Riccar or Panasonic

[hurdyman]

So I stumbled across two interesting finds:

-A Riccar 8850 for a mind blowing $9.99. The only defect is the light bulb needs changing. Filters have been replaced, and the belt is new.
-A Panasonic Performance Plus model MC6837 for $39.99 that's been refurbished by a dealer.

I'm simply starting this thread to weight the pros and cons of each. I know a bit about vacuums, as they fascinated me when I was a child, but I'm just staring to divulge in the art of collecting them. Does anybody have any pics of a Panasonic of this exact model or similar they would like to share? Specifically from the side. Do the wheels pivot like a Riccar underneath the body? I've always loved that design feature.

I'm going to buy one or the other and just need help choosing.

 

[kirbylux77]

Sam, yes the wheels on the Panasonic would pivot EXACTLY like the Riccar would. One thing you have to remember, is that the Riccar/Simplicity models are knockoffs of the Panasonic vacuums. Back in the 1980's for a short period of time Panasonic was making Riccar/Simplicity uprights for Tacony Corp; about a year or two later, they ended their partnership agreement with Panasonic & chose to have their uprights made by a Taiwanese manufacturer.

I would choose the Panasonic over the Riccar because the motors in the Riccar/Simplicity uprights are inferior for creating suction vs either Panasonic-made motors, or the Ametek motors that Panasonic uprights used to be supplied with back in the 1980's to the mid-1990's. Plus, the longevity of the Riccar/Simplicity motors is nowhere near as long as the Pansonic-made or Ametek motors, either.

Now, this particular Riccar would come with a double-stage motor, & is the household version of their commercial line, so suction would be on a par with the Panasonic I would bet. BUT the Panasonic would have the edge still, as this particular Panasonic does have the Ametek motor in it, & they are rebuildable motors....the Riccar is NOT. Also, the Panasonic would have a longer hose than the Riccar....that has always been a weakness for this line of Riccar uprights....so you would need to be able to buy an extension hose to use it for tools. Don't know whether that would make a difference or not to you.

Do let us know what you decide on....Rob

 

[1926700]

now as a X Panasonice dealer....

im going to agree with everything rob said and add that, with some machines range in TOL and BOL dont make much difrence but with the Panasonic it does.....ive seen 75% more BOL panasonics from the mid 1980's and earley 1990's with severe motor problems, verses the TOL wich 9 out of 10 time are still fine.....and of corase the higher the grade the more features, and with a machine like the panasonic sometimes for certian house holds features are needed.....and of corase ever old machine will alway need minor things, but major motor trouble and electrical trouble is not always nessasery, and is better to avoid...

 

[1926700]

and a little Panasonic time line for you......

panasonic in the late 60's and 70's made the Clean Air machines for Kenmore (Duo-Power), Eureka (Easy-Glide and Emperor), and GE

 

[1926700]

and,,,,

thes were the 3 first body styles....the one in the middle is the 600 sires body, ans the one on the right of that was the next.....and the one on the far left was the BOL body style that wouls be used for the next 15 years as the lowend.....

 

[raycarter]

Personally, I would go with the Panasonic. In my collection I have a Performance Plus MC-V5017, which I absolutely love. Cleans carpets very well, has good suction for the attachments, and edge-cleans surprisingly well on the belt side of the nozzle.

 

[Sanifan]

It would great to see pics of these two vacs. I don't know if anyone can post some. I have a couple or Riccar and like them a lot. I'd like to learn about Panasonics.

Are current Panasonic vacuums using the good Ametek motors, or have they cheapened their products like most manufacturers have?

How does the Riccar 8900 series compare? It sounds similar to the 8850. Great price on the Riccar, btw!

 

[gottahaveahoove]

You know that Panasonic bought the patents

for the Dial A Matic from HOOVER!You can see how similar they are. (just my contribution of vacuum tidbits). Ready for VaC Jeopardy?

 

[raycarter]

Right you are, John! Let's see how much you wagered...

That's a major reason I love the older Panasonics! They look so much like the Dial-A-Matics my mother and both my grandmothers had. Many fond memories of those cleaners.

 

[normvac]

JOHN, Takes the Lead !

Have to say John you have the High points for this Game !
Now Rob on the other hand, best watch where he walks with the Face Book Collectors. It could get messy !
Norm

 

[chan55]

Riccar or Panasonic

I had 2 Panasonics, model 6230 back in the 80's. I had one for home and 1 for work. They were great vacs, The only thing I did not like was that the hose did not lock into the back. You just pushed it in, needless to say it fell out a lot. I , too , bought them because of my love of the DAM, my very first vac, and Hoover had stopped making them. They had a better hose set up, and the wonderful DIAL. Too bad their handles always broke off.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

That "handle deal" was a big concern.

Panasonic took care of that. It's successor, the "Concept" also corrected that. Most of my DAMs still have a nice firm, stiff handle. And, you WANT that, right?
lolol... The attachment hookup was excellent. Great suction, and, that vac was great for cleaning Chinese rug "fringe" without getting all caught up in the roller.

 

[whirlsonicmore]

The 6800's weren't bad. They had the older style agitator housing/ base with the metal bottom plate, as opposed to the 6900's that used a cheaper housing with a plastic plate. The only issue would be wear to the catch on the main body that the release pedal grabs. They were't very strong. Some broke. Others wore down from use.