratulations and welcome to Vacuumland--eventually someone will be able to provide the information for which you are looking, so you've come to the right place.

 

[rugsucker]

CHROME !! Hamilton Beach ??

I have never seen this.More pictures please!!
The Hat Box was very late 50s and advertised and seen(rarely)in yellow & white.It had a complete,deluxe set of attachments in a cardboard caddy.No lady at the time would dare go to church without a hat from the hat box in her closet.The HB was styled and named to match.Design credit was given to famous NYC hat designer Lilly Dache.
There are other vacs whose super deluxe model was chrome but as mentioned above this is mostly unknown.More pics of rear,bottom,attachments,inside,etc please.What is story of finding unused?

 

[kirbysthebest]

I can't offer you any information, but wanted to say she is a beauty.

 

[dysonman1]

Mid 1960's Hamilton Beach. One of the last machines they made. Mine is turquoise, but I have seen them in yellow as well. They were nicknamed the "Hat Box" cleaner.

 

[dysonman1]

Mine is mid 60's turquoise.

 

[VintageVamp]

Replies to "Requesting Info About Hamilton Beach Leading

Hi Everyone!!

I apologize that it has taken me SO HORRIBLY LONG to respond to all of your kind comments! This summer has whipped right by for me! I will try to address everyone's comments here in this reply. hopefully I don't miss anyone!

Hi mchmike, suckolux, and Kirbysthebest: Thank you for the compliment...she really is a beauty!

Hi KenKart: Thank you for letting me know that you have lots of bags! I originally picked this up to actually use around the house because I just loved the look of it. I might have to hit you up for some. Do you sell them on EBay or something?

Hi ronnie: Thank you for the warm welcome!

Hi rugsucker: I attached more photos to this reply so you could see more! The story behind finding it in this condition was that I went to a local estate yard sale and someone was giving it away for virtually nothing. I had been looking for a vintage vacuum to use around the house, just because I think they are awesome, but once I got it home and tried to look up some information about it I started to wonder if it was too rare to use! That's why I came here. It seemed like you guys knew a lot and we're passionate about vintage vacuums. I am still wondering if I should use it or not...tough choice for me because it's so beautiful.

Hi dysonman1: Thank you for sharing the pictures of your turquoise Leading Lady! These chrome Hat box vacuums are just so cool!

Ok guys, so the million dollar question is...should I use it? ...or collect it? ...or sell it?

 

[charleskirby66]

Wow

I'm a Kirby buff. I have next to no interest in non-Kirby machines, however this cleaner is really exceptional. It looks mint to my untrained eyes! If I had a Kirby in such mint condition, I would turn it on periodically, but not use it for actual cleaning. It would be a shame to sully such a marvelous, vintage piece of history (in my opinion).

However, whatever you CHOOSE is up to YOU! Any choice you make for yourself, is the RIGHT choice. I'm sure you would love to use that mint machine, or display it, or garner a hefty price for the sale of such a rare unit.

Congrats! Oh, and if you're looking for a vintage Kirby, I can help.

 

[dysonman1]

I would suggest you do NOT use it. The motor is the heart of a vacuum, and there are NO repair parts available for it. You don't know the condition of the motor's armature or carbon brushes or bearing.

If you want to use a vintage cleaner around the house, an Electrolux (such as a model G) would be an excellent choice. Not only are there tons of them around (so obtaining a repair part from a 'donor' machine is easy), they also have commonly available bags and can be upgraded if you want.

Save that piece of Hamilton Beach history.

 

[VintageVamp]

Thanks!

Thank you guys for offering your two cents about this beautiful vacuum. I guess I am going to have to put a bit more thought into my decision.

 

[fantomfan57]

Bags...User's Manual

Does anyone have bags to fit a model 29 and possible instructions....like where do I wrap the cord.

 

[paul]

The "Leading Lady" is sure stunning.

I located the following Hamilton Beach "Hatbox" data:

1959 - Model 29 in okra and white is introduced in the US and CA (and other markets?) with the new Roller-Ride nozzle; fashion endorsed by famed designer Lilly Daché

Note: A late production ad referenced model IDs with letter suffixes (e.g. 29B); which may have signified styling and/or design changes

1960 - Long - term contractual association signed with Arthur P. Gould, president , Golden Shield Corp., Great Neck , N. Y. to distribute "Leading Lady" (model ID ?)

1961 - Model 36 "Deluxe Vacuum Cleaner" in same design sans "Hatbox" model name (colors unknown)

1963 - Scovill Manufacturing's Hamilton Beach Division is relocated to Clinton, N.C. (planned in 1962); produced by new subsidiary Clinton Industries. Model IDs change to a 400 series format. The new hatbox-design model ID is 410, and is styled in 2-tone turquoise

1963 - the last full ads of Hamilton Beach vacuum cleaners are run; the few afterward are line ads often with other makes which suggests the end of the vacuum cleaner line in 1964 or 1965. No news articles were located regarding this.

 

[huskyvacs]

Wow that is a very unique vacuum and that chrome is absolutely insane!

 

[paul]

Bags...User's Manual

Does anyone have bags to fit a model 29 and possible instructions....like where do I wrap the cord.

Attached is the instruction booklet for the "Hatbox" model 410 from a past online sale; including a magnified photo of how to store the cord.

Regarding the "Dispos-A-Bag" dust bags, I found no information (e.g. part no., compatibility with other makes) in the digital print database, Sears or JCP catalog bag listings except for Sears' own part number. Due to the similar design with the Sunbeam Dual Deluxe canister model 635 and the similar canister model 630, it seems probable that you could retrofit one of those bags for your model 29. There is a current eBay listing of which I have also attached a photo for future reference.

Hope this helps you find success.

 

[huskyvacs]

With the size of this cleaner and the shape of that bag, you might be able to bodge a Hoover Celebrity bag to fit. Not sure on collar location but it looks like a good candidate.

 

[paul]

The attachments are out of the order in which I put them.

The "Leading Lady" is sure stunning.

I located the following Hamilton Beach "Hatbox" data:

1959 - Model 29 in okra and white is introduced in the US and CA (and other markets?) with the new Roller-Ride nozzle; fashion endorsed by famed designer Lilly Daché

Note: A late production ad referenced model IDs with letter suffixes (e.g. 29B); which may have signified styling and/or design changes

1960 - Long - term contractual association signed with Arthur P. Gould, president , Golden Shield Corp., Great Neck , N. Y. to distribute "Leading Lady" (model ID ?)

1961 - Model 36 "Deluxe Vacuum Cleaner" in same design sans "Hatbox" model name (colors unknown)

1963 - Scovill Manufacturing's Hamilton Beach Division is relocated to Clinton, N.C. (planned in 1962); produced by new subsidiary Clinton Industries. Model IDs change to a 400 series format. The new hatbox-design model ID is 410, and is styled in 2-tone turquoise

1963 - the last full ads of Hamilton Beach vacuum cleaners are run; the few afterward are line ads often with other makes which suggests the end of the vacuum cleaner line in 1964 or 1965. No news articles were located regarding this.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Here comes Paul, here comes Paul, right with what we need! My version of Here Comes Santa Claus, but for Paul!